善為士者不武•善戰者不怒•善勝敵者不與善用人者為之下是謂不爭之德是謂用人之力是謂配天古之極[也(•)]He who is good at being a scholar is not militant.He who is good at war does not get angry.He who is good at conquering the enemy does not engagethem.He who is good at making use of people acts lower-thanthem.This is called the De of not striving.This is called the power of making use of people.This is called joining the elite of heaven’s ancients, indeed!♦He whoisgoodatbeingascholarisnotmilitant. [martial,warlike]♦He whoisgoodatwardoesnotgetangry.♦He whoisgoodatconqueringtheenemydoesnotengagethem. [victory,beat] [take part in,participate]♦He whoisgoodat makinguseofpeopleactslower-thanAthem.This iscalledtheDeofnotstriving.This iscalledthepowerofmakinguseofpeople.BThis iscalledjoiningtheeliteofheaven’sancients,indeed!C[highest,utmost]NotesA : 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”B : This could also be translated asThis iscalledusingthepowerofpeoplebut based on the sentence two lines before which has no such ambiguity, it is translated this wayC : the grammar of this sentence is exceptionally difficult to parse, and so can be translated in many different waysCross-referencesscholar : #15, #41lower-than : #61, #66no striving : #3, #8, #22, #66, #73, #81the ancients/elders : #14, #15, #22, #38, #39, #62, #65Chapter Sixty Nine•用兵有言吾不敢為主而為客不敢進寸而退尺是謂行無行攘無臂•扔無敵執無兵禍莫大於輕敵輕敵幾喪吾寶•(•)故抗兵相(若)[則]哀者勝矣(•)Those who command troops have a saying :I dare not act like the master, but instead act like a guest.Dare not advance an inch, but instead retreat a foot.This is called marching without marching,Seizing without using your arms,Routing without having an enemy,Defending without using weapons.There is no misfortune greater than underestimating theenemy.By underestimating the enemy, I nearly lose my treasures.Therefore : when armies on opposing sides are evenlymatched,Then they who mourn will be victorious!Those whocommand troops2haveasaying:♦Idarenotactlike themaster,butinsteadactlike aguest.DarenotadvanceaninchA,butinsteadretreatafootB.This iscalledmarchingwithoutmarching, [travelling] [travelling]♦Seizingwithoutusing yourarmsC,Routingwithouthaving anenemy, [throwout]DefendingDwithoutusingweapons. [hold,maintain]There is nomisfortunegreaterthanunderestimatingtheenemy.E[frivolous,unimportant]Byunderestimatingtheenemy, Inearlylosemytreasures. [frivolous,unimportant]Therefore: whenarmiesonopposingsides areevenlymatched, [similar,like each other,comparable2]Thenthey whomournFwill bevictorious!NotesA :寸was a unit of length, very close to one inchB :尺was a unit of length, very close to one footC : this symbol is definitely referring to the limb, not the English synonym for “weapons”; this and the next two lines can be translated in many ways due to their tersenessD : as in “hold the fort” or “maintain your position”E : there is a great deal of variation between the sources for this line and the next, so WB and HSG are taken as the “standard”; each later source made changes to try to turn it into something that made sense!F :presumably, mourning the need to fight and/or the death it involves; compare to #31, where war is compared to dwelling at a funeralCross-referencesnot daring to act : #3, #64, #67treasures : #62, #67Chapter Seventy吾言甚易知•甚易行•[而]天下莫[之]能知•莫[之]能行•言有宗•事有君(•)夫唯無知•是以不我知•知我者希則我者貴[矣(•)]是以聖人被褐[而]懷玉My words are very easy to understand,Very easy to practice.But there is no one in the world who can understand them,There is no one who can practice them.My words possess a lineage,My duties possess a ruler.Now : only because I am without-knowledge,Thus I am not understood.Those who understand me are rare,Consequently I am one who is valued!Thus the sage wears coarse cloth, but carries jade in hisheart.♦Mywordsareveryeasytounderstand,♦Veryeasytopractice. [perform]Butthere is no onein theworld2whocanunderstandthem, [they]There is no onewhocanpracticethem. [they] [perform]♦[My]Awordspossessalineage,[My]Adutiespossessaruler.♦Now:onlybecause [I am]Bwithout-knowledge,♦Thus2Iamnotunderstood.♦Those whounderstandmearerare,ConsequentlyIamone whoisvalued!♦Thus2thesage2wearscoarse cloth,butcarriesjadein his heart.NotesA : “My” is inferred here from the first line, but could just as reasonably be left out, or “All” substitutedB : there is no subject in the original Chinese, so this could also be saying “onlybecause [the previous two lines] isnotunderstood”, but because無知(without-knowledge) is specifically used, it is translated in this wayCross-referencesno one who can practice this : #78being valuable : #56, #62Chapter Seventy One知不知(尚) [矣(•)]不知知病[矣(•)](•)夫唯病病是以不病聖人不病•以其病病•是以不病Knowing that you do not know is honorable!Not knowing that you know is a sickness!Now : only when you are sick of sickness,Thus you are not sick.The sage is not sickBecause he is sick of sickness.Thus he is not sick.Knowingthat you donotknowishonorable!Notknowingthat youknowis asickness!Now:onlywhen you aresickofsickness,Thus2you arenotsick.Thesage2isnotsick♦Becauseheissickofsickness.♦Thus2he isnotsick.NotesThe third and fourth lines are not in the MWD’sThis chapter can be translated many different ways due to its terseness and the many ways to interpret病(disease, sickness, to be ill)“Sickness” here presumably refers to the suffering that comes from not following DaoCross-referencesChapter Seventy Two
善為士者不武•善戰者不怒•善勝敵者不與善用人者為之下是謂不爭之德是謂用人之力是謂配天古之極[也(•)]He who is good at being a scholar is not militant.He who is good at war does not get angry.He who is good at conquering the enemy does not engagethem.He who is good at making use of people acts lower-thanthem.This is called the De of not striving.This is called the power of making use of people.This is called joining the elite of heaven’s ancients, indeed!♦He whoisgoodatbeingascholarisnotmilitant. [martial,warlike]♦He whoisgoodatwardoesnotgetangry.♦He whoisgoodatconqueringtheenemydoesnotengagethem. [victory,beat] [take part in,participate]♦He whoisgoodat makinguseofpeopleactslower-thanAthem.This iscalledtheDeofnotstriving.This iscalledthepowerofmakinguseofpeople.BThis iscalledjoiningtheeliteofheaven’sancients,indeed!C[highest,utmost]NotesA : 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”B : This could also be translated asThis iscalledusingthepowerofpeoplebut based on the sentence two lines before which has no such ambiguity, it is translated this wayC : the grammar of this sentence is exceptionally difficult to parse, and so can be translated in many different waysCross-referencesscholar : #15, #41lower-than : #61, #66no striving : #3, #8, #22, #66, #73, #81the ancients/elders : #14, #15, #22, #38, #39, #62, #65
善為士者不武•
善戰者不怒•
善勝敵者不與
善用人者為之下
是謂不爭之德
是謂用人之力
是謂配天古之極[也(•)]
He who is good at being a scholar is not militant.
He who is good at war does not get angry.
He who is good at conquering the enemy does not engage
them.
He who is good at making use of people acts lower-than
them.
This is called the De of not striving.
This is called the power of making use of people.
This is called joining the elite of heaven’s ancients, indeed!
♦He whoisgoodatbeingascholarisnotmilitant. [martial,warlike]
♦He whoisgoodatwardoesnotgetangry.
♦He whoisgoodatconqueringtheenemydoesnotengage
them. [victory,beat] [take part in,participate]
♦He whoisgoodat makinguseofpeopleactslower-thanA
them.
This iscalledtheDeofnotstriving.
This iscalledthepowerofmakinguseofpeople.B
This iscalledjoiningtheeliteofheaven’sancients,
indeed!C[highest,utmost]
Notes
A : 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”
B : This could also be translated as
This iscalledusingthepowerofpeople
but based on the sentence two lines before which has no such ambiguity, it is translated this way
C : the grammar of this sentence is exceptionally difficult to parse, and so can be translated in many different ways
Cross-references
scholar : #15, #41
lower-than : #61, #66
no striving : #3, #8, #22, #66, #73, #81
the ancients/elders : #14, #15, #22, #38, #39, #62, #65
Chapter Sixty Nine
•用兵有言吾不敢為主而為客不敢進寸而退尺是謂行無行攘無臂•扔無敵執無兵禍莫大於輕敵輕敵幾喪吾寶•(•)故抗兵相(若)[則]哀者勝矣(•)Those who command troops have a saying :I dare not act like the master, but instead act like a guest.Dare not advance an inch, but instead retreat a foot.This is called marching without marching,Seizing without using your arms,Routing without having an enemy,Defending without using weapons.There is no misfortune greater than underestimating theenemy.By underestimating the enemy, I nearly lose my treasures.Therefore : when armies on opposing sides are evenlymatched,Then they who mourn will be victorious!Those whocommand troops2haveasaying:♦Idarenotactlike themaster,butinsteadactlike aguest.DarenotadvanceaninchA,butinsteadretreatafootB.This iscalledmarchingwithoutmarching, [travelling] [travelling]♦Seizingwithoutusing yourarmsC,Routingwithouthaving anenemy, [throwout]DefendingDwithoutusingweapons. [hold,maintain]There is nomisfortunegreaterthanunderestimatingtheenemy.E[frivolous,unimportant]Byunderestimatingtheenemy, Inearlylosemytreasures. [frivolous,unimportant]Therefore: whenarmiesonopposingsides areevenlymatched, [similar,like each other,comparable2]Thenthey whomournFwill bevictorious!NotesA :寸was a unit of length, very close to one inchB :尺was a unit of length, very close to one footC : this symbol is definitely referring to the limb, not the English synonym for “weapons”; this and the next two lines can be translated in many ways due to their tersenessD : as in “hold the fort” or “maintain your position”E : there is a great deal of variation between the sources for this line and the next, so WB and HSG are taken as the “standard”; each later source made changes to try to turn it into something that made sense!F :presumably, mourning the need to fight and/or the death it involves; compare to #31, where war is compared to dwelling at a funeralCross-referencesnot daring to act : #3, #64, #67treasures : #62, #67
•用兵有言
吾不敢為主而為客
不敢進寸而退尺
是謂行無行
攘無臂•
扔無敵
執無兵
禍莫大於輕敵
輕敵幾喪吾寶•
(•)故抗兵相(若)
[則]哀者勝矣(•)
Those who command troops have a saying :
I dare not act like the master, but instead act like a guest.
Dare not advance an inch, but instead retreat a foot.
This is called marching without marching,
Seizing without using your arms,
Routing without having an enemy,
Defending without using weapons.
There is no misfortune greater than underestimating the
enemy.
By underestimating the enemy, I nearly lose my treasures.
Therefore : when armies on opposing sides are evenly
matched,
Then they who mourn will be victorious!
Those whocommand troops2haveasaying:
♦Idarenotactlike themaster,butinsteadactlike aguest.
DarenotadvanceaninchA,butinsteadretreatafootB.
This iscalledmarchingwithoutmarching, [travelling] [travelling]
♦Seizingwithoutusing yourarmsC,
Routingwithouthaving anenemy, [throwout]
DefendingDwithoutusingweapons. [hold,maintain]
There is nomisfortunegreaterthanunderestimatingthe
enemy.E[frivolous,unimportant]
Byunderestimatingtheenemy, Inearlylosemytreasures. [frivolous,unimportant]
Therefore: whenarmiesonopposingsides areevenly
matched, [similar,like each other,comparable2]
Thenthey whomournFwill bevictorious!
Notes
A :寸was a unit of length, very close to one inch
B :尺was a unit of length, very close to one foot
C : this symbol is definitely referring to the limb, not the English synonym for “weapons”; this and the next two lines can be translated in many ways due to their terseness
D : as in “hold the fort” or “maintain your position”
E : there is a great deal of variation between the sources for this line and the next, so WB and HSG are taken as the “standard”; each later source made changes to try to turn it into something that made sense!
F :presumably, mourning the need to fight and/or the death it involves; compare to #31, where war is compared to dwelling at a funeral
Cross-references
not daring to act : #3, #64, #67
treasures : #62, #67
Chapter Seventy
吾言甚易知•甚易行•[而]天下莫[之]能知•莫[之]能行•言有宗•事有君(•)夫唯無知•是以不我知•知我者希則我者貴[矣(•)]是以聖人被褐[而]懷玉My words are very easy to understand,Very easy to practice.But there is no one in the world who can understand them,There is no one who can practice them.My words possess a lineage,My duties possess a ruler.Now : only because I am without-knowledge,Thus I am not understood.Those who understand me are rare,Consequently I am one who is valued!Thus the sage wears coarse cloth, but carries jade in hisheart.♦Mywordsareveryeasytounderstand,♦Veryeasytopractice. [perform]Butthere is no onein theworld2whocanunderstandthem, [they]There is no onewhocanpracticethem. [they] [perform]♦[My]Awordspossessalineage,[My]Adutiespossessaruler.♦Now:onlybecause [I am]Bwithout-knowledge,♦Thus2Iamnotunderstood.♦Those whounderstandmearerare,ConsequentlyIamone whoisvalued!♦Thus2thesage2wearscoarse cloth,butcarriesjadein his heart.NotesA : “My” is inferred here from the first line, but could just as reasonably be left out, or “All” substitutedB : there is no subject in the original Chinese, so this could also be saying “onlybecause [the previous two lines] isnotunderstood”, but because無知(without-knowledge) is specifically used, it is translated in this wayCross-referencesno one who can practice this : #78being valuable : #56, #62
吾言甚易知•
甚易行•
[而]天下莫[之]能知•
莫[之]能行•
言有宗•
事有君
(•)夫唯無知•
是以不我知•
知我者希
則我者貴[矣(•)]
是以聖人
被褐[而]懷玉
My words are very easy to understand,
Very easy to practice.
But there is no one in the world who can understand them,
There is no one who can practice them.
My words possess a lineage,
My duties possess a ruler.
Now : only because I am without-knowledge,
Thus I am not understood.
Those who understand me are rare,
Consequently I am one who is valued!
Thus the sage wears coarse cloth, but carries jade in his
heart.
♦Mywordsareveryeasytounderstand,
♦Veryeasytopractice. [perform]
Butthere is no onein theworld2whocanunderstandthem, [they]
There is no onewhocanpracticethem. [they] [perform]
♦[My]Awordspossessalineage,
[My]Adutiespossessaruler.
♦Now:onlybecause [I am]Bwithout-knowledge,
♦Thus2Iamnotunderstood.
♦Those whounderstandmearerare,
ConsequentlyIamone whoisvalued!
♦Thus2thesage2wearscoarse cloth,butcarriesjade
in his heart.
Notes
A : “My” is inferred here from the first line, but could just as reasonably be left out, or “All” substituted
B : there is no subject in the original Chinese, so this could also be saying “onlybecause [the previous two lines] isnotunderstood”, but because無知(without-knowledge) is specifically used, it is translated in this way
Cross-references
no one who can practice this : #78
being valuable : #56, #62
Chapter Seventy One
知不知(尚) [矣(•)]不知知病[矣(•)](•)夫唯病病是以不病聖人不病•以其病病•是以不病Knowing that you do not know is honorable!Not knowing that you know is a sickness!Now : only when you are sick of sickness,Thus you are not sick.The sage is not sickBecause he is sick of sickness.Thus he is not sick.Knowingthat you donotknowishonorable!Notknowingthat youknowis asickness!Now:onlywhen you aresickofsickness,Thus2you arenotsick.Thesage2isnotsick♦Becauseheissickofsickness.♦Thus2he isnotsick.NotesThe third and fourth lines are not in the MWD’sThis chapter can be translated many different ways due to its terseness and the many ways to interpret病(disease, sickness, to be ill)“Sickness” here presumably refers to the suffering that comes from not following DaoCross-references
知不知(尚) [矣(•)]
不知知病[矣(•)]
(•)夫唯病病
是以不病
聖人不病•
以其病病•
是以不病
Knowing that you do not know is honorable!
Not knowing that you know is a sickness!
Now : only when you are sick of sickness,
Thus you are not sick.
The sage is not sick
Because he is sick of sickness.
Thus he is not sick.
Knowingthat you donotknowishonorable!
Notknowingthat youknowis asickness!
Now:onlywhen you aresickofsickness,
Thus2you arenotsick.
Thesage2isnotsick
♦Becauseheissickofsickness.
♦Thus2he isnotsick.
Notes
The third and fourth lines are not in the MWD’s
This chapter can be translated many different ways due to its terseness and the many ways to interpret病(disease, sickness, to be ill)
“Sickness” here presumably refers to the suffering that comes from not following Dao
Cross-references
Chapter Seventy Two