持而盈之不如其已揣而(銳)之不可長保•金玉滿堂莫之能守•富貴而驕自遺其咎•功遂身退天之道•Holding and filling itAre not as good as your stopping short.Hammering and sharpening itCan not be forever maintained.When gold and jade fill a room,There is no one who can protect it.To have wealth and high rank, but with arrogance –Then naturally their loss is your own fault.When the task is successful, the self should let go of it.This is the Way of heaven.HoldingandfillingitAArenotas good asyourstopping[short]. [his]Hammering°andsharpeningitBCannotbeforevermaintained.Whengoldandjadefillaroom,There is no onewhocanprotectit. [they]To havewealthandhigh rank,butwitharrogance{pride} –Thennaturallytheirlossisyourownfault. [his]When thetaskissuccessful, theselfshouldlet goof it. [result,achievement] [withdraw,step away]♦This is theWayofheaven.NotesA :presumably, a cup; Lau says that this refers to a vessel in a temple that stood upright when empty but overturned when nearly full (thus you had to hold it to fill it up)B :presumably, a sword or knife; you can only re-shape and re-sharpen it so many timesCross-referencesaccomplishing tasks : #2, #17, #34, #77and not dwelling on them : #2, #77self : #7, #13, #16, #26, #44, #52, #54, #66Way of heaven : #47, #73, #77, #79, #81Chapter Ten載營魄抱一能無離乎(•)專氣致柔能嬰兒乎(•) •滌除玄覽能無疵乎(•)愛民治國能無為乎(•)天門開闔能為雌乎(•)明白四達能無[以]知乎(•)生之畜之生而不有為而不恃長而不宰是謂玄德Carrying and managing a body while embracing the One,Are you able to not separate them?Concentrating your Qi to become soft,Are you able to be like a newborn infant?Cleansing and clearing your deep and mysteriousperception,Are you able to be without blemish?Loving the citizens and governing the nation,Are you able to use non-action?Opening and closing the gateway of heaven,Are you able to serve as the feminine?Attaining clear insight in all directions,Are you able to not use your knowledge?Creating them and raising them,Creating but not possessing,Acting but not concerned with the results,Leading yet not governing –This is called deep and mysterious De.♦Carryingandmanagingabody{soul} whileembracingtheOne,♦Are youabletonotseparateAthem?♦ConcentratingyourQitobecomesoft, [attain,bring about]♦Are youableto [be like] anewborn infant2?Cleansingandclearingyourdeep and mysteriousperception, [remove,eliminate,wipe out]Are youableto bewithoutblemish?Lovingthecitizensandgoverningthenation,Are youableto [use]non-action?Openingandclosingthegatewayofheaven,♦Are youabletoserve asthefeminine?♦Attainingclearinsightinall directions,[wise,sight][four directions,all around]Are youabletonotuseyourknowledge?♦Creatingthemandraisingthem,♦Creatingbutnotpossessing,Actingbutnotconcerned with[the results],B[depend upon,rely upon]♦Leadingyetnotgoverning–♦This iscalleddeep and mysteriousDe.NotesA :that is,“keep from separating”B : this line is not in the earlier sourcesCross-referencesembracing the One : #22Qi : #42, #55soft : #36, #43, #52, #55, #76, #78gateway : #1, #6, #52, #56baby/infant/child : #20, #28, #49, #55newborn infant : #20, #28, #55feminine : #6, #28, #61creating but not possessing : #2, #51acting but not concerned : #2, #51, #77leading yet not governing : #51mystery : #1, #6, #15, #27, #51, #56, #62, #65deep and mysterious De : #51, #65Chapter Eleven三十輻共一轂當其無有車之用•埏埴以為器當其無有器之用•鑿戶牖以為室當其無有室之用•(•)故有之以為利無之以為用•Thirty spokes of a wheel share one hub;In its emptiness exists the usefulness of the cart.Mix water with clay thus making a vessel;In its emptiness exists the usefulness of the vessel.Cut out doors and windows thus making a room;In their emptiness exists the usefulness of the room.Therefore : what exists thus makes a thing profitable;Emptiness thus makes it useful.Thirty2spokes of a wheelshareonehub;♦Initsemptinessexiststheusefulnessofthecart. [just at]Mix water with clay2thusmakingavessel;Initsemptinessexiststheusefulnessofthevessel. [just at]Cut outdoorsandwindowsthusmakingaroom{house}; [chisel,bore,pierce]♦Intheiremptinessexiststheusefulnessoftheroom{house}. [just at]♦Therefore: whatexiststhusmakesa thingprofitable; [it]♦Emptinessthusmakesituseful.NotesCross-referencesChapter Twelve五色令人目盲•五音令人耳聾•五味令人口爽馳騁畋獵令人心發狂難得之貨令人行妨是以聖人•為腹不為目(•)故去彼取此The five colors can make people’s eyes blind.The five tones can make people’s ears deaf.The five flavors can make people’s mouths dull.Excessive hunting and horse racing can make people’sheart/minds become wild.Rare goods can make people’s behavior corrupt.Thus the sage :Acts on what is inside, he does not act on what he sees.Therefore he leaves that and chooses this.♦Thefivecolors[can]makepeople’seyesblind.Thefivetones[can]makepeople’searsdeaf.Thefiveflavors[can]makepeople’smouthsdull°.Excessive huntingandhorse racing[can]makepeople’sheart/mindsbecomewild. [hunthunt] [gallop2]Rare2[à]goods[can]makepeople’sbehaviorcorrupt. [undermine,harm,impede]Thus2thesage2:Actson what isinside, he doesnotacton what hesees.AThereforeheleavesthatBandchoosesthisC.NotesEverything in the first five lines would have been enjoyed to excess only by the wealthy and the ruling class!A : compare to #49, where the 100 families “follow their eyes”B :presumably, acting on what he seesC :presumably, acting on what is insideCross-referencesrare goods : #3, #64leaves that and chooses this : #38, #72Chapter Thirteen
持而盈之不如其已揣而(銳)之不可長保•金玉滿堂莫之能守•富貴而驕自遺其咎•功遂身退天之道•Holding and filling itAre not as good as your stopping short.Hammering and sharpening itCan not be forever maintained.When gold and jade fill a room,There is no one who can protect it.To have wealth and high rank, but with arrogance –Then naturally their loss is your own fault.When the task is successful, the self should let go of it.This is the Way of heaven.HoldingandfillingitAArenotas good asyourstopping[short]. [his]Hammering°andsharpeningitBCannotbeforevermaintained.Whengoldandjadefillaroom,There is no onewhocanprotectit. [they]To havewealthandhigh rank,butwitharrogance{pride} –Thennaturallytheirlossisyourownfault. [his]When thetaskissuccessful, theselfshouldlet goof it. [result,achievement] [withdraw,step away]♦This is theWayofheaven.NotesA :presumably, a cup; Lau says that this refers to a vessel in a temple that stood upright when empty but overturned when nearly full (thus you had to hold it to fill it up)B :presumably, a sword or knife; you can only re-shape and re-sharpen it so many timesCross-referencesaccomplishing tasks : #2, #17, #34, #77and not dwelling on them : #2, #77self : #7, #13, #16, #26, #44, #52, #54, #66Way of heaven : #47, #73, #77, #79, #81
持而盈之
不如其已
揣而(銳)之
不可長保•
金玉滿堂
莫之能守•
富貴而驕
自遺其咎•
功遂身退
天之道•
Holding and filling it
Are not as good as your stopping short.
Hammering and sharpening it
Can not be forever maintained.
When gold and jade fill a room,
There is no one who can protect it.
To have wealth and high rank, but with arrogance –
Then naturally their loss is your own fault.
When the task is successful, the self should let go of it.
This is the Way of heaven.
HoldingandfillingitA
Arenotas good asyourstopping[short]. [his]
Hammering°andsharpeningitB
Cannotbeforevermaintained.
Whengoldandjadefillaroom,
There is no onewhocanprotectit. [they]
To havewealthandhigh rank,butwitharrogance{pride} –
Thennaturallytheirlossisyourownfault. [his]
When thetaskissuccessful, theselfshouldlet goof it. [result,achievement] [withdraw,step away]
♦This is theWayofheaven.
Notes
A :presumably, a cup; Lau says that this refers to a vessel in a temple that stood upright when empty but overturned when nearly full (thus you had to hold it to fill it up)
B :presumably, a sword or knife; you can only re-shape and re-sharpen it so many times
Cross-references
accomplishing tasks : #2, #17, #34, #77
and not dwelling on them : #2, #77
self : #7, #13, #16, #26, #44, #52, #54, #66
Way of heaven : #47, #73, #77, #79, #81
Chapter Ten
載營魄抱一能無離乎(•)專氣致柔能嬰兒乎(•) •滌除玄覽能無疵乎(•)愛民治國能無為乎(•)天門開闔能為雌乎(•)明白四達能無[以]知乎(•)生之畜之生而不有為而不恃長而不宰是謂玄德Carrying and managing a body while embracing the One,Are you able to not separate them?Concentrating your Qi to become soft,Are you able to be like a newborn infant?Cleansing and clearing your deep and mysteriousperception,Are you able to be without blemish?Loving the citizens and governing the nation,Are you able to use non-action?Opening and closing the gateway of heaven,Are you able to serve as the feminine?Attaining clear insight in all directions,Are you able to not use your knowledge?Creating them and raising them,Creating but not possessing,Acting but not concerned with the results,Leading yet not governing –This is called deep and mysterious De.♦Carryingandmanagingabody{soul} whileembracingtheOne,♦Are youabletonotseparateAthem?♦ConcentratingyourQitobecomesoft, [attain,bring about]♦Are youableto [be like] anewborn infant2?Cleansingandclearingyourdeep and mysteriousperception, [remove,eliminate,wipe out]Are youableto bewithoutblemish?Lovingthecitizensandgoverningthenation,Are youableto [use]non-action?Openingandclosingthegatewayofheaven,♦Are youabletoserve asthefeminine?♦Attainingclearinsightinall directions,[wise,sight][four directions,all around]Are youabletonotuseyourknowledge?♦Creatingthemandraisingthem,♦Creatingbutnotpossessing,Actingbutnotconcerned with[the results],B[depend upon,rely upon]♦Leadingyetnotgoverning–♦This iscalleddeep and mysteriousDe.NotesA :that is,“keep from separating”B : this line is not in the earlier sourcesCross-referencesembracing the One : #22Qi : #42, #55soft : #36, #43, #52, #55, #76, #78gateway : #1, #6, #52, #56baby/infant/child : #20, #28, #49, #55newborn infant : #20, #28, #55feminine : #6, #28, #61creating but not possessing : #2, #51acting but not concerned : #2, #51, #77leading yet not governing : #51mystery : #1, #6, #15, #27, #51, #56, #62, #65deep and mysterious De : #51, #65
載營魄抱一
能無離乎(•)
專氣致柔
能嬰兒乎(•) •
滌除玄覽
能無疵乎(•)
愛民治國
能無為乎(•)
天門開闔
能為雌乎(•)
明白四達
能無[以]知乎(•)
生之畜之
生而不有
為而不恃
長而不宰
是謂玄德
Carrying and managing a body while embracing the One,
Are you able to not separate them?
Concentrating your Qi to become soft,
Are you able to be like a newborn infant?
Cleansing and clearing your deep and mysterious
perception,
Are you able to be without blemish?
Loving the citizens and governing the nation,
Are you able to use non-action?
Opening and closing the gateway of heaven,
Are you able to serve as the feminine?
Attaining clear insight in all directions,
Are you able to not use your knowledge?
Creating them and raising them,
Creating but not possessing,
Acting but not concerned with the results,
Leading yet not governing –
This is called deep and mysterious De.
♦Carryingandmanagingabody{soul} whileembracingthe
One,
♦Are youabletonotseparateAthem?
♦ConcentratingyourQitobecomesoft, [attain,bring about]
♦Are youableto [be like] anewborn infant2?
Cleansingandclearingyourdeep and mysterious
perception, [remove,eliminate,wipe out]
Are youableto bewithoutblemish?
Lovingthecitizensandgoverningthenation,
Are youableto [use]non-action?
Openingandclosingthegatewayofheaven,
♦Are youabletoserve asthefeminine?
♦Attainingclearinsightinall directions,[wise,sight][four directions,all around]
Are youabletonotuseyourknowledge?
♦Creatingthemandraisingthem,
♦Creatingbutnotpossessing,
Actingbutnotconcerned with[the results],B[depend upon,rely upon]
♦Leadingyetnotgoverning–
♦This iscalleddeep and mysteriousDe.
Notes
A :that is,“keep from separating”
B : this line is not in the earlier sources
Cross-references
embracing the One : #22
Qi : #42, #55
soft : #36, #43, #52, #55, #76, #78
gateway : #1, #6, #52, #56
baby/infant/child : #20, #28, #49, #55
newborn infant : #20, #28, #55
feminine : #6, #28, #61
creating but not possessing : #2, #51
acting but not concerned : #2, #51, #77
leading yet not governing : #51
mystery : #1, #6, #15, #27, #51, #56, #62, #65
deep and mysterious De : #51, #65
Chapter Eleven
三十輻共一轂當其無有車之用•埏埴以為器當其無有器之用•鑿戶牖以為室當其無有室之用•(•)故有之以為利無之以為用•Thirty spokes of a wheel share one hub;In its emptiness exists the usefulness of the cart.Mix water with clay thus making a vessel;In its emptiness exists the usefulness of the vessel.Cut out doors and windows thus making a room;In their emptiness exists the usefulness of the room.Therefore : what exists thus makes a thing profitable;Emptiness thus makes it useful.Thirty2spokes of a wheelshareonehub;♦Initsemptinessexiststheusefulnessofthecart. [just at]Mix water with clay2thusmakingavessel;Initsemptinessexiststheusefulnessofthevessel. [just at]Cut outdoorsandwindowsthusmakingaroom{house}; [chisel,bore,pierce]♦Intheiremptinessexiststheusefulnessoftheroom{house}. [just at]♦Therefore: whatexiststhusmakesa thingprofitable; [it]♦Emptinessthusmakesituseful.NotesCross-references
三十輻共一轂
當其無有車之用•
埏埴以為器
當其無有器之用•
鑿戶牖以為室
當其無有室之用•
(•)故有之以為利
無之以為用•
Thirty spokes of a wheel share one hub;
In its emptiness exists the usefulness of the cart.
Mix water with clay thus making a vessel;
In its emptiness exists the usefulness of the vessel.
Cut out doors and windows thus making a room;
In their emptiness exists the usefulness of the room.
Therefore : what exists thus makes a thing profitable;
Emptiness thus makes it useful.
Thirty2spokes of a wheelshareonehub;
♦Initsemptinessexiststheusefulnessofthecart. [just at]
Mix water with clay2thusmakingavessel;
Initsemptinessexiststheusefulnessofthevessel. [just at]
Cut outdoorsandwindowsthusmakingaroom{house}; [chisel,bore,pierce]
♦Intheiremptinessexiststheusefulnessofthe
room{house}. [just at]
♦Therefore: whatexiststhusmakesa thingprofitable; [it]
♦Emptinessthusmakesituseful.
Notes
Cross-references
Chapter Twelve
五色令人目盲•五音令人耳聾•五味令人口爽馳騁畋獵令人心發狂難得之貨令人行妨是以聖人•為腹不為目(•)故去彼取此The five colors can make people’s eyes blind.The five tones can make people’s ears deaf.The five flavors can make people’s mouths dull.Excessive hunting and horse racing can make people’sheart/minds become wild.Rare goods can make people’s behavior corrupt.Thus the sage :Acts on what is inside, he does not act on what he sees.Therefore he leaves that and chooses this.♦Thefivecolors[can]makepeople’seyesblind.Thefivetones[can]makepeople’searsdeaf.Thefiveflavors[can]makepeople’smouthsdull°.Excessive huntingandhorse racing[can]makepeople’sheart/mindsbecomewild. [hunthunt] [gallop2]Rare2[à]goods[can]makepeople’sbehaviorcorrupt. [undermine,harm,impede]Thus2thesage2:Actson what isinside, he doesnotacton what hesees.AThereforeheleavesthatBandchoosesthisC.NotesEverything in the first five lines would have been enjoyed to excess only by the wealthy and the ruling class!A : compare to #49, where the 100 families “follow their eyes”B :presumably, acting on what he seesC :presumably, acting on what is insideCross-referencesrare goods : #3, #64leaves that and chooses this : #38, #72
五色令人目盲•
五音令人耳聾•
五味令人口爽
馳騁畋獵令人心發狂
難得之貨令人行妨
是以聖人•
為腹不為目
(•)故去彼取此
The five colors can make people’s eyes blind.
The five tones can make people’s ears deaf.
The five flavors can make people’s mouths dull.
Excessive hunting and horse racing can make people’s
heart/minds become wild.
Rare goods can make people’s behavior corrupt.
Thus the sage :
Acts on what is inside, he does not act on what he sees.
Therefore he leaves that and chooses this.
♦Thefivecolors[can]makepeople’seyesblind.
Thefivetones[can]makepeople’searsdeaf.
Thefiveflavors[can]makepeople’smouthsdull°.
Excessive huntingandhorse racing[can]makepeople’s
heart/mindsbecomewild. [hunthunt] [gallop2]
Rare2[à]goods[can]makepeople’sbehaviorcorrupt. [undermine,harm,impede]
Thus2thesage2:
Actson what isinside, he doesnotacton what hesees.A
ThereforeheleavesthatBandchoosesthisC.
Notes
Everything in the first five lines would have been enjoyed to excess only by the wealthy and the ruling class!
A : compare to #49, where the 100 families “follow their eyes”
B :presumably, acting on what he sees
C :presumably, acting on what is inside
Cross-references
rare goods : #3, #64
leaves that and chooses this : #38, #72
Chapter Thirteen