第一章：道可道，非常道；名可名，非常名。无名，天地之始；有名，万物之母。故常无欲，以观其妙；常有欲，以观其徼。此两者，同出而异名，同谓之玄。玄之又玄，众妙之门。
The Way that can be told of is not an Unvarying Way; The names that can be named are not unvarying names. It was from the Nameless that Heaven and Earth sprang; The named is but the mother that rears the ten thousand creatures, each after its kind. Truly, 'Only he that rids himself forever of desire can see the Secret Essences' ; He that has never rid himself of desire can see only the Outcomes. These two things issued from the same mould, but nevertheless are different in name. This ' same mould' we can but call the Mystery, Or rather the 'Darker than any Mystery', The Doorway whence issued all Secret Essences.
第二章：天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已；皆知善之为善，斯不善已。故有无相生，难易相成，长短相形，高下相倾，音声相和，前后相随。是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教，万物作焉而不辞，生而不有，为而不恃，功成而弗居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。
It is because every one under Heaven recognizes beauty as beauty,that the idea of ugliness exists. And equally if every one recognized virtue as virtue, this would merely create fresh conceptions of wickedness. For truly 'Being and Not-being grow out of one another; Difficult and easy complete one another. Long and short test one another; High and low determine one another. Pitch and mode give harmony to one another. Front and back give sequence to one another'. Therefore[1] the Sage relies on actionless activity, Carries on wordless teaching, But the myriad creatures are worked upon by him; he does not disown them. He rears them, but does not lay claim to them, Controls them, but does not lean upon them, Achieves his aim, but does not call attention[2] to what he does; And for the very reason that he does not call attention to what he does He is not ejected from fruition of what he has done.
[1]Because 'action' can only make one thing high at the expense of making something else low, etc.
[2]Literally, 'does not place (i.e.classify) himself as a victor'. cf. MenciusⅡ, Ⅰ;
第三章：不尚贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；不见可欲，使民心不乱。是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹；弱其志，强其骨。常使民无知无欲，使夫智不敢为也。为无为，则无不治。
If we stop looking for 'persons of superior morality' (hsien) to put in power, there will be no more jealousies among the people. If we cease to set store by products that are hard to get , there will be no more thieves. If the people never see such things as excite desire, their hearts will remain placid and undisturbed. Therefore the Sage rules
　　By emptying their hearts
　　And filling their bellies,
　　Weakening their intelligence[1]
　　And toughening their sinews
　　Ever striving to make the people knowledgeless and desireless.
Indeed he sees to it that if there be any who have knowledge, they dare not interfere. Yet through his actionless activity all things are duly regulated.
[1]Particularly in the sense of 'having ideas of one's own'.
第四章：道冲而用之，或不盈。渊兮，似万物之宗。（挫其锐，解其纷，和其光，同其尘。）湛兮，似或存。吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。
The Way is like an empty vessel That yet may be drawn from Without ever needing to be filled. It is bottomless; the very progenitor of all things in the world. In it all sharpness is blunted, All tangles untied, All glare tempered, All dust[1] smoothed. It is like a deep pool that never dries. Was it too the child of something else? We cannot tell. But as a substanceless image[2] it existed before the Ancestor.[3]
[1]Dust is the Taoist symbol for the noise and fuss of everyday life.
[2]A hsiang, an image such as the mental images that float before us when we think.
[3]The Ancestor in question is almost certainly the Yellow Ancestor who separated Earth from Heaven and so destroyed the Primal Unity, for which he is frequently censured is Chuang Tzu.
第五章：天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。天地之间，其犹橐?乎！虚而不屈，动而愈出。多言数穷，不如守中。
Heaven and Earth are ruthless; To them the Ten Thousand Things are but as straw dogs. The Sage too is ruthless; To him the people are but as straw dogs. Yet[1] Heaven and Earth and all that lies between Is like a bellows In that it is empty, but gives a supply that never fails. Work it, and more comes out . Whereas the force of words[2] is soon spent. Far better is it to keep what is in the heart[3].
[1]Though ruthless nature is perpetually bounteous.
[2]Laws and proclamations.
[3]For chung as 'what is within the heart', see Tso Chuan, Yin Kung 3rd year and Kuan Tzu,37, beginning. The comparison of Heaven and Earth to a bellows is also found in Kuan Tzu (P'ien 11, beginning).
第六章：谷神不死，是谓玄牝。玄牝之门，是谓天地根。绵绵若存，用之不勤。
The Valley Spirit never dies. It is named the Mysterious Female. And the Doorway of the Mysterious Female Is the base from which Heaven and Earth sprang. It is there within us all the while; Draw upon it as you will, it never runs dry.[1]
[1]Lieh Tzu quotes these lines as coming from the Book of the Yellow Ancestor; but it does not follow that the Tao Ching is actually quothing them from this source. They may belong to the general stock of early Taoist rhymed teaching. For ch' in compare below, Chapter 52, line 9, and Huai-nan Tzu I, fol.2.
第七章：天长地久，天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。是以圣人后其身而身先，外其身而身存。非以其无私邪？故能成其私。
Heaven is eternal, the Earth Everlasting. How come they to be so? Is it because they do not foster their own lives; That is why they live so long. Therefore the Sage Puts himself in the background; but is always to the fore. Remains outside; but is always there. Is it not just because he does not strive for any personal end That all his personal ends are fulfilled?
第八章：上善若水，水善利万物而不争。处众人之所恶，故几于道。居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，正善治，事善能，动善时。夫唯不争，故无尤。
The highest good is like that of water. The goodness of water is that it benefits the ten thousand creatures; yet itself does not scramble, but is content with the places that all men disdain. It is this that makes water so near to the Way. And if men think the ground the best place for building a house upon, If among thoughts they value those that are profound, If in friendship they value gentleness, In words, truth; in government, good order; In deeds, effectiveness; in actions, timeliness- In each case it is because they prefer what does not lead to strife,[1] And therefore does not go amiss.
[1]Even ordinary people realize the importance of the Taoist principle of 'water-like' behaviour, i.e. not striving to get on top or to the fore.
第九章：持而盈之，不如其已；揣而锐之，不可长保。金玉满堂，莫之能守。富贵而骄，自遗其咎。功遂身退，天之道也！
Stretch a bow[1] to the very full, And you will wish you had stopped in time; Temper a sword-edge to its very sharpest, And you will find it soon grows dull When bronze and jade fill your hall It can no longer be guarded. Wealth and place breed insolence That brings ruin in its train. When your work is done, then withdraw! Such is Heaven's[2] Way.
[1] the expression used can also apply to filling a vessel to the brim; but 'stretching a bow' makes a better parallel to 'sharpening a sword'.
[2] as opposed to the Way of man
老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 章
　 　 载 营 魄 抱 一 ， 能 无 离 乎 。
　 　 专 气 致 柔 ， 能 如 婴 儿 乎 。
　 　 涤 除 玄 鉴 ， 能 如 疵 乎 。
　 　 爱 国 治 民 ， 能 无 为 乎 。
　 　 天 门 开 阖 ， 能 为 雌 乎 。
　 　 明 白 四 达 ， 能 无 知 乎 。
Chapter 10
When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one
embrace, they can be kept from separating. When one gives undivided
attention to the (vital) breath, and brings it to the utmost degree of
pliancy, he can become as a (tender) babe. When he has cleansed away
the most mysterious sights (of his imagination), he can become without
a flaw.
In loving the people and ruling the state, cannot he proceed
without any (purpose of) action? In the opening and shutting of his
gates of heaven, cannot he do so as a female bird? While his
intelligence reaches in every direction, cannot he (appear to) be
without knowledge?
(The Tao) produces (all things) and nourishes them; it produces
them and does not claim them as its own; it does all, and yet does not
boast of it; it presides over all, and yet does not control them.
This is what is called 'The mysterious Quality' (of the Tao).
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 一 章
　 　 三 十 辐 ， 共 一 毂 ， 当 其 无 ， 有 车 之 用 。
　 　 埏 埴 以 为 器 ， 当 其 无 ， 有 器 之 用 。
　 　 凿 户 牖 以 为 室 ， 当 其 无 ， 有 室 之 用 。
　 　 故 有 之 以 为 利 ， 无 之 以 为 用 。
Chapter 11
The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty
space (for the axle), that the use of the wheel depends. Clay is
fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness, that
their use depends. The door and windows are cut out (from the walls)
to form an apartment; but it is on the empty space (within), that its
use depends. Therefore, what has a (positive) existence serves for
profitable adaptation, and what has not that for (actual) usefulness.
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 二 章
五 色 令 人 目 盲 ? 五 音 令 人 耳 聋 ? 五 味 令 人 口 爽 ?
驰 骋 畋 猎 ， 令 人 心 发 狂 ? 难 得 之 货 ， 令 人 行 妨 。
　 　是 以 圣 人 为 腹 不 为 目 ， 故 去 彼 取 此
Chapter 12
Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take;
Music's five notes the ears as deaf can make;
The flavours five deprive the mouth of taste;
The chariot course, and the wild hunting waste
Make mad the mind; and objects rare and strange,
Sought for, men's conduct will to evil change.
Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and
not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes. He puts from him the
latter, and prefers to seek the former.
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 三 章
宠 辱 若 惊 ， 贵 大 患 若 身 。
　 　何 谓 宠 辱 若 惊 。
宠 为 下 ， 得 之 若 惊 ， 失 之 若 惊 ， 是 谓 宠 辱 若 惊 。
　 　何 谓 贵 大 患 若 身 。
吾 所 以 有 大 患 者 ， 为 吾 有 身 ，
及 吾 无 身 ， 吾 有 何 患 。
　 　故 贵 以 身 为 天 下 ， 若 可 寄 天 下 ?
爱 以 身 为 天 下 ， 若 可 托 天 下 。
Chapter 13
Favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared; honour and
great calamity, to be regarded as personal conditions (of the same
kind).
What is meant by speaking thus of favour and disgrace? Disgrace is
being in a low position (after the enjoyment of favour). The getting
that (favour) leads to the apprehension (of losing it), and the losing
it leads to the fear of (still greater calamity):--this is what is
meant by saying that favour and disgrace would seem equally to be
feared.
And what is meant by saying that honour and great calamity are to be
(similarly) regarded as personal conditions? What makes me liable to
great calamity is my having the body (which I call myself); if I had
not the body, what great calamity could come to me?
Therefore he who would administer the kingdom, honouring it as he
honours his own person, may be employed to govern it, and he who would
administer it with the love which he bears to his own person may be
entrusted with it.
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 四 章
视 之 不 见 ， 名 曰 夷 ?
听 之 不 闻 ， 名 曰 希 ?
搏 之 不 得 ， 名 曰 微 。
此 三 者 不 可 致 诘 ， 故 混 而 为 一 。
其 上 不 ? ， 其 下 不 昧 。
绳 绳 兮 不 可 名 ， 复 归 于 物 。
是 谓 无 状 之 状 ， 无 物 之 象 ， 是 谓 惚 恍 。
迎 之 不 见 其 首 ， 随 之 不 见 其 后 。
　 　执 古 之 道 ， 以 御 今 之 有 。
能 知 古 始 ， 是 谓 道 纪 。
Chapter 14
We look at it, and we do not see it, and we name it 'the
Equable.' We listen to it, and we do not hear it, and we name it 'the
Inaudible.' We try to grasp it, and do not get hold of it, and we
name it 'the Subtle.' With these three qualities, it cannot be made
the subject of description; and hence we blend them together and
obtain The One.
Its upper part is not bright, and its lower part is not obscure.
Ceaseless in its action, it yet cannot be named, and then it again
returns and becomes nothing. This is called the Form of the Formless,
and the Semblance of the Invisible; this is called the Fleeting and
Indeterminable.
We meet it and do not see its Front; we follow it, and do not see
its Back. When we can lay hold of the Tao of old to direct the things
of the present day, and are able to know it as it was of old in the
beginning, this is called (unwinding) the clue of Tao.
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 五 章
古 之 善 为 道 者 ， 微 妙 玄 通 ， 深 不 可 识 。
夫 唯 不 可 识 ， 故 强 为 之 容 ：
　 　豫 兮 若 冬 涉 川 ?
　 　犹 兮 若 畏 四 邻 ?
　 　俨 兮 其 若 客 ?
　 　涣 兮 其 若 凌 释 ?
　 　敦 兮 其 若 朴 ?
　 　旷 兮 其 若 谷 ?
　 　混 兮 其 若 浊 ?
　 　澹 兮 其 若 海 ?
　 　? 兮 若 无 止 。
　 　孰 能 浊 以 静 之 徐 清 。
孰 能 安 以 动 之 徐 生 。
　 　保 此 道 者 ， 不 欲 盈 。
夫 唯 不 盈 ， 故 能 蔽 而 新 成 。
Chapter 15
The skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with a subtle
and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep
(also) so as to elude men's knowledge. As they were thus beyond men's
knowledge, I will make an effort to describe of what sort they
appeared to be.
Shrinking looked they like those who wade through a stream in
winter; irresolute like those who are afraid of all around them; grave
like a guest (in awe of his host); evanescent like ice that is melting
away; unpretentious like wood that has not been fashioned into
anything; vacant like a valley, and dull like muddy water.
Who can (make) the muddy water (clear)? Let it be still, and it
will gradually become clear. Who can secure the condition of rest?
Let movement go on, and the condition of rest will gradually arise.
They who preserve this method of the Tao do not wish to be full (of
themselves). It is through their not being full of themselves that
they can afford to seem worn and not appear new and complete.
老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 六 章
致 虚 极 ， 守 静 笃。
　 　万 物 并 作 ， 吾 以 观 复。
　 　夫 物 芸 芸 ， 各 复 归 其 根 。
归 根 曰 静 ， 静 曰 复 命 。
复 命 曰 常 ， 知 常 曰 明 。
不 知 常 ， 妄 作 凶 。
　 　知 常 容 ， 容 乃 公 ，
公 乃 全 ， 全 乃 天 ，
天 乃 道 ， 道 乃 久 ， 没 身 不 殆 。
Chapter 16
The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree,
and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things
alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them
return (to their original state). When things (in the vegetable
world) have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them
return to its root. This returning to their root is what we call the
state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that
they have fulfilled their appointed end.
The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule. To
know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads
to wild movements and evil issues. The knowledge of that unchanging
rule produces a (grand) capacity and forbearance, and that capacity
and forbearance lead to a community (of feeling with all things).
From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he
who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. In that likeness to
heaven he possesses the Tao. Possessed of the Tao, he endures long;
and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay.
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 七 章
太 上 ， 不 知 有 之 ?
其 次 ， 亲 而 誉 之 ?
其 次 ， 畏 之 ?
其 次 ， 侮 之 。
信 不 足 焉 ， 有 不 信 焉 。
　 　悠 兮 其 贵 言 。
功 成 事 遂 ， 百 姓 皆 谓 ： 「 我 自 然 」 。
Chapter 17
In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there
were (their rulers). In the next age they loved them and praised
them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.
Thus it was that when faith (in the Tao) was deficient (in the rulers)
a want of faith in them ensued (in the people).
How irresolute did those (earliest rulers) appear, showing (by
their reticence) the importance which they set upon their words!
Their work was done and their undertakings were successful, while the
people all said, 'We are as we are, of ourselves!'
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 八 章
　 　大 道 废 ， 有 仁 义 ? 智 慧 出 ， 有 大 伪 ?
六 亲 不 和 ， 有 孝 慈 ? 国 家 昏 乱 ， 有 忠 臣 。
Chapter 18
When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed,
benevolence and righteousness came into vogue. (Then) appeared wisdom
and shrewdness, and there ensued great hypocrisy.
When harmony no longer prevailed throughout the six kinships,
filial sons found their manifestation; when the states and clans fell
into disorder, loyal ministers appeared.
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 十 九 章
绝 圣 弃 智 ， 民 利 百 倍 ?
绝 仁 弃 义 ， 民 复 孝 慈 ?
绝 巧 弃 利 ， 盗 贼 无 有 。
此 三 者 以 为 文 ， 不 足 。
故 令 有 所 属 ： 见 素 抱 朴 ， 少 思 寡 欲 ， 绝 学 无 忧 。
Chapter 19
If we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom, it
would be better for the people a hundredfold. If we could renounce
our benevolence and discard our righteousness, the people would again
become filial and kindly. If we could renounce our artful
contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no
thieves nor robbers.
Those three methods (of government)
Thought olden ways in elegance did fail
And made these names their want of worth to veil;
But simple views, and courses plain and true
Would selfish ends and many lusts eschew.
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 二 十 章
　 　 唯 之 与 阿 ， 相 去 几 何 。
之 与 恶 ， 相 去 若 何 。
人 之 所 畏 ， 不 可 不 畏 。
　 　 荒 兮 ， 其 未 央 哉 。
　 　 众 人 熙 熙 ， 如 享 太 牢 ， 如 春 登 台 。
　 　 我 独 泊 兮 ， 其 未 兆 ?
　 　 沌 沌 兮 ， 如 婴 儿 之 未 孩 ?
　 　 ? ? 兮 ， 若 无 所 归 。
　 　 众 人 皆 有 余 ， 而 我 独 若 遗 。 我 愚 人 之 心 也 哉 。
　 　 俗 人 昭 昭 ， 我 独 昏 昏 。
　 　 俗 人 察 察 ， 我 独 闷 闷 。
　 　 众 人 皆 有 以 ， 而 我 独 顽 且 鄙 。
　 　 我 独 异 于 人 ， 而 贵 食 母 。
Chapter 20
When we renounce learning we have no troubles.
The (ready) 'yes,' and (flattering) 'yea;'--
Small is the difference they display.
But mark their issues, good and ill;--
What space the gulf between shall fill?
What all men fear is indeed to be feared; but how wide and without end
is the range of questions (asking to be discussed)!
The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a
full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem
listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of
their presence. I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look
dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of
men all have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost
everything. My mind is that of a stupid man; I am in a state of
chaos.
Ordinary men look bright and intelligent, while I alone seem to be
benighted. They look full of discrimination, while I alone am dull
and confused. I seem to be carried about as on the sea, drifting as
if I had nowhere to rest. All men have their spheres of action, while
I alone seem dull and incapable, like a rude borderer. (Thus) I alone
am different from other men, but I value the nursing-mother (the Tao).
老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 二 十 一 章
孔 德 之 容 ， 惟 道 是 从 。
　 　道 之 为 物 ， 惟 恍 惟 惚 。
惚 兮 恍 兮 ， 其 中 有 象 ? 恍 兮 惚 兮 ， 其 中 有 物 。
窈 兮 冥 兮 ， 其 中 有 精 ? 其 精 甚 真 ， 其 中 有 信 。
　 　自 今 及 古 ， 其 名 不 去 ， 以 阅 众 甫 。
吾 何 以 知 众 甫 之 状 哉 。 以 此 。
Chapter 21.
The grandest forms of active force
From Tao come, their only source.
Who can of Tao the nature tell?
Our sight it flies, our touch as well.
Eluding sight, eluding touch,
The forms of things all in it crouch;
Eluding touch, eluding sight,
There are their semblances, all right.
Profound it is, dark and obscure;
Things' essences all there endure.
Those essences the truth enfold
Of what, when seen, shall then be told.
Now it is so; 'twas so of old.
Its name--what passes not away;
So, in their beautiful array,
Things form and never know decay.
How know I that it is so with all the beauties of existing things? By
this (nature of the Tao).
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 二 十 二 章
曲 则 全 ， 枉 则 直 ， 洼 则 盈 ，
敝 则 新 ， 少 则 得 ， 多 则 惑 。
　 　是 以 圣 人 抱 一 为 天 下 式 。
不 自 见 ， 故 明 ?
不 自 是 ， 故 彰 ?
不 自 伐 ， 故 有 功 ?
不 自 矜 ， 故 长 。
　 　夫 唯 不 争 ， 故 天 下 莫 能 与 之 争 。
古 之 所 谓 「 曲 则 全 」 者 ， 岂 虚 言 哉 。
诚 全 而 归 之 。
Chapter 22
The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty,
full; the worn out, new. He whose (desires) are few gets them; he
whose (desires) are many goes astray.
Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of
humility), and manifests it to all the world. He is free from self-
display, and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore
he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is
acknowledged; from self-complacency, and therefore he acquires
superiority. It is because he is thus free from striving that
therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him.
That saying of the ancients that 'the partial becomes complete' was
not vainly spoken:--all real completion is comprehended under it.
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老 子: 「道 德 经」 : 第 二 十 三 章
希 言 自 然 。
　 　故 飘 风 不 终 朝 ， 骤 雨 不 终 日 。
孰 为 此 者 。
天 地 。 天 地 尚 不 能 久 ， 而 况 于 人 乎 。
故 从 事 于 道 者 ， 同 于 道 ?
德 者 ， 同 于 德 ? 失 者 ， 同 于 失 。
同 于 道 者 ， 道 亦 乐 得 之 ?
同 于 德 者 ， 德 亦 乐 得 之 ?
同 于 失 者 ， 失 亦 乐 得 之 。
　 　信 不 足 焉 ， 有 不 信 焉 。
Chapter 23
Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity
of his nature. A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a
sudden rain does not last for the whole day. To whom is it that these
(two) things are owing? To Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth
cannot make such (spasmodic) actings last long, how much less can man!
Therefore when one is making the Tao his business, those who are
also pursuing it, agree with him in it, and those who are making the
manifestation of its course their object agree with him in that; while
even those who are failing in both these things agree with him where
they fail.
Hence, those with whom he agrees as to the Tao have the happiness
of attaining to it; those with whom he agrees as to its manifestation
have the happiness of attaining to it; and those with whom he agrees
in their failure have also the happiness of attaining (to the Tao).
(But) when there is not faith sufficient (on his part), a want of
faith (in him) ensues (on the part of the others).
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: 「道 德 ?」 : 第 二 十 四 章
企 者 不 立 ? 跨 者 不 行 ?
自 见 者 不 明 ? 自 是 者 不 彰 ?
自 伐 者 无 功 ? 自 矜 者 不 长 。
　 　其 在 道 也 ， 曰 ： 余 食 赘 形 。
物 或 恶 之 ， 故 有 道 者 不 处 。
Chapter 24.
He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches
his legs does not walk (easily). (So), he who displays himself does
not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he who
vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self-
conceited has no superiority allowed to him. Such conditions, viewed
from the standpoint of the Tao, are like remnants of food, or a tumour