Home›Sources›Tao Te ChingSourcesTao Te ChingCitation FormatsGeneral ReferenceGeneral Reference Citation TextDivinity Atlas. "Tao Te Ching." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/tao-te-ching.Copy General ReferenceAPA StyleAPA Style Citation TextDivinity Atlas. (n.d.). Tao Te Ching. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/tao-te-chingCopy APA StyleBibTeXBibTeX Citation Text@misc{divinityatlas-tao-te-ching, author = {Divinity Atlas}, title = {Tao Te Ching}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/tao-te-ching}, note = {Accessed August 30, 2026} }Copy BibTeXThe foundational text of Taoism, traditionally attributed to Laozi, whose historical existence and authorship remain genuinely uncertain among scholars. As the tradition's primary scripture it sits at this atlas's top tier, meaning it authoritatively records what the text itself says, not independent confirmation of any claim about its authorship or date. Use it to establish what a specific passage actually says. Translations vary significantly given the text's famously terse and ambiguous classical Chinese, and a claim resting on a specific reading or interpretation should note which translation it follows, since different renderings can differ substantially in meaning.FactsCross-Tradition ConnectionsClaims Backed By This Source (466 claims)Comments (0)Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)FactsAssessmentReliability TierWell-attested1The foundational text of Taoism, traditionally attributed to Laozi, whose historical authorship remains genuinely uncertain among scholars, the tradition's primary scripture cited for what a passage itself says.NotesWell-attestedFoundational text of Taoism.CitationAuthorWell-attestedLaozi (attributed)URLWell-attestedhttps://ctext.org/dao-de-jingSource TypeWell-attestedprimary-textCross-Tradition ConnectionsAssociated WithLaozi, Figures Well-attested This source names Laozi directly: "of Taoism, traditionally attributed to Laozi, whose historical existence and authorship remain genuinely uncertain among scholars."Source Tao Te ChingLaozi (attributed)tier 1Claims Backed By This Source (466 claims)This source backs 466 claims across the atlas. As facts: 194 well-attested. As cited relationships: 168 holds, 1 connected. Plus 103 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.Disposition By TopicScripture Portions, 251 claims: 4 well-attested, 164 holds, 83 general references.Articles, 175 claims: 173 well-attested, 1 connected, 1 general references.Beliefs & Restrictions, 10 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 holds, 3 general references.Practices, 7 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 holds, 4 general references.Sources, 7 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 holds.Doctrines, 5 claims: 5 general references.Figures, 2 claims: 2 general references.Metaphysical Positions, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.Numbers, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.Religions, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.Scriptures & Texts, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.Esoteric Texts, 1 claims: 1 general references.Well-attested194ArticlesA Body as the Qualification to Be TrustedA Chain of ConsequencesA Chapter About SicknessA Chapter Addressed to a PeriodA Chapter Made Entirely of QuestionsA Chapter Short Enough to Be SuspiciousA Description Made Only of NegativesA Diagnosis, Not a ProgrammeA Formula That Ends Two ChaptersA Journey of a Thousand MilesA Line the Historian DoubtedA Portrait Made Only of SimilesA Ruler With No Mind of His OwnA String of Quoted SayingsA Text Read by Very Different PoliticsA Vessel That Use Does Not EmptyAdding Every Day, Dropping Every DayAn Argument From the WeatherBecoming What You Keep Company WithBelow the Threshold of the SensesBetter Than a Jade Disc and Four HorsesBeyond Reach in Six DirectionsBlock the Openings, Shut the GatesBrambles Where the Armies CampedBrave in Daring, Brave in Not DaringConduct a Victory as a FuneralCooking a Small FishCut Off SagehoodDefective, and Therefore UnimpairedDescribing What Cannot Be InspectedDiplomacy Between Unequal StatesDo the Great While It Is SmallDull Government, Honest PeopleEasy Promises and Much DifficultyEasy to Understand and Nobody UnderstandsEighty-One ElsewhereEighty-One, and What the Number Is DoingFavour and Disgrace Are Both AlarmingFed by the MotherFish and the Instruments of a StateFive Kinds of Expert Who Leave No TraceFive Scales, One PracticeForcing the Breath Is Called ViolenceFour Contributions to a ThingFour Kinds of Competence in WarFour Kinds of RulerFour Measures That Produce What They PreventFrom the Tao to the Ten Thousand ThingsGoodness Attained Rather Than RewardedGoverning People and Serving HeavenShowing 1 to 50 of 180 entities carrying this claim. NextHolds168Beliefs & RestrictionsWu wei (effortless action)PracticesTai chi (Taijiquan)ReligionsTaoismScripture PortionsChapter 1Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 2Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 3Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36Chapter 37Chapter 38Chapter 39Chapter 4Chapter 40Chapter 41Chapter 42Chapter 43Chapter 44Chapter 45Chapter 46Chapter 47Chapter 48Chapter 49Chapter 5Chapter 50Chapter 51Showing 1 to 50 of 87 entities carrying this claim. NextConnected1ArticlesFrom the Tao to the Ten Thousand ThingsGeneral References103ArticlesFrom the Tao to the Ten Thousand ThingsBeliefs & RestrictionsThe Tao as the source of all thingsWu wei (effortless action)Yin and yangDoctrinesDaoDePuThe Three TreasuresZiranEsoteric TextsTao Te ChingFiguresLaoziMetaphysical PositionsCyclical TimeNumbers81PracticesInternal alchemy (neidan)Microcosmic orbitTai chi (Taijiquan)Waidan (external alchemy)ReligionsTaoismScripture PortionsChapter 1Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 2Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 3Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36Chapter 37Chapter 38Showing 1 to 50 of 102 entities carrying this claim. NextComments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.View At A Past YearThe atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.Show This Year