其政悶悶其民淳淳其政察察其民缺缺禍兮福之所倚•福兮禍之所伏孰知其極其無正•正復為奇善復為妖人之迷•其日固久是以聖人方而不割廉而不劌直而不肆光而不燿If their government is very restrained,Its citizens will be very genuine and honest.If their government is very observant and alert,Its citizens will be very lacking and deficient.Misfortune! is that which good fortune leans on.Good fortune! is that which misfortune lies on.Who knows their limits?They are not honest and just.Honesty and justness returns, becoming strange andunusual.Virtue returns, becoming weird and strange.The confusion of the people –Its days have indeed been everlasting.Thus the sage :Is honest and does not divide,Is honorable and does not injure,Is straightforward and does not indulge in excess,Is bright but does not dazzle.♦Iftheirgovernmentis [very]restrained, [smothered,tightly covered2]Itscitizenswill be [very]genuine and honest2A.Iftheirgovernmentis [very]observant and alert2,Itscitizenswill be [very]lacking and deficient2.Misfortune!isthat whichgood fortune[it]leans on.B♦Good fortune!isthat whichmisfortune[it]lies on.♦WhoknowstheirlimitsC? [utmost,extreme]♦Theyarenothonest and just.♦Honesty and justnessreturns,becomingstrange and unusual.♦Virtuereturns,becomingweird and strange.♦Theconfusionofthepeople–♦Itsdayshaveindeedbeeneverlasting. [undoubtedly] [for a long time]Thus2thesage2:♦IshonestDanddoesnotdivideE,Ishonorable*anddoesnotinjure,♦Isstraightforwardanddoesnotindulge in excess,IsbrightbutdoesnotdazzleF.NotesThe very’s in the first four lines are implied by the repeated symbols at the end of each lineA : every source has a different symbol here; this comes from WBB : this line and the next can be translated many ways because of the numerous meanings of their last symbols (see the Introduction) – the translation given here is the most “neutral”, saying only that they depend on each otherC : literally “theirextremes”,presumably in the sense of “to what extremes they will go” or “how far will they go”; compare to #59D : this symbol also has the sense of “morally upright”, “principled”, and “ethical”E : compare to #28 where the “greatest cutting does not divide” (also in relation to the sage)F : every source has a different symbol, but three of them mean “to shine, dazzle, be glorious” thus making a majority in meaning; compare to how the sage does not “display” in #22, #47, #72, #77Cross-referencesobservant and alert : #20returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #40,#52, #60, #64, #65, #80honest and just, strange and unusual : #57no harm : #35, #56, #60, #66, #81Chapter Fifty Nine治人事天莫若嗇(•)夫唯嗇是謂早服早服謂之重積德重積德則無不克•無不克則莫知其極莫知其極可以有國有國之母可以長久是謂深根固柢長生久視之道• •When governing people or doing heaven’s duties,It is better to be sparing.Now : only when you can be sparing,This is called early acceptance.Early acceptance is called doubling your accumulation ofDe.With a double accumulation of De,Then everything can be overcome.When everything can be overcome,Then no one knows your limits.When no one knows your limits,You can possess the nation.Possessing the mother of the nation,You can forever endure.This is called having a deep source and a firm foundation,The Way of long life and enduring sight.♦Whengoverningpeopleor doingheaven’sduties,♦It isbetter2to besparing. [stingy,thrifty]Now:onlywhen you can besparing, [stingy,thrifty]This iscalledearlyacceptanceA. [be convinced,serve]EarlyacceptanceiscalleddoublingyouraccumulationofDe. [be convinced,serve] [his]With adoubleaccumulationofDe,Theneverything2can beovercome.Wheneverything2can beovercome,Thenno oneknowsyourlimitsB. [his] [utmost,extreme]♦Whenno oneknowsyourlimitsB, [his] [utmost,extreme]♦Youcan2possessthenation.♦Possessingthemotherofthenation,♦Youcan2foreverendure. [for a long time]This iscalledhaving adeepsourceand afirmfoundation,♦TheWayoflonglifeandenduringsight. [for a long time]NotesA : this is the most literal translation; GUO hasThusyou arepreparedin advance[early]B : literally “yourextremes”,presumably in the sense of “to what extremes you will go” or “how far will you go”; compare to #58Cross-referencespossess or take hold of the world or nation :#29, #48, #57, #61mother : #1, #20, #25, #52can forever endure : #44Chapter Sixty治大國若烹小鮮以道莅天下其鬼不神非其鬼不神•其神不傷人•非其神不傷人•聖人亦不傷人•夫兩不相傷(•)故德交歸焉Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish.Because Dao is present in the world,Its ghosts do not have spirit.Not that its ghosts do not have any spirit,But their spirit does not injure people.Not only does their spirit not injure people,The sage also does not injure people.Now : since these two do not injure each other,Therefore their De merges and returns!♦Governingagreatnationislikecookingasmallfish.A♦BecauseDaoispresentin theworld2,♦Itsghostsdonothavespirit.B♦Notthatitsghostsdonothave [any]spirit,♦Buttheirspiritdoesnotinjurepeople.♦Not[only] doestheirspiritnotinjurepeople,Thesage2alsodoesnotinjurepeople.♦Now: since thesetwodonotinjureeach other,♦ThereforetheirDemergesandreturns![intersects,exchanges,mixes]NotesA : compare this line to the first two lines of the previous chapter and it is easy to see why there has long been speculation that this line should end the previous chapter; however, there is an explicit end-of-chapter marker in GUO #59, and GUO does not even contain this chapter;essentially this line is saying it is easy to ruin a small fish by overcooking, and it is easy to ruin a nation by over-controllingB : first – the “it” is literal,presumably meaning “the world’s ghosts”; second – “ghosts” is the most literal, general term, but this could also be referring to demons (or possibly to souls of the ancestors); third – “spirit” might be better thought of in this chapter as “spiritual power”,thus this line seems to be saying that ghosts do not have any power in the world; this and the next few lines can be translated in many different ways, due to the multiple meanings of the symbols for “ghost” and “spirit”, and the lack of any reasonable context –perhaps these lines were addressing some lost ancient scholarly debate or common cultural belief?Cross-referencesno harm : #35, #56, #58, #66, #81returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #40,#52, #58, #64, #65, #80Deandreturning : #28, #65Chapter Sixty One大國者下流•天下之交•天下之牝•牝常以靜勝牡以靜為下•(•)故大國以下小國則取小國小國以下大國則取[於]大國(•)故或下以取•或下而取大國不過欲兼畜人小國不過欲入事人•夫兩者各得[其]所欲•大者宜為下A great nation is like the lowest places water can flow –The merging place of the world,The female of the world.The female always uses stillness to conquer the male.By using stillness, she becomes lower-than.Therefore : if a great nation is lower-than a small nation,Then it takes hold of the small nation.If a small nation is lower-than a great nation,Then it is taken hold of by the great nation.Therefore : sometimes one nation is lower-than in orderto take hold of,Sometimes one nation is lower-than and then it is takenhold of.A great nation merely desires to combine livestock andpeople,A small nation merely desires to get work for its people.Now : for both nations to each get that which is their desire,It is proper for the great nation to be lower-than.Agreatnation[it] is like thelowestplaces [water]Acanflow–Themergingplaceoftheworld2, [intersection,exchange,mixing]Thefemaleoftheworld2.Thefemalealwaysusesstillnesstoconquerthemale. [victory,beat]Byusingstillness, shebecomeslower-thanB.♦Therefore: if agreatnationis [thus]lower-than asmallnation,♦Thenittakes hold ofthesmallnation.♦If asmallnationis [thus]lower-than agreatnation,Thenit istaken hold ofbythegreatnation.♦Therefore:sometimesone [nation] islower-thanin order totake hold of, [maybe,perhaps]♦Sometimesone [nation] islower-thanand thenit istaken hold of. [maybe,perhaps]Agreatnationmerely2desirestocombinelivestockandpeople,♦Asmallnationmerely2desirestogetworkfor itspeople.CNow: forbothnationstoeachgetthat whichistheirdesire, [entities]It isproperfor thegreatnationtobelower-than. [entity]NotesA :流(flow) has associations with waterB : literally “below”, “under”, or “inferior”, here “lower-than” is used to indicate taking the lower or inferior position in a relationship (which in ancient Chinese culture was the better thing to do); Lau translates it as “taking the lower position”C : the end of this line can also be translated as “desirestojoinandservepeople”Cross-referencesfeminine : #6, #10, #28stillness : #15, #16, #26, #37, #45, #57lower-than : #66, #68possess or take hold of the world or nation :#29, #48, #57, #59Chapter Sixty Two
其政悶悶其民淳淳其政察察其民缺缺禍兮福之所倚•福兮禍之所伏孰知其極其無正•正復為奇善復為妖人之迷•其日固久是以聖人方而不割廉而不劌直而不肆光而不燿If their government is very restrained,Its citizens will be very genuine and honest.If their government is very observant and alert,Its citizens will be very lacking and deficient.Misfortune! is that which good fortune leans on.Good fortune! is that which misfortune lies on.Who knows their limits?They are not honest and just.Honesty and justness returns, becoming strange andunusual.Virtue returns, becoming weird and strange.The confusion of the people –Its days have indeed been everlasting.Thus the sage :Is honest and does not divide,Is honorable and does not injure,Is straightforward and does not indulge in excess,Is bright but does not dazzle.♦Iftheirgovernmentis [very]restrained, [smothered,tightly covered2]Itscitizenswill be [very]genuine and honest2A.Iftheirgovernmentis [very]observant and alert2,Itscitizenswill be [very]lacking and deficient2.Misfortune!isthat whichgood fortune[it]leans on.B♦Good fortune!isthat whichmisfortune[it]lies on.♦WhoknowstheirlimitsC? [utmost,extreme]♦Theyarenothonest and just.♦Honesty and justnessreturns,becomingstrange and unusual.♦Virtuereturns,becomingweird and strange.♦Theconfusionofthepeople–♦Itsdayshaveindeedbeeneverlasting. [undoubtedly] [for a long time]Thus2thesage2:♦IshonestDanddoesnotdivideE,Ishonorable*anddoesnotinjure,♦Isstraightforwardanddoesnotindulge in excess,IsbrightbutdoesnotdazzleF.NotesThe very’s in the first four lines are implied by the repeated symbols at the end of each lineA : every source has a different symbol here; this comes from WBB : this line and the next can be translated many ways because of the numerous meanings of their last symbols (see the Introduction) – the translation given here is the most “neutral”, saying only that they depend on each otherC : literally “theirextremes”,presumably in the sense of “to what extremes they will go” or “how far will they go”; compare to #59D : this symbol also has the sense of “morally upright”, “principled”, and “ethical”E : compare to #28 where the “greatest cutting does not divide” (also in relation to the sage)F : every source has a different symbol, but three of them mean “to shine, dazzle, be glorious” thus making a majority in meaning; compare to how the sage does not “display” in #22, #47, #72, #77Cross-referencesobservant and alert : #20returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #40,#52, #60, #64, #65, #80honest and just, strange and unusual : #57no harm : #35, #56, #60, #66, #81
其政悶悶
其民淳淳
其政察察
其民缺缺
禍兮福之所倚•
福兮禍之所伏
孰知其極
其無正•
正復為奇
善復為妖
人之迷•
其日固久
是以聖人
方而不割
廉而不劌
直而不肆
光而不燿
If their government is very restrained,
Its citizens will be very genuine and honest.
If their government is very observant and alert,
Its citizens will be very lacking and deficient.
Misfortune! is that which good fortune leans on.
Good fortune! is that which misfortune lies on.
Who knows their limits?
They are not honest and just.
Honesty and justness returns, becoming strange and
unusual.
Virtue returns, becoming weird and strange.
The confusion of the people –
Its days have indeed been everlasting.
Thus the sage :
Is honest and does not divide,
Is honorable and does not injure,
Is straightforward and does not indulge in excess,
Is bright but does not dazzle.
♦Iftheirgovernmentis [very]restrained, [smothered,tightly covered2]
Itscitizenswill be [very]genuine and honest2A.
Iftheirgovernmentis [very]observant and alert2,
Itscitizenswill be [very]lacking and deficient2.
Misfortune!isthat whichgood fortune[it]leans on.B
♦Good fortune!isthat whichmisfortune[it]lies on.
♦WhoknowstheirlimitsC? [utmost,extreme]
♦Theyarenothonest and just.
♦Honesty and justnessreturns,becoming
strange and unusual.
♦Virtuereturns,becomingweird and strange.
♦Theconfusionofthepeople–
♦Itsdayshaveindeedbeeneverlasting. [undoubtedly] [for a long time]
Thus2thesage2:
♦IshonestDanddoesnotdivideE,
Ishonorable*anddoesnotinjure,
♦Isstraightforwardanddoesnotindulge in excess,
IsbrightbutdoesnotdazzleF.
Notes
The very’s in the first four lines are implied by the repeated symbols at the end of each line
A : every source has a different symbol here; this comes from WB
B : this line and the next can be translated many ways because of the numerous meanings of their last symbols (see the Introduction) – the translation given here is the most “neutral”, saying only that they depend on each other
C : literally “theirextremes”,presumably in the sense of “to what extremes they will go” or “how far will they go”; compare to #59
D : this symbol also has the sense of “morally upright”, “principled”, and “ethical”
E : compare to #28 where the “greatest cutting does not divide” (also in relation to the sage)
F : every source has a different symbol, but three of them mean “to shine, dazzle, be glorious” thus making a majority in meaning; compare to how the sage does not “display” in #22, #47, #72, #77
Cross-references
observant and alert : #20
returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #40,
#52, #60, #64, #65, #80
honest and just, strange and unusual : #57
no harm : #35, #56, #60, #66, #81
Chapter Fifty Nine
治人事天莫若嗇(•)夫唯嗇是謂早服早服謂之重積德重積德則無不克•無不克則莫知其極莫知其極可以有國有國之母可以長久是謂深根固柢長生久視之道• •When governing people or doing heaven’s duties,It is better to be sparing.Now : only when you can be sparing,This is called early acceptance.Early acceptance is called doubling your accumulation ofDe.With a double accumulation of De,Then everything can be overcome.When everything can be overcome,Then no one knows your limits.When no one knows your limits,You can possess the nation.Possessing the mother of the nation,You can forever endure.This is called having a deep source and a firm foundation,The Way of long life and enduring sight.♦Whengoverningpeopleor doingheaven’sduties,♦It isbetter2to besparing. [stingy,thrifty]Now:onlywhen you can besparing, [stingy,thrifty]This iscalledearlyacceptanceA. [be convinced,serve]EarlyacceptanceiscalleddoublingyouraccumulationofDe. [be convinced,serve] [his]With adoubleaccumulationofDe,Theneverything2can beovercome.Wheneverything2can beovercome,Thenno oneknowsyourlimitsB. [his] [utmost,extreme]♦Whenno oneknowsyourlimitsB, [his] [utmost,extreme]♦Youcan2possessthenation.♦Possessingthemotherofthenation,♦Youcan2foreverendure. [for a long time]This iscalledhaving adeepsourceand afirmfoundation,♦TheWayoflonglifeandenduringsight. [for a long time]NotesA : this is the most literal translation; GUO hasThusyou arepreparedin advance[early]B : literally “yourextremes”,presumably in the sense of “to what extremes you will go” or “how far will you go”; compare to #58Cross-referencespossess or take hold of the world or nation :#29, #48, #57, #61mother : #1, #20, #25, #52can forever endure : #44
治人事天
莫若嗇
(•)夫唯嗇
是謂早服
早服謂之重積德
重積德
則無不克•
無不克
則莫知其極
莫知其極
可以有國
有國之母
可以長久
是謂深根固柢
長生久視之道• •
When governing people or doing heaven’s duties,
It is better to be sparing.
Now : only when you can be sparing,
This is called early acceptance.
Early acceptance is called doubling your accumulation of
De.
With a double accumulation of De,
Then everything can be overcome.
When everything can be overcome,
Then no one knows your limits.
When no one knows your limits,
You can possess the nation.
Possessing the mother of the nation,
You can forever endure.
This is called having a deep source and a firm foundation,
The Way of long life and enduring sight.
♦Whengoverningpeopleor doingheaven’sduties,
♦It isbetter2to besparing. [stingy,thrifty]
Now:onlywhen you can besparing, [stingy,thrifty]
This iscalledearlyacceptanceA. [be convinced,serve]
Earlyacceptanceiscalleddoublingyouraccumulationof
De. [be convinced,serve] [his]
With adoubleaccumulationofDe,
Theneverything2can beovercome.
Wheneverything2can beovercome,
Thenno oneknowsyourlimitsB. [his] [utmost,extreme]
♦Whenno oneknowsyourlimitsB, [his] [utmost,extreme]
♦Youcan2possessthenation.
♦Possessingthemotherofthenation,
♦Youcan2foreverendure. [for a long time]
This iscalledhaving adeepsourceand afirmfoundation,
♦TheWayoflonglifeandenduringsight. [for a long time]
Notes
A : this is the most literal translation; GUO has
Thusyou arepreparedin advance[early]
B : literally “yourextremes”,presumably in the sense of “to what extremes you will go” or “how far will you go”; compare to #58
Cross-references
possess or take hold of the world or nation :
#29, #48, #57, #61
mother : #1, #20, #25, #52
can forever endure : #44
Chapter Sixty
治大國若烹小鮮以道莅天下其鬼不神非其鬼不神•其神不傷人•非其神不傷人•聖人亦不傷人•夫兩不相傷(•)故德交歸焉Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish.Because Dao is present in the world,Its ghosts do not have spirit.Not that its ghosts do not have any spirit,But their spirit does not injure people.Not only does their spirit not injure people,The sage also does not injure people.Now : since these two do not injure each other,Therefore their De merges and returns!♦Governingagreatnationislikecookingasmallfish.A♦BecauseDaoispresentin theworld2,♦Itsghostsdonothavespirit.B♦Notthatitsghostsdonothave [any]spirit,♦Buttheirspiritdoesnotinjurepeople.♦Not[only] doestheirspiritnotinjurepeople,Thesage2alsodoesnotinjurepeople.♦Now: since thesetwodonotinjureeach other,♦ThereforetheirDemergesandreturns![intersects,exchanges,mixes]NotesA : compare this line to the first two lines of the previous chapter and it is easy to see why there has long been speculation that this line should end the previous chapter; however, there is an explicit end-of-chapter marker in GUO #59, and GUO does not even contain this chapter;essentially this line is saying it is easy to ruin a small fish by overcooking, and it is easy to ruin a nation by over-controllingB : first – the “it” is literal,presumably meaning “the world’s ghosts”; second – “ghosts” is the most literal, general term, but this could also be referring to demons (or possibly to souls of the ancestors); third – “spirit” might be better thought of in this chapter as “spiritual power”,thus this line seems to be saying that ghosts do not have any power in the world; this and the next few lines can be translated in many different ways, due to the multiple meanings of the symbols for “ghost” and “spirit”, and the lack of any reasonable context –perhaps these lines were addressing some lost ancient scholarly debate or common cultural belief?Cross-referencesno harm : #35, #56, #58, #66, #81returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #40,#52, #58, #64, #65, #80Deandreturning : #28, #65
治大國若烹小鮮
以道莅天下
其鬼不神
非其鬼不神•
其神不傷人•
非其神不傷人•
聖人亦不傷人•
夫兩不相傷
(•)故德交歸焉
Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish.
Because Dao is present in the world,
Its ghosts do not have spirit.
Not that its ghosts do not have any spirit,
But their spirit does not injure people.
Not only does their spirit not injure people,
The sage also does not injure people.
Now : since these two do not injure each other,
Therefore their De merges and returns!
♦Governingagreatnationislikecookingasmallfish.A
♦BecauseDaoispresentin theworld2,
♦Itsghostsdonothavespirit.B
♦Notthatitsghostsdonothave [any]spirit,
♦Buttheirspiritdoesnotinjurepeople.
♦Not[only] doestheirspiritnotinjurepeople,
Thesage2alsodoesnotinjurepeople.
♦Now: since thesetwodonotinjureeach other,
♦ThereforetheirDemergesandreturns![intersects,exchanges,mixes]
Notes
A : compare this line to the first two lines of the previous chapter and it is easy to see why there has long been speculation that this line should end the previous chapter; however, there is an explicit end-of-chapter marker in GUO #59, and GUO does not even contain this chapter;essentially this line is saying it is easy to ruin a small fish by overcooking, and it is easy to ruin a nation by over-controlling
B : first – the “it” is literal,presumably meaning “the world’s ghosts”; second – “ghosts” is the most literal, general term, but this could also be referring to demons (or possibly to souls of the ancestors); third – “spirit” might be better thought of in this chapter as “spiritual power”,thus this line seems to be saying that ghosts do not have any power in the world; this and the next few lines can be translated in many different ways, due to the multiple meanings of the symbols for “ghost” and “spirit”, and the lack of any reasonable context –perhaps these lines were addressing some lost ancient scholarly debate or common cultural belief?
Cross-references
no harm : #35, #56, #58, #66, #81
returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #28, #34, #40,
#52, #58, #64, #65, #80
Deandreturning : #28, #65
Chapter Sixty One
大國者下流•天下之交•天下之牝•牝常以靜勝牡以靜為下•(•)故大國以下小國則取小國小國以下大國則取[於]大國(•)故或下以取•或下而取大國不過欲兼畜人小國不過欲入事人•夫兩者各得[其]所欲•大者宜為下A great nation is like the lowest places water can flow –The merging place of the world,The female of the world.The female always uses stillness to conquer the male.By using stillness, she becomes lower-than.Therefore : if a great nation is lower-than a small nation,Then it takes hold of the small nation.If a small nation is lower-than a great nation,Then it is taken hold of by the great nation.Therefore : sometimes one nation is lower-than in orderto take hold of,Sometimes one nation is lower-than and then it is takenhold of.A great nation merely desires to combine livestock andpeople,A small nation merely desires to get work for its people.Now : for both nations to each get that which is their desire,It is proper for the great nation to be lower-than.Agreatnation[it] is like thelowestplaces [water]Acanflow–Themergingplaceoftheworld2, [intersection,exchange,mixing]Thefemaleoftheworld2.Thefemalealwaysusesstillnesstoconquerthemale. [victory,beat]Byusingstillness, shebecomeslower-thanB.♦Therefore: if agreatnationis [thus]lower-than asmallnation,♦Thenittakes hold ofthesmallnation.♦If asmallnationis [thus]lower-than agreatnation,Thenit istaken hold ofbythegreatnation.♦Therefore:sometimesone [nation] islower-thanin order totake hold of, [maybe,perhaps]♦Sometimesone [nation] islower-thanand thenit istaken hold of. [maybe,perhaps]Agreatnationmerely2desirestocombinelivestockandpeople,♦Asmallnationmerely2desirestogetworkfor itspeople.CNow: forbothnationstoeachgetthat whichistheirdesire, [entities]It isproperfor thegreatnationtobelower-than. [entity]NotesA :流(flow) has associations with waterB : literally “below”, “under”, or “inferior”, here “lower-than” is used to indicate taking the lower or inferior position in a relationship (which in ancient Chinese culture was the better thing to do); Lau translates it as “taking the lower position”C : the end of this line can also be translated as “desirestojoinandservepeople”Cross-referencesfeminine : #6, #10, #28stillness : #15, #16, #26, #37, #45, #57lower-than : #66, #68possess or take hold of the world or nation :#29, #48, #57, #59
大國者下流•
天下之交•
天下之牝•
牝常以靜勝牡
以靜為下•
(•)故大國以下小國
則取小國
小國以下大國
則取[於]大國
(•)故或下以取•
或下而取
大國不過欲兼畜人
小國不過欲入事人•
夫兩者各得[其]所欲•
大者宜為下
A great nation is like the lowest places water can flow –
The merging place of the world,
The female of the world.
The female always uses stillness to conquer the male.
By using stillness, she becomes lower-than.
Therefore : if a great nation is lower-than a small nation,
Then it takes hold of the small nation.
If a small nation is lower-than a great nation,
Then it is taken hold of by the great nation.
Therefore : sometimes one nation is lower-than in order
to take hold of,
Sometimes one nation is lower-than and then it is taken
hold of.
A great nation merely desires to combine livestock and
people,
A small nation merely desires to get work for its people.
Now : for both nations to each get that which is their desire,
It is proper for the great nation to be lower-than.
Agreatnation[it] is like thelowestplaces [water]Acan
flow–
Themergingplaceoftheworld2, [intersection,exchange,mixing]
Thefemaleoftheworld2.
Thefemalealwaysusesstillnesstoconquerthemale. [victory,beat]
Byusingstillness, shebecomeslower-thanB.
♦Therefore: if agreatnationis [thus]lower-than asmall
nation,
♦Thenittakes hold ofthesmallnation.
♦If asmallnationis [thus]lower-than agreatnation,
Thenit istaken hold ofbythegreatnation.
♦Therefore:sometimesone [nation] islower-than
in order totake hold of, [maybe,perhaps]
♦Sometimesone [nation] islower-thanand thenit is
taken hold of. [maybe,perhaps]
Agreatnationmerely2desirestocombinelivestockand
people,
♦Asmallnationmerely2desirestogetworkfor itspeople.C
Now: forbothnationstoeachgetthat whichistheir
desire, [entities]
It isproperfor thegreatnationtobelower-than. [entity]
Notes
A :流(flow) has associations with water
B : literally “below”, “under”, or “inferior”, here “lower-than” is used to indicate taking the lower or inferior position in a relationship (which in ancient Chinese culture was the better thing to do); Lau translates it as “taking the lower position”
C : the end of this line can also be translated as “desirestojoinandservepeople”
Cross-references
feminine : #6, #10, #28
stillness : #15, #16, #26, #37, #45, #57
lower-than : #66, #68
possess or take hold of the world or nation :
#29, #48, #57, #59
Chapter Sixty Two