The most widely known and read Chinese classic in the West, the Tao Teh Ching is a series of insightful comments on life and nature. Part poetry, part paradox, always forceful and profound, the Tao Teh Ching has been leading its readers to expand their view of life since it was written over two thousand years ago.

The Tao Teh Ching teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. This lucid translation demonstrates that these teachings are as useful in the arts of leadership as they are in developing a sense of balance and harmony in everyday life. John C. H. Wu has done a remarkable job rendering this difficult and subtle text into English while retaining the freshness and depth of the original. This edition features the Chinese text alongside the English translation.

The Shambhala Library is a series of exquisitely designed and produced cloth editions of the world's spiritual and literary classics, both ancient and modern. Perfect for collecting or as gifts, each volume features a sewn binding, decorative endsheets, and a ribbon marker—a delightful-to-hold 4 ¼ x 6 ¾ trim size.

黄裳，字元吉，江西丰城人，生卒年不详，元代或清代道士。

根据《乐育堂语录》的序文，黄元吉先生是元代人，平时遁形隐迹，直到清朝道光、咸丰年间，才聚徒讲学。然以此言之，黄元吉在世之寿几近千岁，并不合理。《乐育堂语录》序文所提到的元代黄元吉与清代黄元吉应非同一人。《新译乐育堂语录》的作者戈国龙所持的态度是“从学术的立场上说，则凡无有确切证据的事，都要存疑，也许两人同名纯属巧合吧！”

黄元吉于清咸丰年间（1851年－1862年）在四川富顺设“乐育堂”讲课传授道学十余年。于清光绪年间讲解《道德经》，后经整理成《道德经讲义》，于光绪十年（1884年）刊刻发行。

关于黄元吉的辞世，比较详细的叙述在李乐俅的《访道语录》：“黄元吉祖师清光绪十年丙戌，在四川自流井讲道，最后解馆，弟子恭送馆外，黄当下飞升，徒众见之，皆痛哭流涕，始后悔往日蹉跎，未尝从师勇猛学道也。”另外，根据黄元吉的门人流传，黄元吉是在众弟子簇拥中，将肉身化为清风而去。

黄元吉一生传奇异闻甚多，可以说是近代中国传统内丹集大成者。自黄元吉之后，“天府乐育堂”一派在各地开枝散叶。黄元吉在四川讲课的内容，被门人编纂成书，对于现代道家内丹的修炼仍旧发挥着深远的影响力。

根据门人所述，黄元吉是属于道家隐仙派。其法脉传承为：广成子→黄帝→岐伯天师→老子→尹喜→麻衣道者→陈抟→火龙真人→黄元吉。

黄裳生平于乐育堂传授之讲述，由门下弟子笔录并编纂成《道德经讲义》、《乐育堂语录》、《道门语要》三书留传于世。据传尚有《玄宗口诀》、《醒心经注》、《求心经注》等书，然已经失佚。