The Twentieth Century, The West, "i Study

In the 20th century, Lao-tzu has become one of the foci of Chinese studies in the Western world. Sinologists approach it from various angles. Some scholars attempt to find solutions to modern problems, inevitably adapting the text to their own cultural environment. Some, based on cultural comparison, try to make out whether it represents a religious mysticism or not. Some, concerned with the text itself, endeavor to find wise instructions or ideological systems in it. And there are also some scholars who mean to rediscover the original meaning of this ancient writing. In a word, Lao-tzu has colorful Western experiences in the 20th century.This paper intends to study Lao-tzu's Western experiences in the 20th century through the introduction and analysis of some important Western Sinologists' academic works so as to offer a framework for later researchers in this field. It is mainly made up of five parts. In the first part, Diane Dreher's The Tao of Peace is studied to indicate the trend of taking Lao-tzu as a religion of life; three analogical interpretations respectively made by Robert Henricks, Herrymon Maure and Ray Grigg are analyzed to show the approach of seeking for the path to ideal life in Lao-tzu. In the second part, Chad Hansen's historical comment on "Tao" and Philip J. Ivanhoe's comparative analysis of "te" are introduced, demonstrating that great importance has been attached to the historical background of Lao-tzu. In the third part, Benjamin I. Schwartz and Bryan W. Van Norden's views of Lao-tzu's ideological system are studied. Schwartz believes that mysticism is the core of Lao-tzu while Norden claims that Lao-tzu centers on social vision. In the fourth part, Arthur Waley's The Tao and Its Power and Michael LaFargue's "Rediscovering the Original Meaning of the Tao Te Ching" are explored to reveal Sinologist's ideas of method in interpreting Lao-tzu and the real meaning of the classics. Isabelle Robinet's studies of Chinese interpretations of Lao-tzu are discussed in the last part. The opinion towards Chinese interpretations being similar, she analyzes them in a way different from Chinese scholars.There are two characteristics of Lao-tzu's Western experiences in the 20th century. On the one hand, holding different attitudes from Jesuit missionaries, some scholars in the 20th century are still using Lao-tzu as a means to express themselves. On the other hand, greater importance is being attached to Lao-tzu itself and its Chinese background.Lao-tzu's Western experiences in the 20th century is a cross-cultural phenomenon. The views of the Sinologists are both cultural and historical. They cannot be taken for granted, nor can they be negated indiscreetly. Instead, we are supposed to take an objective and analytical attitude towards them.