第 171 节
作者:九米      更新:2021-02-19 21:29      字数:8981
  76
  Man at his birth is supple and tender; but in death he is rigid and strong。
  It is the same with everything。
  Trees and plants in their early growth are pliant and soft; but at the end they are withered and tough。
  Thus rigidity and strength are concomitants of death; but softness and gentleness are companions of life。
  Therefore the warrior who relies on his strength cannot conquer death; while the powerful tree becomes a mere timber support。
  For the place of the strong and the firm is below; while that of the gentle and yielding is above。
  77
  Like the bending of an archer's bow is the Tao of Heaven!
  It brings down that which is high; and raises up that which is depressed。
  It takes away where there is excess; and gives where there is deficiency。
  The Tao of Heaven makes all things equal。
  This Tao is not of man。
  Man takes from the needy to add to his own excess。
  Who is he that; having a superabundance; can bring it to the service of the world?
  Only he who has the Tao。
  This is why the wise man acts without expectation of reward; and completes his task without claiming merit。
  For thus he hides his wealth。
  78
  Nothing on earth is so weak and yielding as water; but for breaking down the firm and strong it has no equal。
  This admits of no alternative。
  All the world knows that the soft can wear away the hard; and the weak can conquer the strong; but none can carry it out in practice。
  Therefore the Sage says: He who bears the reproach of his country is really the lord of the land。 He who bears the woes of the people is in truth their king。
  The words of truth are always paradoxical。
  79
  When a compromise is effected after a long dispute; one of the parties retains a grudge: how can this be called a good settlement?
  Therefore the wise man takes his part of the bond; and does not insist upon having the other。
  The virtuous man attends only to his engagements in the bond; while the man without virtue contrives for his own advantage。
  The Tao of Heaven has no favourites; it always aids the good man。
  80
  If I had a small kingdom and but ten or a hundred men of ability; I would not administrate with them。
  I would teach the people to look upon death as a grievous thing; and then they would not go abroad to meet it。
  Though they had boats and carriages; yet they would not go away in them。
  Though they had armour; yet they would never have occasion to wear it。
  The people would return to the use of the quipu。
  They should find their coarse food sweet; think their plain clothes grand; regard their homes as places of rest; and take delight in their own simple pleasures。
  Though the neighbouring state could be seen by us; and the crowing of the cocks and the barking of the dogs could be heard;
  Yet my people would grow old; and die before ever feeling the need of having intercourse with it。
  81
  Sincere words are not grand。
  Grand words are not faithful。
  The man of Tao does not dispute。
  Those who know it are not learned。
  The learned do not know it。
  The wise man does not lay up treasure。
  The more he expends on others; the more he gains for himself。
  The more he gives to others; the more he has for his own。
  This is the Tao of Heaven; which penetrates but does not injure。
  This is the Tao of the wise man; who acts but does not strive。
  English_Hansen_TTK
  Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
  Chinese … English by
  Chad Hansen
  1
  To Guide with Names
  To guide what can be guided is not constant guiding。
  To name what can be named is not constant naming。
  'Not…exist' names the beginning (boundary) of the cosmos (Heaven andearth)
  'Exists' names the mother of the ten…thousand natural kinds 。
  Thus; to treat 'not…exist' as constant is desiring to use it to viewits mysteries。
  To treat 'exists' as constant is desiring to use it to view its manifestations。
  These two emerge together yet have different names。
  'Together'call that 'obscure。' 'Obscure' it and it is more obscure。
  。 。 。 the gateway of a crowd of mysteries。
  2
  Contrast of Terms
  That the social world knows to deem the beautiful as 'beautiful' simplycreates the 'ugly。 '
  That the social world knows to deem worth as 'worthy' simply creates'worthlessness。 '
  Thus 'exists' and 'not…exists' mutually sprout。 'Difficult' and 'easy'are mutually done。
  'Long' and 'short' are mutually gauged。 'High' and 'low' mutually incline。
  'Sound' and 'tone' mutually blend。 'Before' and 'after' mutually supervene。
  (Pro…sage Commentary:)
  Using this: sages fix social issues without deeming ; administer a'no words' teaching。
  The ten…thousand natural kinds work by it and don't make phrases。
  They sprout but don't 'exist'。
  Deem…act and don't rely on anything。
  Accomplish their work and don't dwell in it。
  Because they don't dwell in it; they don't lose it。
  3
  Prescriptions for Politics
  Don't glorify the high…brow: cause people not to wrangle。
  Don't value limited commodities: cause people not to contemplate stealing。
  Don't display the desirable: prevent confusing the people's hearts…'n…minds。
  Using these: The governance of sages: empties their hearts…'n…minds;stuffs their guts
  Weakens their resolve; and strengthens their bones。
  He treats causing the people to lack both knowledge and desire as constants。
  Causing those with knowledge not to venture deeming…actions。
  They deem the absence of deeming…action and thus nothing is ungoverned。
  4
  Using Guidance
  Guidance pours out but in using it; something is not filled。
  Whew! It's like the ancestor of the ten…thousand natural kinds。
  'Dull' its 'sharp'; 'untie' its 'tie'; 'blend' its 'bright'; 'together'its 'diffused particles'。
  Ooo! It's like it partly endures。
  I don't know whose son it is。
  It is before the emperor of signs!
  5
  Natural Guidance
  Heaven…earth 'the cosmos' is not kind。 It treats the 10;000 naturalkinds as straw dogs。
  Sages are not kind。 They treat the hundred surname…groups as strawdogs。
  Is the space between Heaven and earth not like bellows and flutes?
  Empty and not warped。
  As long as you move them; they produce。
  Many words and numbers unlimited are not as good as holding the center。
  6
  The Superiority of the Female
  The Valley energy never dies。
  This is called 'fathomless female'
  The channel of the fathomless female:
  This is called the basis of the cosmos。
  Silken! It's as if it abides。
  Handle it gently!
  7
  Intentional Reversal
  Heaven is old and Earth is enduring。
  What do Heaven and Earth rely on in order to be old and enduring?
  They rely on avoiding self creation。
  Hence they can be old and enduring。
  Using this: Sages 'later' themselves and yet they comes first。
  They 'outside' themselves and yet they abide。
  Is this not a case of their lacking selfishness?
  So they are able to achieve their selfishness。
  8
  The Worth of Water
  Higher worth is like water。
  Water is good at benefiting the ten…thousand natural kinds
  Without wrangling for position。
  What the crowd despises
  Hence close to the guide。
  In dwelling value the earth。
  In heart…mind value depth。
  In being…with value kindness。
  In words value reliability。
  In rectifying value order。
  In social affairs value ability。
  In action value timing。
  In general; simply don't wrangle
  Hence have no indiscretion。
  9
  The inconstancy of achievement
  To grasp and pile things up is not as good as regarding it as alreadydone。
  When you measure and build a pillar ; you cannot preserve it for long。
  When gold and jade fill the hall; you can't keep any of it。
  Rich; ennobled and thus proud bequeaths ruin。
  With success; disappear: this is the heavenly guide。
  10
  Impossible Advice
  In general:
  In mustering your vitalities; embracing in one; can you fail to distinguish?
  In specializing in breath and consummating weakness; can you be a child?
  In cleansing and voiding your profound mirror; can you be without flaw?
  In loving the people and ordering the state; can you fail to know?
  In opening and closing the heavenly channel; can you fail to be female?
  In discerning all within the four directions; can you fail to deem…act?
  Generate it; nourish it:
  Generate it and not 'exist' it。
  Deem: act and not rely on anything。
  Become 'elder' and not rule。
  These are called 'profound virtuosities。'
  11
  The Value of Non…existence
  Thirty spokes together make one hub。
  Where the nothing is; lies the cart's use。
  Throwing clay to deem: make a utensil;
  Where the nothing is; lies the utensil's use。
  Sculpting windows and doors to deem: make a room;
  Where the nothing is; lies the room's use。
  So where we deem having it as