This book offers a fresh look at the original bamboo slips of the Laozi, discovered in a 4th-century BCE tomb in Guodian, China. Unlike the familiar Daodejing, which is divided into 81 chapters, the Laozi is a fragmented version with around 31 chapters, not in the same order. The slips were found in three sets, revealing the text’s evolving nature.

By presenting these ancient texts, this book invites readers to explore the Laozi as it was first written, before later scholars’ edits. It offers a unique opportunity to compare this early version with the more common Daodejing, deepening understanding of its origins, structure, and philosophy.