西方国家对《道德经》的解读

The Western Interpretations of Tao-te-ching

老子的《道德经》是道家思想的经典著作,不仅对中国文明的产生和发展具有深远的影响,而且对西方现代文明有着深刻的精神革新作用。从19世纪末期至今,西方学者不断地翻译和注释《道德经》,他们对《道德经》的解读经历了三个不同的历史时期,从早期的基督化解读到哲学解读、再到后来的大众化解读,道家思想逐渐被西方接受,并成为影响西方文明的主要思想之一。《道德经》在西方的传播推动了中西方文明的相互对话,促进人类文明的共同发展。

Tao-te-ching,the classical work of Taoism,has exerted tremendous influence on both Chinese and western civilization. The survey identifies three different historical phases since the end of the 19th century,during which Tao-te-ching received a Christianized,a philosophical and a popular interpretation respectively. Taoism has gradually been understood and accepted,and exerted a great impact on the western culture. Tao-te-ching has triggered a dialogue between east and west,promoting the common development of human civilization.