The Four Masters' Ancient Way Commentary 道德真经四子古道集解

Originally titled Sizi Gudao Yi (Expositions of the Dao by the Four Ancients).

Compiled by Kou Caizhi.

Roughly completed in the 19th year of the Dading reign period of Emperor Shizong of Jin (1179).

The Four Masters' Ancient Way Commentary

Consisting of ten volumes, it is included in the Yujue (Jade Commentary) category of the Dongshen Section of the Daozang (Daoist Canon).

The author’s preface to the book states: "Having examined commentaries by various scholars, I find that their arguments are mostly absurd and heretical, confusing the genuine with the fake—there are almost more than a hundred schools of such views. They have deviated from the original authenticity of the ancient Dao, which is truly lamentable. Only the works of the four sages—Zhuangzi, Wenzi, Liezi and Gengsangzi—are the teachings of the five thousand characters personally transmitted by the disciples of Laozi, and each of their expositions is consistent with the Dao". This collected commentary quotes the Zhuangzi, Wenzi, Liezi and Gengsangzi to verify the ancient meanings of the Laozi, occasionally presents the author’s own insights, strives to correct the fallacies in the commentaries of various schools, and expound the authentic ancient Dao.