250 BCE · approximate
Han Fei
韩非
Explaining Laozi
Legalist reading
Selected passages, mapped to 10 chapters; this work is not an 81-chapter commentary.
10/81 chapters
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Fifteen voices. One text.
15 historical commentaries, from the Warring States to the Qing. Read each writer’s words alongside an English study translation.
250 BCEHan Fei10/81 chapters40 BCEYan Zun39/81 chapters120 CEHeshang Gong81/81 chapters150 CEXiang’er / attributed to Zhang Daoling35/81 chapters240 CEWang Bi79/81 chapters735 CEEmperor Xuanzong of Tang81/81 chapters1070 CESima Guang80/81 chapters1100 CESu Zhe81/81 chapters1118 CEEmperor Huizong of Song81/81 chapters1250 CELin Xiyi81/81 chapters1375 CEEmperor Hongwu of Ming78/81 chapters1600 CEHanshan Deqing81/81 chapters1680 CEWang Fuzhi81/81 chapters1840 CELi Hanxu81/81 chapters1880 CEHuang Yuanji81/81 chapters
Modern English readings and commentary translations are AI-assisted study aids, not a published critical translation. Compare the Chinese source when wording matters.
Yan Zun 严遵
Laozi zhigui · Huang-Lao and the Changes
The surviving De portion maps to 39 chapters in this edition.
Chapter 38Chapter 39Chapter 41Chapter 42Chapter 43Chapter 44Chapter 45Chapter 46Chapter 47Chapter 48Chapter 49Chapter 50Chapter 51Chapter 52Chapter 53Chapter 54Chapter 55Chapter 56Chapter 57Chapter 58Chapter 60Chapter 62Chapter 63Chapter 64Chapter 65Chapter 66Chapter 67Chapter 69Chapter 70Chapter 71Chapter 72Chapter 73Chapter 74Chapter 75Chapter 76Chapter 77Chapter 78Chapter 80Chapter 81
Read the commentary ↗40 BCE · approximate
Yan Zun
严遵
Laozi zhigui
Huang-Lao and the Changes
The surviving De portion maps to 39 chapters in this edition.
39/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗120 CE · approximate
Heshang Gong
河上公
Commentary in chapters and sentences
Cultivating life and governing
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗150 CE · approximate
Xiang’er / attributed to Zhang Daoling
张道陵
Xiang’er commentary
Early religious Daoism
The surviving manuscript covers chapters 3–37.
35/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗240 CE · approximate
Wang Bi
王弼
Commentary on the Laozi
Being and non-being
The transmitted edition has no commentary for chapters 31 and 66.
79/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗735 CE · approximate
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
唐玄宗
Imperial commentary
Imperial interpretation
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1070 CE · approximate
Sima Guang
司马光
Discourse on the Daode zhenjing
Confucian interpretation
The transmitted edition has no commentary for chapter 79.
80/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1100 CE · approximate
Su Zhe
苏辙
Explanation of the Laozi
A dialogue among traditions
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1118 CE · approximate
Emperor Huizong of Song
宋徽宗
Imperial explanation
Imperial interpretation
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1250 CE · approximate
Lin Xiyi
林希逸
Oral explanations of the Daode zhenjing
Song learning
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1375 CE · approximate
Emperor Hongwu of Ming
明太祖
Imperial commentary
Experience of government
Originally arranged in 67 chapters; combined notes are linked to their corresponding received chapters.
78/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1600 CE · approximate
Hanshan Deqing
憨山德清
Explanation of the Laozi
Buddhist interpretation
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1680 CE · approximate
Wang Fuzhi
王夫之
Elaboration of the Laozi
Critical Confucian reading
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1840 CE · approximate
Li Hanxu
李涵虚
Commentary on the Tao Te Ching
Internal alchemy: Western school
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗1880 CE · approximate
Huang Yuanji
黄元吉
Commentary on the Tao Te Ching
Internal alchemy
Commentary is available for all 81 chapters in this transcription.
81/81 chapters
Browse coverage ↗ · Read ↗Dates indicate approximate composition or activity, not certainty of attribution. Transcription sources and licenses.