| 1 |
天下有始，以為天下母。 |
(The Dao) which originated all under the sky is to be
considered as the mother of them all. |
When the world takes its beginning, Reason becomes the world's mother. |
When creation began, Dao became the world's mother.
|
| 2 |
既得其母，以知其子，復守其母，沒身不殆。塞
其兌，閉其門，終身不勤。開其兌，濟其事，終身不救。 |
When the mother is found, we know what her children should be.
When one knows that he is his mother's child, and proceeds to guard (the qualities
of) the mother that belong to him, to the end of his
life he will be free from all peril. Let him keep his mouth
closed, and shut up the portals (of his
nostrils), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion.
Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion
of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him.
|
As one knows his mother, so she in turn knows her child; as she quickens her
child, so he in turn keeps to his mother, and to
the end of life he is not in danger. Who closes his
mouth, and shuts his sense-gates, in the end of life
he will encounter no trouble; but who opens his mouth
and meddles with affairs, in the end of life he cannot
be saved.
|
When one knows one's mother he will m turn know that he is her son. When he recognizes
his sonship, he will in turn keep to his mother and
to the end of life will be free from danger. He who
closes his mouth and shuts his sense gates will be
free from
trouble to the end of life. He who opens his mouth
and meddles with affairs cannot be free from trouble
even to the end of life.
|
| 3 |
見小曰明，守柔
曰強。用其光，復歸其明，無遺身殃﹔是為習常。 |
The perception of what is small is (the secret of clear-
sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret
of) strength.Who uses well his light,
Reverting to its (source so) bright,
Will from his body ward all blight,
And hides the unchanging from men's sight. |
Who beholds his smallness is called enlightened. Who preserves his tenderness
is called strong. Who uses Reason's light and returns
home to its enlightenment does not surrender his person
to perdition. This is called practising the eternal. |
To recognize one's insignificance is called enlightenment. To keep one's sympathy
is called strength. He who uses Dao's light returns
to Dao's enlightenment and does not surrender his person
to perdition. This is called practicing the eternal. |
