Dao De Jing: A Minimalist Translation - Laozi

善行無轍迹善言無瑕謫善數不用籌策善閉無關楗而不可開 • 善結無纆約而不可解 • 是以聖人常善救人故無棄人常善救物故無棄物 • 是謂襲明 (•)故善人者不善人之師不善人者善人之資 • 不貴其師不愛其資雖智大迷是謂要妙

A good traveler is without wagon track or footprint. A good speaker is without flaw or disgrace. A good accountant does not use counting tokens. A good barrier is without bar or lock, yet can not be opened. A good binding is without cord or restraint, yet can not be loosened. Thus the sage : Is always good at helping people, Therefore he does not abandon people. Is always good at helping creatures, Therefore he does not abandon creatures. This is called following your insight. Therefore : he who is a virtuous person is the teacher of he who is not a virtuous person. He who is not a virtuous person is the resource of he who is a virtuous person. If the latter does not value his teacher, Or the former does not love his resource, Even if there is wisdom, there will be great confusion. This is called the essential subtle mystery.

A good traveler is without [wagon] track^A or footprint. A good speaker is without flaw{fault} or disgrace{blame}. A good accountant does not use counting tokens². [counter] [token method] A good barrier is without bar or lock, yet can not be opened. [obstruction,blockage] A good binding is without cord or restraint, yet can not be loosened. ♦Thus² the sage² : Is always good at helping people, Therefore he does not abandon people. Is always good at helping creatures, Therefore he does not abandon creatures. This is called following your insight. [wise,sight] Therefore : he who is a virtuous person is the teacher of [he who] is not a virtuous person. He who is not a virtuous person is the resource of [he who] is a virtuous person. [wealth,supply,support] ♦[If the latter] does not value his teacher, ♦[Or the former] does not love his resource, [wealth,supply,support] Even if there is wisdom*, there will be great confusion. This is called the essential subtle mystery.

Notes A: this symbol also has the connotation of “rut”, hence the track of a vehicle Cross-references one who is not virtuous : #49, #62, #81 teaching : #2, #42, #43 mystery : #1, #6, #10, #15, #51, #56, #62, #65 anti-Confucian : #3, #18, #19, #33, #38

Chapter Twenty Eight

知其雄守其雌為天下谿為天下谿常德不離復歸於嬰兒知其白守其黑 • 為天下式為天下式常德不忒復歸於無極知其榮守其辱為天下谷為天下谷常德乃足復歸於樸 • 樸散則為器聖人用之則為官長 (•)故大制不割

Know your maleness, but maintain your femaleness. Serve as a stream to the world. Serving as a stream to the world, The ever-constant De will not depart, Returning you to the state of the newborn infant. Know your brightness, but maintain your darkness. Serve as an example to the world. Serving as an example to the world, The ever-constant De will not falter, Returning you to the state of the limitless. Know your honor, but maintain your disgrace. Serve as a valley to the world. Serving as a valley to the world, The ever-constant De will then be sufficient, Returning you to the state of the uncarved block. When the uncarved block is broken up, then it becomes tools. When the sage uses it, then he becomes the senior government official. Therefore : the greatest cutting does not divide.

Know your maleness, but maintain your femaleness. [his] [his] ♦Serve as a stream to the world². ♦Serving as a stream to the world², The ever-constant De will not depart, ♦Returning² you to [the state of the] newborn infant². Know your brightness, but maintain your darkness. [his] [his] Serve as an example to the world². Serving as an example to the world², The ever-constant De will not falter, [err] Returning² you to [the state of the] limitless². [without highest] Know your honor{glory}, but maintain your disgrace^A. [his] [his] Serve as a valley to the world². Serving as a valley to the world², The ever-constant De will then be sufficient, Returning² you to [the state of the] uncarved block. ♦When the uncarved block is broken up, then it becomes tools. When the sage² uses it^B, then he becomes the senior government official. [elder] Therefore : the greatest cutting does not divide.^C [cut&make garments]

Notes A : this could possibly be interpreted by reflection with “glory” as “humbleness” or “humility”, but it means “disgrace” everywhere else B : by using “it”, this refers to the concept of the uncarved block; but the symbol also means “them”, which would refer to the tools C : when the uncarved block is cut, it becomes (merely) tools; when the sage cuts, things are not divided up (see #58) Cross-references feminine : #6, #10, #61 returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #22, #25, #34, #40, #52, #58, #60, #64, #65, #80 De and returning : #60, #65 baby/infant/child : #10, #20, #49, #55 newborn infant : #10, #20, #55 serve as an example to the world : #22 valley : #6, #15, #32, #39, #41, #66 uncarved block : #15, #19, #32, #37, #57

Chapter Twenty Nine

將欲取天下而為之吾見其不得已 [(•)夫] 天下神器 • 不可為也(•) 為者敗之執者失之 (•)故物或行或隨或 (歔) 或吹或強或羸或挫或隳是以聖人去甚去奢去泰

Would you take hold of the world and control it? I see you have no choice. Now : the world is a divine vessel, You can not control it (indeed!). He who acts, ruins it; He who grasps, loses it. Therefore : creatures are Sometimes active, sometimes passive, Sometimes breathe heavy, sometimes breathe easy, Sometimes strong, sometimes weak, Sometimes oppressed, sometimes overthrown. Thus the sage : Removes the extremes, Removes the extravagant and wasteful, Removes the arrogance.

♦Would² you take hold of the world² and control it? [manage,handle,administer] ♦I see you have no choice³. [he] Now : the world² is a divine vessel, [spiritual,supernatural,mystical,miraculous] You can not control it (indeed!). [manage,handle,administer] ♦He who acts, ruins it; ♦He who grasps, loses it. Therefore : creatures are Sometimes active, sometimes passive, [might,maybe] [might,maybe] [submissive] Sometimes breathing heavy^A, sometimes breathing easy,^B [might,maybe] [snort] [might,maybe] [puff] Sometimes strong, sometimes weak, [might,maybe] [might,maybe] Sometimes oppressed, sometimes overthrown.^C [might,maybe] [might,maybe] ♦Thus² the sage² : ♦Removes the extremes, Removes the extravagant and wasteful, Removes the arrogance{exalted}.

Notes A : every source uses a different symbol here! B : it is hard to figure out what this sentence is trying to say (literally, “sometimes snort, sometimes blow” in WB); and there is no concensus from the other sources, as they use “exhale … blow”, “flatter … brag”, “breathe silently … breathe loudly” C : other than WB and HSG, every source has a different pair in this line! Cross-references possess or take hold of the world or nation : #48, #57, #59, #61 have no choice : #30, #31 he who acts, ruins it : #64 he who grasps, loses it : #64 creatures sometimes X…Y : #42 strong : #3, #30, #33, #36, #52, #55, #67, #78 weak : #3, #36, #40, #55, #76, #78

Chapter Thirty

以道佐人主者不以兵強天下其事好還師之所處荊棘生焉大軍之後必有凶年善者果而已 • 不敢以取強 • 果而勿矜 • 果而勿伐 • 果而勿驕 • 果而不得已果而勿強 • 物壯則老是謂不道不道早已 •

He who uses Dao to assist the master of the people Does not use weapons or strength on the world, For his troubles would likely return – In the dwelling places of armies, thorns and brambles are produced, And so what is left behind a great army must have a bad year. He who has virtue gets results and stops. He does not dare to take by using strength. He gets results, but never brags. Gets results, but never boasts. Gets results, but is not arrogant. Gets results, but only when he has no choice. Gets results, but never uses strength. When creatures are robust but old, This is called “not Dao”. That which is “not Dao” has an early finish.

He who uses Dao to assist the master of the people^A Does not use weapons or strength on the world², ♦For his troubles would likely return – [be easy to,be liable to] In the dwelling places of armies, thorns and brambles are produced, And so what is [left] behind [à] a great army must have a bad year.^B He who has virtue gets results and stops. He does not dare to take by using strength. He gets results, but never brags. [boast] Gets results, but never boasts. Gets results, but is not arrogant{proud}. Gets results, but [only when he] has no choice³. ♦Gets results, but never uses strength. ♦When creatures are robust but old, This is called “not Dao”. [That which] is “not Dao” has an early finish.

Notes The last 3 lines are not in GUO; several other lines are not in GUO or the MWD’s A : presumably, an sage-like advisor to a ruler B : presumably referring to harvests Cross-references strong : #3, #29, #33, #36, #52, #55, #67, #78 boast and brag : #22, #24 have no choice : #29, #31 when creatures are robust but old : #55 “not Dao” has an early finish : #55

Chapter Thirty One

(•)夫佳兵者不祥之器 • 物或惡之 • (•)故有道者不處君子居則貴左用兵則貴右 • 兵者不祥之器 • 非君子之器 • 不得已而用之恬淡為上 __ __ (勿) 美 [也(•)] 而美之者是樂殺人 • (•)夫樂殺人者 __ 不可以得志於天下矣(•) • [(•)故] 吉事尚左 • 凶事尚右 • [是以] 偏將軍居左上將軍居右言以喪禮處之 • 殺人 __ 眾以哀悲泣之戰勝以喪禮處之 •

Now : fine weapons, they are not tools of good fortune. Creatures detest them, no matter what. Therefore : he who possesses Dao does not live by them. When a noble man is in his dwelling, then he honors the left. When he commands troops, then he honors the right. Weapons, they are not tools of good fortune. They are not the tools of a noble man. When he has no choice but to use them, To be calm and indifferent is superior – Never pleased, indeed! And he who is pleased enjoys killing people. Now : he who enjoys killing people Can not get what he desires from the world! Therefore : in fortunate affairs honor the left, In unfortunate affairs honor the right. Thus the assistant general of the army resides on the left, The supreme general of the army resides on the right. Thus we say they are dwelling at a funeral : When many people are killed, Then mourn and weep with grief for them. Victory in war thus means they will dwell at a funeral.

Now : fine weapons, they are not tools of good fortune. [auspicious,lucky] ♦Creatures detest them, no matter what. Therefore : he who possesses Dao does not live by them. ♦When a noble man²* is in his dwelling, then he honors the left. ♦When he commands troops², then he honors the right. Weapons, they are not tools of good fortune. [auspicious,lucky] They are not the tools of a noble man²*. ♦When he has no choice³ but to use them, To be calm and indifferent^A is superior – Never pleased, indeed!^B And he who is pleased [he] enjoys² killing people. [is happy,pleased] Now : he who enjoys killing people [happy,pleased] Can² not get what he desires from the world² ! [ambition,will] Therefore : in fortunate affairs honor the left, In unfortunate affairs honor the right. Thus² the assistant general² of the army resides on the left, ♦The supreme general of the army resides on the right. [highest,superior] Thus we say they are dwelling at a funeral^2C : When many people are killed, Then mourn and weep with grief ² for them. [thus] Victory in war thus means they will dwell at a funeral².

Notes The first three lines are not in GUO A : WB and HSG’s use of “indifferent” seems the most neutral, but the three earliest sources technically have the majority with “reverent”, while FY has “peaceful” B : this line comes from the MWD’s and GUO; the later sources are very different (and do not agree with each other); regardless of the source, this line and the next can be translated many different ways due to the multiple meanings of 美 (“pleased”, “beautiful”, “good”), and whether or not one assumes that weapons are still being talked about C : Ames and Hall point out that ancient Chinese custom puts the place of honor on the left in happy events, and on the right in sorrowful events; thus in war, the supreme general sits on the right, acknowledging that war is a sorrowful event, just like a funeral Cross-references creatures detest them : #24
he who “possesses Dao” : #15, #23, #24, #65, #77 noble man : #26 have no choice : #29, #30

Chapter Thirty Two