Daodejing
/ˌdaʊ.dəˈdʒiːŋ/noun
A foundational Daoist text traditionally attributed to Laozi.
Did you know?The title became fixed in Chinese tradition as a sacred book-name, with 道 (dao) and 德 (de) carrying meanings that can imply both moral power and an almost mystical inner potency.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
*lˤuʔ-s
“way; path; method; to speak”
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
*tˤək
“inner power; virtue; potency”
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
*keŋ
“classic; scripture; a canonical text”
Warring States period
Chinese
道德經
“Title of a philosophical text meaning “Classic of the Way and Virtue””
Modern English
English
Daodejing
“Standard transliteration of the Daoist classic's title”