Download the Dao De Jing
The whole Dao De Jing can be downloaded free as a PDF, to print or read on a screen, or as an EPUB for e-readers and phones. Each book has all 81 chapters: the Chinese text with its pinyin above each character, the translation line by line and the commentary on each chapter. They are the same text as this site, and are made again whenever it changes.
| Book | Format | Inside | File |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | PDF, A5 pages, to print or read on a screen | Chinese, pinyin, English translation, commentary | Download the PDF 4.1 MB |
| English | EPUB, for e-readers and phones | Chinese, pinyin, English translation, commentary | Download the EPUB 446 KB |
| 中文 | PDF, A5 pages, to print or read on a screen | Chinese, pinyin, modern Chinese rendering (白话), commentary in Chinese | Download the PDF 4.8 MB |
| 中文 | EPUB, for e-readers and phones | Chinese, pinyin, modern Chinese rendering (白话), commentary in Chinese | Download the EPUB 447 KB |
| Français | PDF, A5 pages, to print or read on a screen | Chinese, pinyin, French translation, commentary in French | Download the PDF 4.1 MB |
| Français | EPUB, for e-readers and phones | Chinese, pinyin, French translation, commentary in French | Download the EPUB 450 KB |
What is inside
- The Chinese text of the Wang Bi edition, in simplified characters, with pinyin as small type above each character.
- Under each line, the site’s literal translation (English or French), or a modern Chinese rendering (白话) in the Chinese book.
- After each chapter, its commentary: what the chapter says, how its lines connect, where readings differ.
- A table of contents with the opening words of every chapter, in the book’s two parts: the 道经 (chapters 1 to 37) and the 德经 (38 to 81).
The recitation
The books are text only. To listen offline, open the settings and save the recitation of all 81 chapters on your device; the site then plays without a connection.
Rights
The Chinese text is in the public domain. The translations and commentaries are © dao-de-jing.com, all rights reserved. To quote a line, credit “Translation: dao-de-jing.com”.