Richard Wilhelm (9-10-1929)

(Handwritten.)

Dear friend,

My commentary [on the The I Ching] is now more or less finished. It has turned out to be rather more extensive [than I expected], because it represents a European reaction to the wisdom of China. Please would you read it first so that you can correct any Chinese blunders. I have tried my hand at interpreting Tao JL1 ¶ 0

The exact translation of Tao, one of the fundamental concepts of Chinese philosophy, is extremely difficult. W. translated it as “meaning” (Sinn), Arthur Waley as “way” (The Way and the Power, 1934); other translations like “Logos” or even “God” (by Jesuit missionaries) have been used. Originally it meant the revolution (or way) of the heavens about the earth; action in accordance with Tao is “heaven's way.” Jung interprets it as “the method or conscious way by which to unite what is separatedthe attainment of conscious life” (“Commentary on The Secret of the Golden Flower,” par. 30) JL1 ¶ 0