反者道之動•弱者道之用•天下萬物生於有有生於無•The movement of Dao returns things.The function of Dao is to weaken things.The ten thousand creatures of the world are created frombeing;Being is created from non-being.♦ThemovementofDaoreturnsthings. [entities]♦ThefunctionofDaois toweakenthings.A[usefulness] [entities]Theten thousandBcreaturesof theworld2arecreatedfrombeing;CBeingiscreatedfromnon-being.DNotesA :all creatures grow weaker as they age, and all man-made things decay and fall apart, which is the way (Dao) of the universe; this is why in #30 and #55 creatures which are old but still robust are “not Dao”; compare these first two lines to #14 and #21, where Dao’s action is indistinct and confusingB : technically, the majority of the sources read “Thecreaturesoftheworld…” but “ten thousand creatures” is such a standard saying everywhere else that it is retained here from the other sourcesC : compare to #42, where creatures are created by “three”D : compare to #2, where non-being and being create each otherCross-referencesreturning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #52,#58, #60, #64, #65, #80weak : #3, #29, #36, #55, #76, #78non-being : #2, #43Chapter Forty One上士聞道勤而行之中士聞道若存若亡下士聞道大笑之不笑不足以為道•(•)故建言有之(曰) •明道若昧進道若退夷道若纇上德若谷•大白若辱廣德若不足建德若偷質真若渝大方無隅大器晚成大音希聲大象無形道隱無名•(•)夫唯道善(始)且(善)成The superior scholar hearing of Dao works hard andpractices it.The average scholar hearing of Dao seems to keep it,seems to lose it.The inferior scholar hearing of Dao laughs greatly at it.If he did not laugh, it would not be qualified to be Dao.Therefore : in the established sayings that exist, it is said –Insight into Dao seems like darkness.Advancing in Dao seems like retreating.Smooth Dao seems knotted.Superior De seems like a valley.The greatest purity seems like disgrace.The most extensive De seems like it is not enough.Established De seems aimless.Real and true character seems inconsistent.The greatest region is without borders.The greatest vessel is last to be completed.The greatest tone is a tenuous sound.The greatest image is without-form.Dao is hidden and without-name.Now : only Dao is good at beginning and also good atcompleting.ThesuperiorscholarhearingofDaoworks hardandpracticesit. [performs]TheaveragescholarhearingofDaoseemstokeepit,seemstoloseit. [middle]♦TheinferiorscholarhearingofDaolaughsgreatlyatit.♦If he didnotlaugh, it wouldnot be qualified3to beDao.Therefore: in theestablished sayings2Athatexist,itissaid–InsightintoDaoseemslikedarkness.[wise,sight]♦AdvancinginDaoseemslikeretreating.♦SmoothDaoseemsknotted.B♦SuperiorDeseemslike avalley.♦Thegreatestpurityseemslikedisgrace.♦The mostextensiveDeseemslike it isnotenough.♦EstablishedDeseemsaimless.Real and truecharacterseemsinconsistent. [change]♦Thegreatestregioniswithoutborders.CThegreatestvesselislastto becompleted.D[late]Thegreatesttoneis atenuoussound. [rare]Thegreatestimageiswithout-form.Daoishiddenandwithout-name.Now:onlyDaoisgoodatbeginningandalsogoodatcompleting.ENotesA : Ames&Hall comment that it is unknown whether “established sayings” is referring to proverbs in general, or a specific work that no longer existsB : compare to #53, where “Dao is extremely even”C : this line could just as likely be translated asThegreatestsquareiswithoutcornersbut considering that the DDJ often refers to nations, this translation seems more appropriateD : a euphemism for “great talents mature slowly”E : although this line only survives in MWD/B of the three earlier sources, it is used here because it is much more straightforward and understandable than the later threeCross-referencesscholar : #15, #68valley : #6, #15, #28, #32, #39, #66toneandvoice/sound (same symbol) : #2tenuous : #14hidden : #15without-name : #1, #32, #37Chapter Forty Two道生一一生二二生三三生萬物萬物負陰而抱陽沖氣以為和人之所惡唯孤寡不穀而王公以(自)稱•(•)故物或損之而益或益之而損人之所教我亦教之強梁者不得其死吾將以為教父Dao creates one.One creates two.Two creates three.Three creates the ten thousand creatures.The ten thousand creatures carry Yin and embrace Yang,Pouring their Qi together, thus becoming harmonious.That which people detest :Being alone, orphaned, lonely, and unlucky –Yet kings and nobles thus name themselves.Therefore : creaturesSometimes lose, yet they gain;Sometimes gain, yet they lose.That which people teach, I also teach :Those who are bullies and hoodlums do not meet theirnatural death.I will thus become their elder teacher.♦Daocreatesone.♦Onecreatestwo.♦Twocreatesthree.♦Threecreatestheten thousandcreatures.A♦Theten thousandcreaturescarryYinandembraceYang,♦PouringtheirQitogether,thusbecomingharmonious.♦That whichpeople[they]detest:♦Beingalone,orphaned{lonely},lonely{widowed}, andunlucky2B– [notlucky]YetkingsandnoblesCthusnamethemselves. [dukes]Therefore:creaturesSometimeslose,yettheygain; [maybe,perhaps] [benefit,increase]Sometimesgain,yettheylose. [maybe,perhaps] [benefit,increase]That whichpeople[they]teach,Ialsoteach[it] :Those whoarebullies and hoodlumsdonotmeettheir[natural]death. [bully,ruffian2] [obtain,get]Iwillthusbecometheirelderteacher.DNotesA : compare to #40, where creatures are created from beingB : these two symbols together can also be translated as “worthless” or “unhappy”C : specifically Dukes (see #32), but in keeping with other chapters, this is interpreted more generally as “nobles”D :教父is often translated as some variant of “senior teaching” (primary teaching, essence of teaching, principal teaching, etc.), but it also means “godfather” in the best sense of the term (friend and teacher), and this translation is consistent with #27, where a virtuous person is the teacher of a non-virtuous personCross-referencesQi : #10, #55orphaned, lonely, and unlucky : #39nobles (in general) : #32, #37, #39, #62, #80creatures sometimes X…Y : #29teaching : #2, #27, #43die/death : #6, #33, #50, #67, #74, #75, #76, #80Chapter Forty Three
反者道之動•弱者道之用•天下萬物生於有有生於無•The movement of Dao returns things.The function of Dao is to weaken things.The ten thousand creatures of the world are created frombeing;Being is created from non-being.♦ThemovementofDaoreturnsthings. [entities]♦ThefunctionofDaois toweakenthings.A[usefulness] [entities]Theten thousandBcreaturesof theworld2arecreatedfrombeing;CBeingiscreatedfromnon-being.DNotesA :all creatures grow weaker as they age, and all man-made things decay and fall apart, which is the way (Dao) of the universe; this is why in #30 and #55 creatures which are old but still robust are “not Dao”; compare these first two lines to #14 and #21, where Dao’s action is indistinct and confusingB : technically, the majority of the sources read “Thecreaturesoftheworld…” but “ten thousand creatures” is such a standard saying everywhere else that it is retained here from the other sourcesC : compare to #42, where creatures are created by “three”D : compare to #2, where non-being and being create each otherCross-referencesreturning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #52,#58, #60, #64, #65, #80weak : #3, #29, #36, #55, #76, #78non-being : #2, #43
反者道之動•
弱者道之用•
天下萬物生於有
有生於無•
The movement of Dao returns things.
The function of Dao is to weaken things.
The ten thousand creatures of the world are created from
being;
Being is created from non-being.
♦ThemovementofDaoreturnsthings. [entities]
♦ThefunctionofDaois toweakenthings.A[usefulness] [entities]
Theten thousandBcreaturesof theworld2arecreatedfrom
being;C
Beingiscreatedfromnon-being.D
Notes
A :all creatures grow weaker as they age, and all man-made things decay and fall apart, which is the way (Dao) of the universe; this is why in #30 and #55 creatures which are old but still robust are “not Dao”; compare these first two lines to #14 and #21, where Dao’s action is indistinct and confusing
B : technically, the majority of the sources read “Thecreaturesoftheworld…” but “ten thousand creatures” is such a standard saying everywhere else that it is retained here from the other sources
C : compare to #42, where creatures are created by “three”
D : compare to #2, where non-being and being create each other
Cross-references
returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #52,
#58, #60, #64, #65, #80
weak : #3, #29, #36, #55, #76, #78
non-being : #2, #43
Chapter Forty One
上士聞道勤而行之中士聞道若存若亡下士聞道大笑之不笑不足以為道•(•)故建言有之(曰) •明道若昧進道若退夷道若纇上德若谷•大白若辱廣德若不足建德若偷質真若渝大方無隅大器晚成大音希聲大象無形道隱無名•(•)夫唯道善(始)且(善)成The superior scholar hearing of Dao works hard andpractices it.The average scholar hearing of Dao seems to keep it,seems to lose it.The inferior scholar hearing of Dao laughs greatly at it.If he did not laugh, it would not be qualified to be Dao.Therefore : in the established sayings that exist, it is said –Insight into Dao seems like darkness.Advancing in Dao seems like retreating.Smooth Dao seems knotted.Superior De seems like a valley.The greatest purity seems like disgrace.The most extensive De seems like it is not enough.Established De seems aimless.Real and true character seems inconsistent.The greatest region is without borders.The greatest vessel is last to be completed.The greatest tone is a tenuous sound.The greatest image is without-form.Dao is hidden and without-name.Now : only Dao is good at beginning and also good atcompleting.ThesuperiorscholarhearingofDaoworks hardandpracticesit. [performs]TheaveragescholarhearingofDaoseemstokeepit,seemstoloseit. [middle]♦TheinferiorscholarhearingofDaolaughsgreatlyatit.♦If he didnotlaugh, it wouldnot be qualified3to beDao.Therefore: in theestablished sayings2Athatexist,itissaid–InsightintoDaoseemslikedarkness.[wise,sight]♦AdvancinginDaoseemslikeretreating.♦SmoothDaoseemsknotted.B♦SuperiorDeseemslike avalley.♦Thegreatestpurityseemslikedisgrace.♦The mostextensiveDeseemslike it isnotenough.♦EstablishedDeseemsaimless.Real and truecharacterseemsinconsistent. [change]♦Thegreatestregioniswithoutborders.CThegreatestvesselislastto becompleted.D[late]Thegreatesttoneis atenuoussound. [rare]Thegreatestimageiswithout-form.Daoishiddenandwithout-name.Now:onlyDaoisgoodatbeginningandalsogoodatcompleting.ENotesA : Ames&Hall comment that it is unknown whether “established sayings” is referring to proverbs in general, or a specific work that no longer existsB : compare to #53, where “Dao is extremely even”C : this line could just as likely be translated asThegreatestsquareiswithoutcornersbut considering that the DDJ often refers to nations, this translation seems more appropriateD : a euphemism for “great talents mature slowly”E : although this line only survives in MWD/B of the three earlier sources, it is used here because it is much more straightforward and understandable than the later threeCross-referencesscholar : #15, #68valley : #6, #15, #28, #32, #39, #66toneandvoice/sound (same symbol) : #2tenuous : #14hidden : #15without-name : #1, #32, #37
上士聞道勤而行之
中士聞道若存若亡
下士聞道大笑之
不笑不足以為道•
(•)故建言有之(曰) •
明道若昧
進道若退
夷道若纇
上德若谷•
大白若辱
廣德若不足
建德若偷
質真若渝
大方無隅
大器晚成
大音希聲
大象無形
道隱無名•
(•)夫唯道善(始)且(善)成
The superior scholar hearing of Dao works hard and
practices it.
The average scholar hearing of Dao seems to keep it,
seems to lose it.
The inferior scholar hearing of Dao laughs greatly at it.
If he did not laugh, it would not be qualified to be Dao.
Therefore : in the established sayings that exist, it is said –
Insight into Dao seems like darkness.
Advancing in Dao seems like retreating.
Smooth Dao seems knotted.
Superior De seems like a valley.
The greatest purity seems like disgrace.
The most extensive De seems like it is not enough.
Established De seems aimless.
Real and true character seems inconsistent.
The greatest region is without borders.
The greatest vessel is last to be completed.
The greatest tone is a tenuous sound.
The greatest image is without-form.
Dao is hidden and without-name.
Now : only Dao is good at beginning and also good at
completing.
ThesuperiorscholarhearingofDaoworks hardand
practicesit. [performs]
TheaveragescholarhearingofDaoseemstokeepit,
seemstoloseit. [middle]
♦TheinferiorscholarhearingofDaolaughsgreatlyatit.
♦If he didnotlaugh, it wouldnot be qualified3to beDao.
Therefore: in theestablished sayings2Athatexist,itis
said–
InsightintoDaoseemslikedarkness.[wise,sight]
♦AdvancinginDaoseemslikeretreating.
♦SmoothDaoseemsknotted.B
♦SuperiorDeseemslike avalley.
♦Thegreatestpurityseemslikedisgrace.
♦The mostextensiveDeseemslike it isnotenough.
♦EstablishedDeseemsaimless.
Real and truecharacterseemsinconsistent. [change]
♦Thegreatestregioniswithoutborders.C
Thegreatestvesselislastto becompleted.D[late]
Thegreatesttoneis atenuoussound. [rare]
Thegreatestimageiswithout-form.
Daoishiddenandwithout-name.
Now:onlyDaoisgoodatbeginningandalsogoodat
completing.E
Notes
A : Ames&Hall comment that it is unknown whether “established sayings” is referring to proverbs in general, or a specific work that no longer exists
B : compare to #53, where “Dao is extremely even”
C : this line could just as likely be translated as
Thegreatestsquareiswithoutcorners
but considering that the DDJ often refers to nations, this translation seems more appropriate
D : a euphemism for “great talents mature slowly”
E : although this line only survives in MWD/B of the three earlier sources, it is used here because it is much more straightforward and understandable than the later three
Cross-references
scholar : #15, #68
valley : #6, #15, #28, #32, #39, #66
toneandvoice/sound (same symbol) : #2
tenuous : #14
hidden : #15
without-name : #1, #32, #37
Chapter Forty Two
道生一一生二二生三三生萬物萬物負陰而抱陽沖氣以為和人之所惡唯孤寡不穀而王公以(自)稱•(•)故物或損之而益或益之而損人之所教我亦教之強梁者不得其死吾將以為教父Dao creates one.One creates two.Two creates three.Three creates the ten thousand creatures.The ten thousand creatures carry Yin and embrace Yang,Pouring their Qi together, thus becoming harmonious.That which people detest :Being alone, orphaned, lonely, and unlucky –Yet kings and nobles thus name themselves.Therefore : creaturesSometimes lose, yet they gain;Sometimes gain, yet they lose.That which people teach, I also teach :Those who are bullies and hoodlums do not meet theirnatural death.I will thus become their elder teacher.♦Daocreatesone.♦Onecreatestwo.♦Twocreatesthree.♦Threecreatestheten thousandcreatures.A♦Theten thousandcreaturescarryYinandembraceYang,♦PouringtheirQitogether,thusbecomingharmonious.♦That whichpeople[they]detest:♦Beingalone,orphaned{lonely},lonely{widowed}, andunlucky2B– [notlucky]YetkingsandnoblesCthusnamethemselves. [dukes]Therefore:creaturesSometimeslose,yettheygain; [maybe,perhaps] [benefit,increase]Sometimesgain,yettheylose. [maybe,perhaps] [benefit,increase]That whichpeople[they]teach,Ialsoteach[it] :Those whoarebullies and hoodlumsdonotmeettheir[natural]death. [bully,ruffian2] [obtain,get]Iwillthusbecometheirelderteacher.DNotesA : compare to #40, where creatures are created from beingB : these two symbols together can also be translated as “worthless” or “unhappy”C : specifically Dukes (see #32), but in keeping with other chapters, this is interpreted more generally as “nobles”D :教父is often translated as some variant of “senior teaching” (primary teaching, essence of teaching, principal teaching, etc.), but it also means “godfather” in the best sense of the term (friend and teacher), and this translation is consistent with #27, where a virtuous person is the teacher of a non-virtuous personCross-referencesQi : #10, #55orphaned, lonely, and unlucky : #39nobles (in general) : #32, #37, #39, #62, #80creatures sometimes X…Y : #29teaching : #2, #27, #43die/death : #6, #33, #50, #67, #74, #75, #76, #80
道生一
一生二
二生三
三生萬物
萬物負陰而抱陽
沖氣以為和
人之所惡
唯孤寡不穀
而王公以(自)稱•
(•)故物
或損之而益
或益之而損
人之所教我亦教之
強梁者不得其死
吾將以為教父
Dao creates one.
One creates two.
Two creates three.
Three creates the ten thousand creatures.
The ten thousand creatures carry Yin and embrace Yang,
Pouring their Qi together, thus becoming harmonious.
That which people detest :
Being alone, orphaned, lonely, and unlucky –
Yet kings and nobles thus name themselves.
Therefore : creatures
Sometimes lose, yet they gain;
Sometimes gain, yet they lose.
That which people teach, I also teach :
Those who are bullies and hoodlums do not meet their
natural death.
I will thus become their elder teacher.
♦Daocreatesone.
♦Onecreatestwo.
♦Twocreatesthree.
♦Threecreatestheten thousandcreatures.A
♦Theten thousandcreaturescarryYinandembraceYang,
♦PouringtheirQitogether,thusbecomingharmonious.
♦That whichpeople[they]detest:
♦Beingalone,orphaned{lonely},lonely{widowed}, and
unlucky2B– [notlucky]
YetkingsandnoblesCthusnamethemselves. [dukes]
Therefore:creatures
Sometimeslose,yettheygain; [maybe,perhaps] [benefit,increase]
Sometimesgain,yettheylose. [maybe,perhaps] [benefit,increase]
That whichpeople[they]teach,Ialsoteach[it] :
Those whoarebullies and hoodlumsdonotmeettheir
[natural]death. [bully,ruffian2] [obtain,get]
Iwillthusbecometheirelderteacher.D
Notes
A : compare to #40, where creatures are created from being
B : these two symbols together can also be translated as “worthless” or “unhappy”
C : specifically Dukes (see #32), but in keeping with other chapters, this is interpreted more generally as “nobles”
D :教父is often translated as some variant of “senior teaching” (primary teaching, essence of teaching, principal teaching, etc.), but it also means “godfather” in the best sense of the term (friend and teacher), and this translation is consistent with #27, where a virtuous person is the teacher of a non-virtuous person
Cross-references
Qi : #10, #55
orphaned, lonely, and unlucky : #39
nobles (in general) : #32, #37, #39, #62, #80
creatures sometimes X…Y : #29
teaching : #2, #27, #43
die/death : #6, #33, #50, #67, #74, #75, #76, #80
Chapter Forty Three