An Yu is a freelance researcher and translator from China. She has reviewed numerous existing translations of The Lao Tzu and found that many fail to convey its true essence. In translating this edition, she avoided deliberately obscure explanations, instead making the entire book coherent and logical, restoring the original meaning and practical guidance of the Dao. Her work draws on the silk manuscript "The Four Classics of the Yellow Emperor," providing a unique and authoritative foundation for this translation.