Tao Te Ching is one of the most translated works in world history, second only to the Bible. France was the first country in the Western world to respond to the demand for its translation. With the publication of the first complete French translation of Tao Te Ching in 1842, it promoted a re-evaluation of Chinese philosopher Laozi and Chinese culture throughout Europe. In the following three centuries, the spread of Tao Te Ching in French-speaking contexts experienced three major historical stages: academic translation as a beginning, large-scale re-translation as development, and cross-genre derivative creation as a new feature. Through continuous exchange and interaction with the target language culture, it has generated a rich variety of translations and become an exemplary model for the overseas dissemination of Chinese thoughts and culture.