Book · by 老子 · first published 1989
How many pages is Tao te Ching?
Tao te Ching by 老子 has a median of 114 pages across 277 English-language print editions with a recorded page count; the middle half of editions run 84 to 168 pages.
Median pages
114
277 editions counted
Range
53–255
shortest to longest edition
Reading time
2.2h
at 238 wpm (non-fiction average)
Words (est.)
31k
at 275 words per page
How long will Tao te Ching take you?
Reading time
2 h 12 min
At 30 min a day
5 days
At 1 hour a day
3 days
Page count of every edition, by year
Each dot is one English-language print edition. Shaded: middle half of editions. Line: median.
Pages by format
Hardcover, paperback and mass-market editions are typeset differently, so the same text can run to more or fewer pages.
| Format | Median pages | Editions | Reading time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 128 | 11 | 2 h 28 min |
| Paperback | 144 | 35 | 2 h 46 min |
Editions counted
The 277 editions behind the figures above, newest first. 79 more editions were set aside because the page count was less than half or more than 2.2 times the median, which usually means an abridged text, an omnibus, or a typing error. Open Library lists 658 editions of this work in all languages and formats.
| Year | Publisher | Format | Pages | Open Library |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Arcturus Publishing | – | 208 | OL52571981M |
| 2024 | Arcturus Publishing | – | 128 | OL52559900M |
| 2021 | Amber Books Ltd | – | 96 | OL33905555M |
| 2020 | Arcturus Publishing | – | 208 | OL29858793M |
| 2020 | Dover Publications, Incorporated | – | 112 | OL28064197M |
| 2020 | Arcturus Publishing | – | 208 | OL30191145M |
| 2019 | Independently Published | – | 107 | OL41427614M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55931106M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55367940M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56567685M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55599898M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55833976M |
| 2018 | Watkins Media Limited | – | 224 | OL28618156M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 86 | OL55179270M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56567222M |
| 2018 | Sirius international (Editions) | – | 160 | OL28889475M |
| 2018 | Watkins Media Limited | – | 172 | OL28598968M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55267020M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55039961M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55958744M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56073266M |
| 2018 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54929919M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 102 | OL56561644M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56507311M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54688155M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54796668M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56650627M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55688820M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 82 | OL56423392M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 82 | OL54680470M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54999330M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 76 | OL56509515M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 82 | OL55689300M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56648643M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 90 | OL56447432M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55580043M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55430445M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 64 | OL56447351M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 88 | OL55082584M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56448012M |
| 2017 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56308193M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 100 | OL54990344M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 112 | OL54650348M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55161751M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 90 | OL55330052M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55797031M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 134 | OL55487470M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 96 | OL55857682M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54643910M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54655655M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54654250M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 98 | OL55395031M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 68 | OL55889471M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56202335M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55977806M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54643908M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 98 | OL55517900M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 102 | OL56672052M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55322123M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55567529M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 88 | OL56500293M |
| 2016 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56202282M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 100 | OL55193033M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 68 | OL55150814M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 146 | OL55650317M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 98 | OL56266781M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 158 | OL54628642M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56389864M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54960612M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 160 | OL56102090M |
| 2015 | Book Sales, Incorporated | – | 96 | OL54626321M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL55198143M |
| 2015 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 160 | OL56267221M |
| 2014 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 86 | OL55508897M |
| 2014 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54405223M |
| 2014 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 178 | OL55510579M |
| 2014 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 78 | OL55878264M |
| 2014 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL56467901M |
| 2013 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 66 | OL54519722M |
| 2013 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 86 | OL54383421M |
| 2013 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 70 | OL54461433M |
| 2013 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 62 | OL54388758M |
| 2012 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 62 | OL54103167M |
| 2012 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 96 | OL54252879M |
| 2012 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54298724M |
| 2012 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 86 | OL54578211M |
| 2012 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 84 | OL54568283M |
| 2012 | Wiley & Sons, Limited, John | – | 224 | OL29125343M |
| 2012 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 148 | OL55153483M |
| 2012 | Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John | – | 224 | OL29125341M |
| 2012 | Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John | – | 224 | OL29125342M |
| 2011 | Inner Traditions | – | 184 | OL24479274M |
| 2011 | Octopus Publishing Group | – | 128 | OL29063321M |
| 2011 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 92 | OL54082760M |
| 2010 | Baltimore Press | – | 218 | OL24109364M |
| 2010 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 108 | OL54278166M |
| 2010 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 114 | OL54417566M |
| 2010 | Shambhala | – | 192 | OL24881075M |
| 2010 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 114 | OL54145270M |
| 2010 | CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | – | 114 | OL54278208M |
| 2010 | Kodansha International | – | 255 | OL23954315M |
| 2010 | A. Raposa, Inc. | – | 81 | OL24841603M |
| 2009 | Penguin Books, Limited | – | 96 | OL28451488M |
| 2009 | Copper Canyon Press | – | 182 | OL24059962M |
| 2008 | Anusara Press TM | – | 81 | OL16952094M |
| 2008 | Tarcher | Paperback | 128 | OL12315513M |
| 2008 | Oxford University Press Inc. | – | 187 | OL16699631M |
| 2007 | Shambhala | – | 122 | OL22794310M |
| 2007 | Signet Classics | – | 170 | OL7577393M |
| 2007 | Shambhala | Paperback | 144 | OL8846034M |
| 2007 | Open Court | Paperback | 192 | OL8019159M |
| 2007 | NuVision Publications | Paperback | 88 | OL8882352M |
| 2006 | Filiquarian Publishing, LLC. | Paperback | 88 | OL8902404M |
| 2006 | Lulu Enterprises, UK Ltd | Paperback | 140 | OL8965630M |
| 2006 | SkyLight Paths Pub. | – | 169 | OL17206289M |
| 2006 | Harper Perennial Modern Classics | – | 113 | OL7288691M |
| 2006 | Dodo Press | Paperback | 56 | OL8408302M |
| 2006 | Watkins | Hardcover | 222 | OL8928317M |
| 2006 | Fifth Estate | – | 168 | OL22737431M |
| 2005 | Barnes & Noble Classics | Paperback | 208 | OL8870271M |
| 2005 | Shambhala | – | 119 | OL3395837M |
| 2005 | Gramercy | Hardcover | 128 | OL7681735M |
| 2004 | Cliff Road Books | Paperback | 144 | OL8784033M |
| 2004 | University of California Press | Paperback | 235 | OL7711920M |
| 2004 | Cloud Hands, Inc. | Paperback | 116 | OL11802383M |
| 2004 | Anusara | – | 81 | OL16317939M |
| 2003 | Asian Humanities Press | Hardcover | 200 | OL9405351M |
| 2003 | Book Tree | Paperback | 112 | OL8796328M |
| 2003 | Astrolog Publishing House | Paperback | 128 | OL9168457M |
| 2003 | Vega | Paperback | 192 | OL8930307M |
| 2003 | Jain Publishing Company | Paperback | 200 | OL8252584M |
| 2003 | Ballantine Books | – | 241 | OL18479359M |
| 2002 | Astrolog Pub. House | – | 128 | OL22247007M |
| 2002 | Vega | – | 189 | OL3753710M |
| 2002 | Counterpoint | Paperback | 128 | OL8787193M |
| 2002 | Square One Publishers | – | 113 | OL23068870M |
| 2002 | Barron's | – | 176 | OL18006961M |
| 2002 | Godsfield Book | – | 176 | OL22581164M |
| 2001 | University of California Press | Hardcover | 149 | OL7710242M |
| 2001 | Square One Publishers | Paperback | 176 | OL7996532M |
| 2001 | New American Library | – | 134 | OL22860306M |
| 2000 | Piatkus Books | Paperback | 128 | OL7969807M |
| 2000 | Aeon Pub. Co | Unknown Binding | 117 | OL12218835M |
| 2000 | iUniverse | Paperback | 116 | OL12310242M |
| 2000 | HarperCollins | – | 113 | OL16971630M |
| 2000 | Counterpoint | – | 97 | OL6778897M |
| 2000 | Columbia University Press | – | 241 | OL15493354M |
| 1999 | Columbia University Press | – | 244 | OL382033M |
| 1999 | HarperCollins | Hardcover | 96 | OL9230522M |
| 1999 | Weiser Books | Paperback | 108 | OL8754882M |
| 1999 | iUniverse | Paperback | 244 | OL8790872M |
| 1999 | Rider | Hardcover | 144 | OL7793613M |
| 1998 | Quality Paperback Book Club | – | 168 | OL13631059M |
| 1998 | Red Mansions Pub. | – | 153 | OL18818460M |
| 1998 | Shambhala | – | 125 | OL18392787M |
| 1997 | Windhorse Corp | Paperback | 176 | OL8755205M |
| 1997 | Vintage | Paperback | 176 | OL7701143M |
| 1997 | Shambhala | – | 125 | OL672880M |
| 1997 | Thorsons | – | 81 | OL16622505M |
| 1997 | Dover Publications | – | 78 | OL698428M |
| 1997 | Element Books | Paperback | 192 | OL8973817M |
| 1997 | Shambhala | Hardcover | 125 | OL8697445M |
| 1997 | Book-of-the-Month Club | – | 168 | OL16316834M |
| 1997 | Shambhala | – | 125 | OL664106M |
| 1996 | Mercury House | – | 179 | OL981016M |
| 1996 | Jain Pub. Co. | – | 129 | OL976547M |
| 1996 | Windhorse Corp. | – | 176 | OL1023735M |
| 1996 | Element | – | 133 | OL1009554M |
| 1995 | Seven Star Communications | – | 233 | OL1429009M |
| 1995 | Samuel Weiser | – | 112 | OL789839M |
| 1995 | Penguin (Non-Classics) | – | 64 | OL7362215M |
| 1995 | St. Martin's Press | – | 81 | OL1273106M |
| 1995 | Red Wheel / Weiser | Paperback | 128 | OL8111443M |
| 1994 | Harpercollins | Hardcover | 121 | OL9230305M |
| 1994 | Knopf | – | 126 | OL1084534M |
| 1994 | Element | – | 201 | OL16771739M |
| 1994 | Element Books | Paperback | 192 | OL8973844M |
| 1994 | Little, Brown | – | 81 | OL1428426M |
| 1993 | Hackett Pub. Co. | – | 106 | OL1412957M |
| 1993 | Element | – | 189 | OL1425066M |
| 1993 | Foreign Languages Press | – | 103 | OL569334M |
| 1993 | Cove View Press | – | 82 | OL1416703M |
| 1992 | Charles E. Tuttle | Hardcover | 172 | OL7930668M |
| 1992 | HarperPerennial | – | 128 | OL22971820M |
| 1992 | C.E. Tuttle Co. | – | 172 | OL1747369M |
| 1992 | Avery | Paperback | 176 | OL8250922M |
| 1991 | Sun Pub Co | Paperback | 162 | OL11308481M |
| 1991 | Llanerch | – | 112 | OL22242406M |
| 1991 | Taoism Publisher | – | 92 | OL1571291M |
| 1990 | Kyle Cathie | – | 108 | OL22813401M |
| 1990 | Bantam Books | – | 168 | OL1848898M |
| 1989 | Shambhala | – | 165 | OL2210796M |
| 1989 | Shambhala | Paperback | 165 | OL8113133M |
| 1989 | Vintage Books | – | 107 | OL2218288M |
| 1989 | Macmillan | Hardcover | 128 | OL10549315M |
| 1989 | Shrine of Eternal Breath of Tao and College of Tao and Tradi | – | 212 | OL14749315M |
| 1989 | Vintage | Paperback | 107 | OL7699821M |
| 1988 | Macmillan | – | 111 | OL22156976M |
| 1988 | Theone Press | – | 81 | OL1820227M |
| 1988 | HarperCollins | – | 121 | OL1221246M |
| 1988 | HarperCollins | Hardcover | 128 | OL9230145M |
| 1988 | Harper & Row | – | 108 | OL2061873M |
| 1987 | Arkana/Penguin Books | – | 144 | OL22938652M |
| 1986 | Doubleday | – | 162 | OL3029667M |
| 1986 | Aquarian Press | Paperback | 192 | OL11563449M |
| 1986 | World Books | – | 129 | OL1487958M |
| 1986 | Putnam | – | 109 | OL18201617M |
| 1985 | Mandala | Paperback | 128 | OL9227897M |
| 1985 | Arkana | – | 144 | OL21068473M |
| 1985 | Schocken Books | – | 108 | OL2859515M |
| 1985 | Arkana | Paperback | 144 | OL22121001M |
| 1983 | Concord Grove Pr | Paperback | 72 | OL8196524M |
| 1982 | Crossroad | – | 167 | OL4271299M |
| 1982 | Theosophical Pub. House | – | 234 | OL3787910M |
| 1982 | Unwin Paperbacks | – | 126 | OL3491777M |
| 1979 | Shrine of the Eternal Breath of Tao | – | 219 | OL4435436M |
| 1979 | Seven Star Communications | Paperback | 233 | OL8414345M |
| 1979 | University of Hawaii Press | – | 219 | OL4407980M |
| 1977 | Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan | – | 198 | OL4696700M |
| 1977 | Perennial Library | – | 206 | OL13588939M |
| 1977 | s.n.] | – | 79 | OL4565425M |
| 1976 | Unwin Paperbacks | – | 96 | OL4314150M |
| 1976 | Askin Publishers | – | 116 | OL4615931M |
| 1976 | Thelema Publications | – | 104 | OL5418750M |
| 1975 | Harper & Row | – | 223 | OL5052171M |
| 1974 | Open Court | – | 209 | OL5426927M |
| 1972 | Newbard | – | 81 | OL5457773M |
| 1972 | Lyrebird Press Ltd. | – | 99 | OL4946272M |
| 1972 | Theosophical Pub. House | – | 165 | OL5301820M |
| 1972 | Murray | – | 60 | OL20286350M |
| 1971 | Theosophical Publishing | – | 105 | OL5089930M |
| 1970 | Published for the Buddhist Society by Allen & Unwin | – | 95 | OL22111763M |
| 1969 | T. C. Press | – | 244 | OL13574794M |
| 1964 | Penguin Classics | – | 176 | OL7355111M |
| 1964 | The Open Court Pub. Co. | – | 209 | OL16417477M |
| 1963 | Penguin | – | 191 | OL24945443M |
| 1963 | Penguin Books | – | 191 | OL5904838M |
| 1962 | Peter Pauper Press | – | 61 | OL5846295M |
| 1962 | Capricorn Books | – | 76 | OL15325825M |
| 1962 | Capricorn books | – | 76 | OL14080844M |
| 1959 | Published for the Buddhist Society by Allen & Unwin | – | 95 | OL14578736M |
| 1959 | John Murray | – | 60 | OL22979027M |
| 1959 | Published for the Buddhist Society by Allen & Unwin | – | 95 | OL32364121M |
| 1958 | F. Ungar Pub. Co. | – | 126 | OL6248183M |
| 1955 | New American Library | – | 134 | OL20404799M |
| 1955 | New American Library | – | 134 | OL6176006M |
| 1955 | Signet | – | 136 | OL7589453M |
| 1954 | J. Murray | – | 172 | OL53192216M |
| 1954 | J. Murray | – | 172 | OL16541417M |
| 1954 | J.Murray | – | 172 | OL21457263M |
| 1950 | J. Murray | – | 53 | OL14578753M |
| 1949 | Hassell Press | – | 85 | OL1176627M |
| 1948 | The Order of the Great Companions | – | 83 | OL18673892M |
| 1946 | Editions Poetry London | – | 74 | OL6518399M |
| 1944 | John Day Co. | – | 76 | OL6477988M |
| 1942 | The Buddhist Lodge | – | 94 | OL6470946M |
| 1939 | Buddhist Lodge | – | 94 | OL15549204M |
| 1939 | D. Goddard | – | 139 | OL21188192M |
| 1939 | D. Goddard | – | 139 | OL6386461M |
| 1935 | D. Goddard | – | 149 | OL6336254M |
| 1929 | Rider | – | 186 | OL14481812M |
| 1926 | J. Murray | – | 53 | OL17770743M |
| 1926 | J. Murray | – | 53 | OL6725680M |
| 1919 | Brentano's | – | 116 | OL24150807M |
| 1919 | Brentano's | – | 116 | OL17605564M |
| 1917 | J. Murray | – | 53 | OL14578748M |
| 1913 | David McKay | – | 186 | OL18674578M |
| 1913 | William Rider | – | 186 | OL20784088M |
| 1913 | William Rider | – | 186 | OL24150723M |
| 1913 | The Open court publishing co. | – | 209 | OL6558616M |
| 1913 | The Open court publishing co. | – | 209 | OL7218643M |
| 1909 | W. Rider | – | 186 | OL7096368M |
| 1905 | Theosophical Book Concern | – | 134 | OL7223211M |
| 1905 | J. Murray | – | 53 | OL14041043M |
| 1905 | J. Murray | – | 60 | OL13594084M |
| 1905 | John Murray | – | 53 | OL20784252M |
| 1903 | Research Pub. Co. | – | 165 | OL6924494M |
Questions
- How many pages is Tao te Ching?
- About 114 pages: that is the median of 277 English-language print editions on Open Library. Editions range from 53 to 255 pages.
- How long does it take to read Tao te Ching?
- About 2 h 12 min at 238 words per minute, assuming 275 words per page. At 30 minutes a day that is 5 days.
- How many words is Tao te Ching?
- Roughly 31,000 words, estimated from the median page count at 275 words per page. Open Library does not record word counts, so this is an estimate.
Data: Open Library monthly data dumps (works, editions, authors, reading log, ratings) (Open Library / Internet Archive); How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate (Marc Brysbaert, Journal of Memory and Language 109 (2019)).