Rudolf G. Wagner is Professor of Chinese Studies at the University of Heidelberg.

Preface

Introduction

1. The Wang Bi Recension of the Laozi

Introduction
The Problem
Wang Bi's Original Recension of the Laozi
Superimposition
The Division into zhang and pian
Conclusion
Appendix A: Differences between Wang Bi Laozi Receptus and Laozi Text Used in Wang Bi Commentary
Appendix B: Differences between Wang Bi Laozi Receptus and Places Where Fan Yingyuan's Laozi Daode jing guben jizhu Comments That Wang Bi's Manuscript Coincided with the "Old Manuscript[s]"

2. Patronage and the Transmission of the Wang Bi Commentary: Foundations for a Critical Edition

The Problem
A History of Wang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi: the Evidence
Conclusions

3. Wang Bi: "The Structure of the Laozi's Subtle Pointers," Laozi weizhi lueli, a Philological Study and Translation Together with the Text

Introduction
The Authenticity of the Laozi weizhi lueli (LZWLL)
Wang Bi's LZWLL and the Transmitted Text
The Genre of the LZWLL
The Laozi's Structure according to the LZWLL
The Basis for the Edition of the Text
Wang Bi: The Structure of the Laozi's Pointers

4. A Reconstruction and Critical Edition of the Laozi Text Used by Wang Bi; a Reconstruction and Critical Edition of Wang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi; an Extrapolative Translation of the Laozi through Wang Bi's Commentary; and a Translation of Wang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi

A Note on the Edition
A Note on the Extrapolative Translation
A Note on the Previous Translations
Wang Bi, Commentary on the Laozi

Notes

Bibliography

Index