Attendees take a group photo at the book launch event, Nankai University, Tianjin, China, November 11, 2025. /CGTN
The book launch for the transcription of the earliest Latin translation of the "Tao Te Ching" was held at Nankai University on Tuesday.
Renowned scholars from China and abroad at the event highlighted the book's historical significance, academic value and its role in advancing global Laozi studies.
The "Tao Te Ching" (or "Daodejing") is a fundamental text of Taoism, one of the most important philosophical and spiritual traditions to originate in China. It is believed to have been written by a sage known as Laozi.
The "Tao Te Ching" is one of the most translated books in world literature, with at least 2,052 translations in 97 languages.
The new book, titled "Liber Sinicus Táo Tě Kīm inscriptus, in Latinum idioma Versus: The First Translation of the Daodejing in Transcription," was compiled by Misha Tadd, director of Nankai University's Global Laozegetics Research Center, and classicist Zhang Xiaoyuan.
According to Tadd, this Latin work was produced through the efforts of Jesuit Figurists in the early 18th century. They aimed to show that the Chinese classic offered profound teachings that had parallels with some of the most sophisticated forms of theology and philosophy. For centuries, it existed only as an unpublished manuscript, its philosophical insights largely overlooked.
Misha Tadd speaks at the book launch event, Nankai University, Tianjin, China, November 11, 2025. /CGTN
Attendees participating online and offline agreed that its publication is a landmark event. They said it fills a critical gap in the history of the Chinese book's westward transmission and provides a new foundation for understanding early intellectual exchange between China and the West.
Li Ying, Party Committee Secretary for the College of Philosophy, Nankai University, noted that the manuscript not only reflects Western scholars' understanding of Laozi's thought over 300 years ago but also holds significant importance for deepening cultural exchanges between China and the West.
The book's editor, Martin Woesler, distinguished professor at Hunan Normal University and an editor at the European University Press, expressed anticipation that the book would propel further development in Sino-Western comparative literature and translation studies.
Chen Guying, chair professor of Peking University, described the translation as a foundational "root" among the global network of Laozi translations.
In his closing remarks, Tadd welcomed ongoing scholarly collaboration and stated his intent to continue researching the global journey and evolution of the "Tao Te Ching."
原文链接：https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-11-12/Earliest-Latin-translation-of-Tao-Te-Ching-published-1Ifjsq9Haj6/p.html
审核：韦承金
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