The Similarities and Differences: the Readers' Receptions of Lao Zi in the West

English translation of the Lao Zi has various receptions in the west. Generally speaking, these receptions have two directions:facing to the text's original meaning or facing to its present application, which are the results of audience's choice for differences or similarities as well as the results of co-action of the source and the target languages' social system strength. Historically and presently, English translation of the Lao Zi has so many distortions and appropriations in its reception in the west that it has become a "plaything" to some extent. One reason for that is the "one-way mirror" practice in the west's reception of the eastern culture, which reflects the imbalance comprehensive strength between the western and the eastern social systems.