Ebook: Two Visions of the Way: A Study of the Wang Pi and the Ho-Shang Kung Commentaries on the Lao-Tzu

The Ho-shang Kung commentary played a central role in the elaboration of religious Taoism, while the metaphysically oriented Wang Pi commentary was important to the articulation of Buddhist ideas and to the development of neo-Confucianism. Chan is able to identify and to articulate clearly the various questions surrounding both authors and texts. He then provides answers that are about as full and persuasive as the extant sources will allow. In this regard, his ability to utilize fully the best of the Japanese secondary literature insures that his starting point for discussions is fully informed. One comes away from the book feeling confident that the full range of historical and commentarial sources have been examined and brought into play where relevant.