The terms ‘Dao De Jing’ and ‘Tao Te Ching’ refer to the same ancient Chinese text, though the difference in spelling arises from the different Romanization systems used for the Chinese language.
In Mandarin, the text is called ‘Dao De Jing’ (道德经), which translates to ‘Classic of the Way and Virtue.’ The ‘Dao’ (or ‘Tao’) represents the fundamental principle that flows through all things, while ‘De’ (or ‘Te’) signifies virtue or moral character.
The name ‘Tao Te Ching’ is based on earlier Romanization, which used the Wade-Giles system, popular before the adoption of Pinyin. As a result, ‘Tao’ is derived from the Wade-Giles system while ‘Daodejing’ is the Pinyin representation.
Regardless of how it’s spelled, the content remains unchanged, presenting philosophical ideas attributed to Laozi, an influential figure in Daoism. Thus, whether you come across ‘Dao De Jing’ or ‘Tao Te Ching,’ you are referring to the same philosophical work, rich with wisdom about the nature of life and the universe.