Tao Te Ching

Chapter 29
[Original text]

Knowing its male[1], guarding its female[2], it is Tianxiaxi[3].For the stream of the world, Changde is inseparable, returning to the baby.

Knowing its whiteness, (keep it black, it is the style of the world. It is the style of the world, Changde is not stunned[4], and returns to Wuji[5]. Knowing its glory,) keep it humiliating, it is the valley of the world[6].For the valley of the world, Changde is sufficient, and it returns to simplicity.

Pu San is a tool [7], and when a sage uses it, he is an official, so the big system cannot be cut [8].

【Note】

[1] Xiong: Vigorous, powerful.

[2] Female: Weak and humble.

[3] Xi (xī): Tong "xi", valley, stream.

[4] Intuit: Negligence.

[5] Promise: The eternal truth, the original state of the universe.The six sentences in brackets are suspected to be added by later generations.

[6] Valley: valley, deep valley.Metaphor broad-minded.

[7] Device: utensil.Refers to everything.

[8] Cut: split, damage.

【Analysis】

Knowing the principles of strength and prosperity, but being able to be in a weak position, being the valley of the world, containing all things; being the valley of the world, one can possess common sense and righteousness, and return to a pure state like a baby.

Knowing the virtues of clarity, (but being able to live in a dark place safely, being an example for the world, so that one can maintain virtue without fault, returning to the original state of the universe. Knowing the truth of glory,) but being able to stay in a humble position safely, Be the deep valley of the world; be the deep valley of the world, you can repair common sense and virtue, and return to the original.

The simple state can often be aggregated into concrete things after being dispersed. People with "Tao" can surpass the group by following this principle and continuing to be simple.Therefore, perfect politics is also indestructible and indivisible.

People who really understand some truths tend to do different things, and people who really know "male" will choose "female" safely.Extended to life and politics, it means that a person who really understands what wealth is will often not own and touch too much wealth (money) that the world can see, but keep a distance from wealth; a person who really knows how to govern the country Leaders often do not take special measures and decrees, but choose to rule by doing nothing.This goes back to the meaning of "Tao" mentioned by Lao Tzu, which is to return to nature and obey the state of nature. Only in this way can we truly have wisdom.

【Explanation by Famous Artists】

Mr. He Shang:
A male is a metaphor for respect, and a female is a metaphor for inferiority.Although a person knows that he is superior, he should keep it humble, remove the strong beam of the male, and let the softness of the female be. If this is the case, the world will return to it, just like water flowing into a deep stream.If a person can be as humble as a deep stream, his virtue will always be there, and he will never be separated from himself.When returning to the baby, it is stupid but ignorant.

White is a metaphor for Zhao Zhao, and black is a metaphor for silence.Although people know that they are clear and clear, they should keep it silent, as if there is nothing to be seen in darkness, then it can be the law of the world, and its virtue will always exist.If a person can be the model of the world, his virtue always lies in himself, and there will be no difference.If one's virtue is not bad, one will live a long life and return to the infinity pole.Honor is a metaphor for honor, and humiliation is a metaphor for dirt.People can know that there is honor and nobility in oneself, and they should keep it from being dirty. If this is the case, the world will return to it, just like water flowing into a deep valley.Foot, stop also.If a person can be the valley of the world, virtue always stops at himself.Returning to the simplicity of the body, it is no longer a decoration.

Device, use also.The simplicity of all things is used for utensils.If Dao San is a god, the flow is the sun and the moon, and it is divided into five elements.The promotion of a sage is the head of a hundred officials.Sages use it to control the world with the Dao, without harming anything, and to treat the body, use the Dao to control lust without harming the spirit.

(End of this chapter)