ZHU DEZHI: LAOZI TONGYI

MS 2587
MS Short Title ZHU DEZHI: LAOZI TONGYI
Text ZHU DEZHI: LAOZI TONGYI; AN INTERPRETATION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK OF DAOISM, LAOZI, COMPOSED BY LI ER
Description Blockprint in Chinese on paper, China, 1565-1566, 200 pp. folded format, 28x18 cm, 10 columns, (20x16 cm), 17 characters in Chinese book script , Dongchi music notation in red.
Binding China?, 20th c., paper cover, stitched on 4 stations (Xianzhuang), blue paper covers, black cloth wrapper.
Context Similar binding on MS 2586. The format and calligraphic style are identical to the edition stored in USA: Library of Congress.
Provenance 1. Ekky Chung collection, Indonesia/Beverly Hills, California (-1997); 2. Sam Fogg Rare Books Ltd, London.
Commentary Laozi is reputed to have been composed by Li Er, the patriarch of this school of thought, in the late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). His philosophy was a passive materialism, which remained very popular among non-governmental academic circles in China. Many different interpretations have been devoted to this work through the ages. The preface was written by the author in the 44th year of Jiajing reign.
Place of origin China
Dates 1565-1566