Writing: Laozi, Laotse, Lao-tse, Lao zi, Lao Tse, Lao-zu, Laudse, Daodejing, Taoteking, Tao Te King, Daudedsching. The Daodejing has many faces. In striking formulations, it encapsulates cosmic, spiritual, and social connections, serving as a collection of sayings that has been used for meditation and also as a guiding principle for governance. In Europe, it was long regarded as a purely esoteric text. However, it can be enjoyed and utilized as a guide. A new edition of the Daodejing may seem unnecessary given the multitude of translations available. Yet, it is precisely the one-sidedness of the texts and the claim to provide a coherent interpretation of the Chinese original that leads to the dissatisfaction of readers who compare different versions. In this edition, Viktor Kalinke not only presents his interpretation of the text but also develops it further.