The Original and Derived Meanings of the Word Tao and the Groundwork for Its Philosophical Concept in the Laozi Age and in the Pre-Laozi Period

This paper surveys the origin and development of the word Too and its concept,as well as its original and derived meanings in the age of Lao Zi and even in the pre-Lao Zi period,so that we may grasp the whole process of the word Too which developed from an everyday word into a philosophical concept.Too's various specific meanings include(1)the primary mean- ings of road and guidance,(derived from which are)(2)the meaning of the word method;(3)the meaning of the social law; (4)the meaning of morality;(5)the meaning of natural law;(6)the meaning of the more general law;(7)the meaning from origin to speech.An examination of the original and derived meanings of the word Too helps us know about its linguistic implica- tions in the times both before after Lao Zi,understand the groundwork for the philosophical concept of Too made by Lao Zi,and comprehend the concept formulated,or even the ideological basis laid down by the predecessors of Lao Zi,as well as the internal connections between the Tao of pre-Lao Zi and Too of Lao Zi.It is very reasonable to assert that Tao of Lao Zi did not come out of nihility or imagination.It was the rich comprehension and recognition of Too in the pre-Lao Zi period that constituted the sol- id philosophical concept and ideological foundation of Lao Zi's Tao.What Lao Zi did was a splendid jump from this basis to an abstract and systematic high level.