Tao Te Ching

Chapter 12
[Original text]

Thirty spokes [1] have a hub [2] in total, if there is none, it can be used as a car;
埏埴[3] is regarded as a device, when it does not exist, it is used as a device;

Chisel out a door[4] and consider it as a room, and treat it as if there is no room, and use it as a room.

So there is something for profit, but nothing for use.

【Note】

[1] Spokes: Wooden slats in ancient wheels.In ancient times, the wheel consisted of [-] spokes. This number was taken from the [-]th day of each month, implying that the wheel turned forward.

[2] Hub (gǔ): The log in the center of the wheel, with a round hole in it, used to pass through the spokes and connect the axle.

[3] 埏 (shān) 埴 (zhí): to stir the soil.

[4] Household (yǒu): doors and windows.

【Analysis】

Thirty spokes are gathered together on the axle, and there is a hollow space in the center of the axle, so that the car can run properly, and there is a real function.Stir and knead the earth and make it into a vessel, and the vessel has an empty space in the middle to hold things, and this is the function of the vessel.Excavating doors and windows to build a house, so that there is enough space for placing furniture and living in the whole house, this is the real function of a house.It can be seen from this that if real, tangible materials are transformed, these materials themselves will have an effect, and many invisible and intangible elements that appear when transforming materials will also have an effect.

While the tangible and the intangible are interdependent, the functions they play are also interdependent. People often use tangible objects to create intangible elements, and the intangible parts are often more needed by people when they are used.

【Explanation by Famous Artists】

Mr. He Shang:
The ancient car has thirty spokes, and the number of months is also.If there is a hub, there are holes in the hub, so all the spokes make it together.Those who treat the body should get rid of emotion and desire, so that the five viscera will be empty, and the spirit will return to it.Those who govern the country are incompetent, and the weak support the strong.Nothing means emptiness.When the hub is empty, the wheel can turn; when the public is empty, people can carry it.

埏, and also.Yin, soil also.He soil is regarded as a food and drink utensil.The container is empty, so it has something to receive.Call it a room.It is said that the house is empty, and people can go in and out to see; the room is empty, and people can live in it, which is its use.

Benefits, things are also good for form and use.There are things in the vessel, there are people in the room, fearing that the house will be destroyed; there is a spirit in the belly, fearing that it will die.Those who talk about emptiness can receive all things, so it is said that emptiness can control form.The Taoist is empty.

(End of this chapter)