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Tao Te Ching.

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道德經

81 CHAPTERS · CHINESE & ENGLISH

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PART I · THE DAO23
CHAPTER 23 OF 81

Absolute Vacancy

原文 / CHINESE

希言自然,故飄風不終朝,驟雨不終日。孰為此者?天地。天地尚不能久,而況於人乎?

故從事於道者,道者,同於道;德者,同於德;失者,同於失。

同於道者,道亦樂得之;同於德者,德亦樂得之;同於失者,失亦樂得之。信不足,焉有不信焉。

ENGLISH / JAMES LEGGE

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).

About the text, translation & sources

The Chinese text follows our sister site, Longhu Mountain. The English is James Legge’s public-domain translation, first published in 1891, transcribed from the Project Gutenberg edition. Paragraph numbering is omitted; wording, parenthetical explanations and period language are retained. Chinese readings vary between editions.

The Tao Te Ching is traditionally attributed to Laozi. Its date and authorship are debated. Chapter titles are reading aids; they are not part of the ancient Chinese chapter text. The reflection boxes on this site are contemporary editorial questions, distinct from the translation.

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A FEW PATHS THROUGH THE BOOK

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Read in order.
Or follow a thought.

A FIRST ENCOUNTER

Begin with the Way

Names, origins and the language of the Dao.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF STRENGTH

Water & softness

Images of yielding, flexibility and quiet persistence.

ROOM TO NOTICE

Space & stillness

The usefulness of emptiness and the practice of less.

CARE & HUMILITY

Living with others

Character, leadership and a life beyond accumulation.

FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY

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