Tao Te Ching vs. I Ching: Comparing the Foundations of Chinese Philosophy

21

The grandest forms of active virtue come from the Dao in its liberty. The Dao, considered as an entity, is impalpable, incommensurable. As impalpable, as incommensurable, it has within itself forms of things. As incommensurable, as impalpable, it has within itself the entities of things. As unfathomable, as dark, it has within itself the primal essence. Its primal essence is the truest; and in it is the evidence of its reality.

The appearance of great virtue follows only from the Dao. The essence of the Dao is elusive yet contains the truth of sincerity.

No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.30 Hexagram: 离 No.64 Hexagram: 未济 No.2 Hexagram: 坤

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.

The partial becomes complete; the crooked becomes straight. Advocates that weakness overcomes strength; by not showing oneself, one becomes clear.

No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.48 Hexagram: 井 No.22 Hexagram: 贲 No.57 Hexagram: 巽

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) belong? 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 Dao his business, those who are also pursuing it, agree with him in it, and those who are making the virtue their business, agree with him in it; and those who are losing both agree with him in their loss.

To speak little is natural. A whirlwind does not last a whole morning. Advocates for following the timing of heaven and staying naturally quiet.

No.51 Hexagram: 震 No.32 Hexagram: 恒 No.57 Hexagram: 巽 No.16 Hexagram: 豫 No.5 Hexagram: 需

24

He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk (well). 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 him. Such conditions, viewed from the standpoint of the Dao, are like remnants of food, or a tumor on the body, which all dislike. Hence those who pursue (the course) of the Dao do not allow themselves to fall into them.

He who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk well. Warns against seeking quick success and self-promotion.

No.28 Hexagram: 大过 No.26 Hexagram: 大畜 No.34 Hexagram: 大壮 No.27 Hexagram: 颐 No.10 Hexagram: 履

25

There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless, standing alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and in no danger (of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the Mother of all things. I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Dao (the Way or Course). Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call it The Great. Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes remote. Having become remote, it returns.

There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. It stands alone and does not change. Explains the independence and universality of the Dao.

No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.24 Hexagram: 复 No.25 Hexagram: 无妄 No.11 Hexagram: 泰

26

Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness, the ruler of movement. Therefore a wise prince, marching the whole day, does not go far from his baggage wagons. Although he may have brilliant prospects to look at, he quietly remains (in his proper place), indifferent to them. How should the lord of a myriad chariots carry himself lightly before the kingdom? If he do act lightly, he has lost his root (of gravity); if he proceed to active movement, he will lose his throne.

Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness is the lord of haste. Advocates for being steady and solid, not light or impulsive.

No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.27 Hexagram: 颐 No.51 Hexagram: 震 No.31 Hexagram: 咸

27

The skillful traveler leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skillful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or criticized; the skillful mathematician uses no tallies; the skillful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will be impossible; the skillful binder uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound will be impossible. In the same way the sage is always skillful at saving men, and so he does not cast away any man; he is always skillful at saving things, and so he does not cast away anything. This is called 'Hiding the light of his procedure'.

A good traveler leaves no tracks; a good speaker leaves no flaws. Advocates for following the natural trend and making use of everyone's strengths.

No.14 Hexagram: 大有 No.57 Hexagram: 巽 No.58 Hexagram: 兑 No.59 Hexagram: 涣 No.40 Hexagram: 解

28

Who knows his manhood's strength, yet still his female feebleness maintains; as to the world a channel he becomes. Instilled with unceasing constant virtue, he returns again to be a tender babe. Who knows how white attracts, yet still his blackness keeps; to all the world a pattern he becomes. Instilled with unerring constant virtue, he returns again to the Infinite. Who knows how glory shines, yet still his state of humiliation maintains; to all the world a valley he becomes.

Know the male, but keep to the female. Know the white, but keep to the black. Advocates for maintaining the character of weakness and simplicity.

No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.3 Hexagram: 屯 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.41 Hexagram: 损

29

If any one should wish to get the kingdom for himself, and to effect this by what he does, I see that he will not succeed. The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing. He who would so win it destroys it; he who would hold it in his grasp loses it. The course and nature of things is such that what was newly moving is now at rest; what is warm is now cold; what was strong is now weak; what was acquiring a complete form is now being broken up.

The world is a sacred vessel; it cannot be 'acted' upon. Forced action leads to failure; following nature leads to endurance.

No.50 Hexagram: 鼎 No.25 Hexagram: 无妄 No.10 Hexagram: 履 No.34 Hexagram: 大壮 No.12 Hexagram: 否

30

He who would assist a lord of men in harmony with the Dao will not assert his mastery in the kingdom by force of arms. Such a course is sure to elicit its retribution. Where armies are quartered, briers and thorns grow. In the sequence of great armies there are sure to be bad years. A skillful (commander) strikes a decisive blow, and stops. He does not dare by that blow to assert his mastery. He will strike the blow, but will be on his guard against being vain or boastful or arrogant. When things have attained its strong maturity, it begins to decay. This is called 'not in accordance with the Dao'. What is not in accordance with it soon comes to an end.

He who assists a ruler with the Dao does not use arms to force the world. Warns of the destructive nature of war and that 'things reach their peak and then age'.

No.7 Hexagram: 师 No.28 Hexagram: 大过 No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.63 Hexagram: 既济