The Translingual <i>Ziran</i> of <i>Laozi</i> Chapter 25: Global Laozegetics and Meaning Unbound by Language

Many scholars view translations of the Chinese classics as inevitably lacking fidelity to the “original,” asserting language difference as a fundamental impediment to cross-cultural understanding. The present study disputes this viewpoint by employing the perspective of Global Laozegetics. This notion affirms a fundamental continuity between the native <i>Laozi</i> or <i>Daodejing</i> commentarial tradition and its corresponding foreign translation tradition. Specifically, I will investigate a range of interpretations of the term <i>ziran</i> found in <i>Laozi</i> Chapter 25, including 16 traditional and modern Chinese readings and 67 translations in 26 languages. My broad investigation of this narrow topic will reveal a rich historical development of interpretation and translation, highlight the philosophical ramifications of different exegetical choices, deepen our understanding of the core Daoist concept <i>ziran</i>, and assist in confirming the basic premise of Global Laozegetics that language, even the original language of Chinese, is secondary to interpretive strategy when engaging with classical works.