The root meaning of the Chinese word Dao is "path" or "way." It is more commonly known in English by the older transliteration Tao and is one of the few Chinese words that have been adopted into the English language. This is largely due to the broad appeal of an ancient Chinese text (c. fourth century B.C.E.) known as the Daode jing (or Taote-ching), which, it is said, is the most widely translated book in the world after the Bible.

During the period in Chinese history known as the Warring States (481–220 B.C.E.) the Zhou dynasty empire had disintegrated into several smaller states governed by rival feudal lords. This chaotic state of affairs led intellectuals to ask "Where is the Dao?" By this they meant: What path should leaders follow to bring harmony and stability to the country? Confucians said that the way lay in restoring ancient moral and ritual codes. Legalists said that the way lay in...