The Canon of Reason and Virtue

Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki (1870-1966) was a Japanese scholar and one of the foremost authorities on Zen Buddhism. He played a crucial role in introducing Zen Buddhism to the Western world. Paul Carus (1852-1919) was a German-American philosopher writer and editor. He was known for his efforts to promote the understanding of Eastern philosophy and religion in the West. However there is no record of The Canon of Reason and Virtue being a collaboration between D.T. Suzuki and Paul Carus. Instead the title seems to refer to two separate works: The Canon of Reason and Virtue is an English translation of the Tao Te Ching (also known as the Dao De Jing) a classic Chinese text attributed to the sage Laozi. This philosophical and spiritual text is one of the foundational works of Taoism exploring the principles of Dao (the Way) and De (virtue). Paul Carus authored a book titled The Canon of Reason and Virtue: Lao-Tze''s Tao Teh King Explained and Translated. This work is a translation and commentary on the Tao Te Ching where Carus offers his interpretations and explanations of Laozi''s verses.