This unique edition of the Tao Te Ching features: the first comprehensive verbatim translation of the entire text of the Tao Te Ching; literal character definitions that allow the reader to create his or her own interpretation; a concordance section that enables the reader to track the different ways a single character is used throughout the work; grammatical and interpretive notes on individual terms and verses; * a unique commentary on the first verse, which represents a complete spiritual teaching in itself; and a literary translation of the Tao Te Ching that can be read on its own or compared with the verbatim translation.