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Nine Nights with the Taoist Master
Enjoy this powerful new translation of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching woven into a teaching novel set in ancient China. In the midst of war between barbarians and China's feudal states, Lao Tzu travels to a turbulent border city. At the prince's invitation, the sage spends nine colorful nights with the prince, scholars, traders, courtiers and monks explaining the secrets of the Tao's power. In this one of a kind book, the author breaks the secret code of the Tao Te Ching, conveying the oral tradition of lineage Tao masters that sheds light on the Tao Te Ching's life-changing teachings of mysticism and meditation. Additionally, Master Liao's translation of the Tao Te Ching is given in separate appendices in their entirety.
485 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2011
24 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 4, 2020
I am beyond grateful to have found this book
An inspiring tale, combined expertly with teachings. I felt as if I was in the palace each of those nine nights listening to the Master himself. The storyline was also very entertaining and included several good lessons. Thank you Master Waysun Liao.
An inspiring tale, combined expertly with teachings. I felt as if I was in the palace each of those nine nights listening to the Master himself. The storyline was also very entertaining and included several good lessons. Thank you Master Waysun Liao.
September 5, 2023
Introduction to Taoism (including the full Tao Te Ching) wrapped in a easy to read adventure book format
October 9, 2025
Like many people, I have a couple of different editions of Tao Te Ching--one a sort of coffee-table-ish version illustrated with beautiful black and white photographs and calligraphy, (translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English) published by Vintage/Random House circa 1972, bought by me as a high school student, the other a pocketsized version suitable for the backpacking Taoist, "The Way of Life According to Lao Tzu" (translated by Witter Banner) in a 1962 Capricorn Books edition--I can imagine Japhy Ryder in Kerouac's Dharma Bums carrying this edition.
But Master Wayson Liao, whose Tai Chi school in Chicago is one of the best and who was trained in traditional taoist practice by a wandering monk in China during his teen years, a monk very like Lao Tzu himself, has decided to share the wisdom of that training with the public--not in a straight translation, or essays, but in the form of a novel which reads wonderfully well.
The novel concerns the visit by Lao Tzu to one Prince KuWu in a border city, threatened by barbarians, where he agrees to spend nine nights. On each night, the Prince is allowed to ask nine questions-- hence the 81 traditional "chapters" of the Tao Te Ching. But it is a fully developed novel with suspense and humor and crime and the problem of princes, the whimsical charm of the great sage, and is just a delightful read as well as providing terrific context (historical/social) for the wisdom and the reception of Lao Tzu and his ideas. If you enjoyed the Tale of Genji, you will fall right into this.
The traditional sayings of the Tao Te Ching are numbered and highlighted within the novel, so when you read the actual line translations by Master Liao at the end of the book, it's easy to flip back and see how they were presented in the novel. Also the original Chinese is included, for those who can benefit from that, as well as an interview with Master Liao concerning the background and writing of the book, and a section explicating the terms Lao Tzu uses, including the symbols for those terms--(useful in case anybody wants to practice calligraphy or get a tattoo).
My understanding of the Tao--not the religion of "Taoism" which the author doesn't really care for, (thinks it's a distortion to 'worship' the Tao or worse, Lao Tzu)--has expanded tremendously since reading this and it's already affected the way I see the world, especially the idea of non-action, which was always confusing for me before, and the workings of Tao and Te (the inner bit of Tao we all have). I had expected a wise and knowledgeable treatment of the Tao Te Ching, but was surprised that someone I only know as a great tai chi teacher turned out to be such a good writer!
Come for the story, leave with a better sense of the Tao.
But Master Wayson Liao, whose Tai Chi school in Chicago is one of the best and who was trained in traditional taoist practice by a wandering monk in China during his teen years, a monk very like Lao Tzu himself, has decided to share the wisdom of that training with the public--not in a straight translation, or essays, but in the form of a novel which reads wonderfully well.
The novel concerns the visit by Lao Tzu to one Prince KuWu in a border city, threatened by barbarians, where he agrees to spend nine nights. On each night, the Prince is allowed to ask nine questions-- hence the 81 traditional "chapters" of the Tao Te Ching. But it is a fully developed novel with suspense and humor and crime and the problem of princes, the whimsical charm of the great sage, and is just a delightful read as well as providing terrific context (historical/social) for the wisdom and the reception of Lao Tzu and his ideas. If you enjoyed the Tale of Genji, you will fall right into this.
The traditional sayings of the Tao Te Ching are numbered and highlighted within the novel, so when you read the actual line translations by Master Liao at the end of the book, it's easy to flip back and see how they were presented in the novel. Also the original Chinese is included, for those who can benefit from that, as well as an interview with Master Liao concerning the background and writing of the book, and a section explicating the terms Lao Tzu uses, including the symbols for those terms--(useful in case anybody wants to practice calligraphy or get a tattoo).
My understanding of the Tao--not the religion of "Taoism" which the author doesn't really care for, (thinks it's a distortion to 'worship' the Tao or worse, Lao Tzu)--has expanded tremendously since reading this and it's already affected the way I see the world, especially the idea of non-action, which was always confusing for me before, and the workings of Tao and Te (the inner bit of Tao we all have). I had expected a wise and knowledgeable treatment of the Tao Te Ching, but was surprised that someone I only know as a great tai chi teacher turned out to be such a good writer!
Come for the story, leave with a better sense of the Tao.
December 27, 2024
A wonderful read that delivers uplifting and motivating messages in every chapter about understanding yourself, gaining self-control, and allowing the universe to guide you toward the right path. While the book has a spiritual and religious touch, it offers readers a deeply positive and enriching experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
August 10, 2023
Loved it. Starts a bit slow but gets better and better.
Want to read
June 17, 2008Told it's out of print?
will have to look for it in used books
or on half.com or something.
... after i finish some other ones I am reading!
Not enough time to read!
**************************************
?
Is it worth the trees it's printed on ?
any good ?
February 20, 2008
Msater Waysun Liao's translation of the Tao Te Ching, along with a great story about Lao Tzu spending 9 nights answering 9 questions about the Tao every night.
March 8, 2010
I learned a lot from this tome and can't wait to translate the lessons into actions. Many thanks to the friend who let me borrow this one.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews