--- product_id: 60616143 title: "The Four Chinese Classics: Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, Analects, Mencius" price: "R841" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/60616143-the-four-chinese-classics-tao-te-ching-chuang-tzu-analects store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # The Four Chinese Classics: Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, Analects, Mencius **Price:** R841 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Four Chinese Classics: Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, Analects, Mencius - **How much does it cost?** R841 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/60616143-the-four-chinese-classics-tao-te-ching-chuang-tzu-analects) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Discover 4 seminal masterworks of Chinese thought—Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching , the Analects of Confucius, the Chuang Tzu , and the Mencius —presented in one volume for the first time in nearly 2 centuries. Award-winning translator David Hinton offers fresh insights on the most influential texts on Taoism, Zen Buddhism, Chinese philosophy, and more. Hinton’s award–winning experience translating a wide range of ancient Chinese poets makes these books sing in English as never before. But these new versions are not only inviting and immensely readable—they also apply much-needed consistency to key philosophical terms in these texts, lending structural links and philosophical rigor heretofore unavailable in English. Breathing new life into these classics, Hinton’s new translations will stand as the definitive texts for our era. Perhaps the most broadly influential spiritual text in human history, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching is the source of Taoist philosophy, which eventually developed into Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism. Equally influential in the social sphere, Confucius’ Analects is the source of social wisdom in China. The Chuang Tzu is the wild and wacky prose complement to the Tao Te Ching . And with its philosophical storytelling, the Mencius adds depth and complexity to Confucius’ vision. Review: Great Translation and Compelling Commentary - Understanding Chinese history and culture requires a familiarity with these four great texts of the Chinese antiquity. I bought this book because I wanted a common translation for all four texts and I knew David Hinton's translations are widely recognized for there clarity and excellence. I found the texts to be very readable and inbued with a spirit of life and freshness. What I did not realize prior to reading this book was the depth and insight provided by the commentaries by David Hinton. They are dense, full of information, and written at a level commensurate with Hinton's scholarship. Not only have I been able to appreciate the texts, but I have gained a depth of understanding thanks to the excellent commentary. This is a great volume to read at a very inexpensive price that will open one's mind to the breadth and color of the Chinese antiquity. I have learned much thanks to this book and David Hinton, and I offer not just my highest recommendation, but my eternal gratitude for the excellent exegesis. If you have an interest in Chinese history or culture, you will find this book indispensable. Of the many books I have read, I would definitely rate this is one of the best. Thank you, David Hinton. Review: This is a fantastic translation and a wonderful book to add to your ... - This is a fantastic translation and a wonderful book to add to your collection of philosophy/Eastern thought books. To borrow some Alan Watts speak, these volumes are really more about a path of liberation than a true philosophy or religion. It's incredibly difficult for a western born and raised person to truly grasp what that means, but these texts help. I believe David Hinton understands this intuitively, and while he's taken some incredible artistic license with the texts compared to a simple translation or transliteration, his prose is much more readable and puts the concepts in a better light. You can typically find the Tao Te Ching, Confucius and Chuang Tzu readily available for a few bucks, but it's harder to find a cheap copy of Mencius, and for that alone this book is well worth the price. The print quality is also fantastic. Many of the extant books by these authors were printed decades ago and the quality of the text on the pages is subpar. You won't get a headache reading this book. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #37,672 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #18 in Tao Te Ching (Books) #18 in Taoism (Books) #27 in Taoist Philosophy | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 254 Reviews | ## Images ![The Four Chinese Classics: Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, Analects, Mencius - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91l9kpG2k0L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Translation and Compelling Commentary *by W***E on May 11, 2019* Understanding Chinese history and culture requires a familiarity with these four great texts of the Chinese antiquity. I bought this book because I wanted a common translation for all four texts and I knew David Hinton's translations are widely recognized for there clarity and excellence. I found the texts to be very readable and inbued with a spirit of life and freshness. What I did not realize prior to reading this book was the depth and insight provided by the commentaries by David Hinton. They are dense, full of information, and written at a level commensurate with Hinton's scholarship. Not only have I been able to appreciate the texts, but I have gained a depth of understanding thanks to the excellent commentary. This is a great volume to read at a very inexpensive price that will open one's mind to the breadth and color of the Chinese antiquity. I have learned much thanks to this book and David Hinton, and I offer not just my highest recommendation, but my eternal gratitude for the excellent exegesis. If you have an interest in Chinese history or culture, you will find this book indispensable. Of the many books I have read, I would definitely rate this is one of the best. Thank you, David Hinton. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a fantastic translation and a wonderful book to add to your ... *by J***N on December 8, 2017* This is a fantastic translation and a wonderful book to add to your collection of philosophy/Eastern thought books. To borrow some Alan Watts speak, these volumes are really more about a path of liberation than a true philosophy or religion. It's incredibly difficult for a western born and raised person to truly grasp what that means, but these texts help. I believe David Hinton understands this intuitively, and while he's taken some incredible artistic license with the texts compared to a simple translation or transliteration, his prose is much more readable and puts the concepts in a better light. You can typically find the Tao Te Ching, Confucius and Chuang Tzu readily available for a few bucks, but it's harder to find a cheap copy of Mencius, and for that alone this book is well worth the price. The print quality is also fantastic. Many of the extant books by these authors were printed decades ago and the quality of the text on the pages is subpar. You won't get a headache reading this book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Knowledgable *by M***E on February 15, 2025* If you’re a fan of all 4 authors, then purchase this book. It’s full of Chinese philosophy. A very good read indeed. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Four Chinese Classics: Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, Analects, Mencius - I Ching: The Book of Change: A New Translation - China Root: Taoism, Ch'an, and Original Zen --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/60616143-the-four-chinese-classics-tao-te-ching-chuang-tzu-analects](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/60616143-the-four-chinese-classics-tao-te-ching-chuang-tzu-analects) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-06-05*