Tao Te Ching

Chapter 26
[Original text]

There are things mixed [1], congenitally born.Lonely and lonely[2], independent without change[3], traveling around without dying[4], can be the mother of the world.I don't know its name, but the strong character [5] is called "Tao", and the strong name is "Da" [6].The big one is "passing" [7], the dead is "far", and the distant is "reverse" [8].

Therefore, the Dao is big, the sky is big, the earth is big, and people are also big.There are four major areas in the domain [9], and people live in one of them.

Man follows the earth, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature.

【Note】

[1] Hybrid: naturally generated, referring to the rustic state in the initial period.

[2] Lonely and lonely: Describes the "Tao" as silent and invisible.

[3] Do not change: do not change yourself, have eternity and absoluteness.

[4] Almost: stop.

[5] Word: Naming.

[6] Big: Describes the "Tao" as vast and boundless, with infinite power.

[7] Passing away: Describes that "Tao" circulates endlessly and never stops.

[8] Reverse: Return to the origin, return to the original state.

[9] In the field: between heaven and earth, in the universe.

[10] Law: imitate, here it is extended to obey, let.

【Analysis】

There is a kind of thing that is naturally generated, and it existed before the formation of heaven and earth.It has neither sound nor concrete image.It exists independently without relying on any external force, and runs round and round without stopping.It can even serve as the matrix of all things in the world.I don't know what its real name is. I reluctantly named it "Tao", and described it as vast and boundless. It goes far and wide while returning to its origin.

Therefore, the Dao is big, the sky is big, the earth is big, and people are also big.Between heaven and earth there are four greatest, and man is one of them.

Man learns from the earth and learns its simplicity and virtue; the earth learns from the sky and learns its magnificence; heaven learns from Tao and learns its original creation;

"Tao" is a simple state and a harmonious whole, which is composed of different factors and at the same time gives birth to all things in the world.The nature of "Tao" is unique, it exists independently without relying on anything, and at the same time it will not change itself because of any external objects.

【Explanation by Famous Artists】

Mr. He Shang:
It is said that the Tao is formless, and everything is formed from chaos, which is before the heaven and the earth.Those who are silent have no sound.Those who are few are empty and invisible.Independent, peerless.Those who do not change will become permanent.Dao runs through the heaven and the earth, enters everything, does not burn in the yang, does not rot in the yin, runs through everything, and is not dangerous.Dao nourishes the essence of all things, just like a mother's adopted son.I don't know the description of Tao, and I don't know how to name it. I see that all things are born from Tao, so the word is called Tao.I don't know its name, but the strong name is Da.The big one is high and unsurpassed, and it has nothing outside, and everything is inclusive, so it is called big.It is great, not as if the sky is always above, not as if the earth is always below, but after passing away, the place of impermanence is also.Those who speak far away are infinitely poor, and they spread the world and the earth, and they can understand everything.It is said that it is far away but not beyond, but it is reflected in the human body.

The one with the greatest Tao encompasses heaven and earth, and is omnipotent.The big one covers everything.The big one contains everything.The NPC can control everything.There are four great things in the realm, Tao, Heaven, Earth, and Man.It is not an extreme thing to have a name and a name.There is a reason for talking about the Tao, and then it is called the Tao. However, the Tao is called the great, and it is not as great as it is without a name.Heaven, earth and people all care about what is not known, so it is said that there are four great beings in the domain.There are four great things within the eight poles, and people live in one of them.

People should be quiet and gentle in the law, sow grains, dig springs, work hard without complaining, and meritorious deeds should not be ignored.The sky is indifferent and unmoving, giving without seeking repayment, growing all things, and receiving nothing.The Tao is quiet and quiet, the yin moves the essence, and everything is self-contained.Taoism is natural, and there is no way to do it.

(End of this chapter)