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

51

All things are produced by the Dao, and nourished by its outflowing operation (Virtue). They receive their forms according to the nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of their condition. Therefore all things without exception honor the Dao, and exalt its virtue. This honoring of the Dao and exalting of its virtue is not the result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute. Thus it is that the Dao, after producing them, makes them grow, and then nourishes them; it gives them their completed size, and then matures them; it maintains them, and then covers them. It produces them and does not claim them; it does all, and yet does not boast; it presides over all, and yet does not control. This is what is called 'The Mysterious Virtue'.

The Dao produces things; Virtue nourishes them. Matter shapes them; Circumstance perfects them. Praises the nurturing virtue of the Dao.

No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.42 Hexagram: 益 No.27 Hexagram: 颐 No.11 Hexagram: 泰

52

The world had a beginning, which may be considered as its mother. When the mother is found, we know what her children should be. When one knows that he is his mother's child, and proceeds to guard (the qualities of) the mother that belong to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril. Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals (of his senses), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion. Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him. The perception of what is small is (the secret of) clear-sightedness; the guarding of what is soft is (the secret of) strength.

The world had a beginning, which may be considered its Mother. Close the mouth and shut the gates, and to the end of life there will be no toil.

No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.58 Hexagram: 兑 No.30 Hexagram: 离 No.57 Hexagram: 巽

53

If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position) to conduct (a government) according to the Great Dao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display. The Great Dao is very level and easy, but people love the by-ways. Their court-yards and halls are very clean, but their fields are very weedy, and their granaries are very empty. They wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth;—such (princes) may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Dao!

If I had the smallest knowledge, I would walk in the Great Dao and fear only going astray. Critiques the luxury and neglect of rulers.

No.25 Hexagram: 无妄 No.12 Hexagram: 否 No.22 Hexagram: 贲 No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.21 Hexagram: 噬嗑

54

What (Dao's) skillful planter plants can never be uprooted; what his skillful arms enfold can never from him be separated. Sons and grandsons shall bring their offerings to him without ceasing. Let (the Dao) be cultivated in one's own person, and its virtue will be true; let it be cultivated in the family, and its virtue will be more than sufficient; let it be cultivated in the village, and its virtue will endure and increase; let it be cultivated in the state, and its virtue will be abundant; let it be cultivated in the kingdom, and its virtue will be universal.

What is well planted is not easily uprooted; what is well embraced is not easily dropped. Discusses the progression from cultivating self to the world.

No.32 Hexagram: 恒 No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.13 Hexagram: 同人 No.37 Hexagram: 家人 No.20 Hexagram: 观

55

He who is possessed of the fullness of Virtue is like an infant. Poisonous insects will not sting him; fierce beasts will not seize him; birds of prey will not strike him. His bones are weak and his sinews soft, but his grasp is firm. He knows not yet the union of male and female, and yet his virile member may be excited;—showing the perfection of his physical essence. All day long he will cry without his voice becoming hoarse;—showing the perfection of his harmony. To know harmony is the unchanging rule (of the Dao); to know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent.

He who is possessed of the fullness of Virtue is like an infant. Praises the unity of innocence and vital energy found in a babe.

No.3 Hexagram: 屯 No.10 Hexagram: 履 No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.1 Hexagram: 乾

56

He who knows (the Dao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it. He (who knows it) will keep his mouth shut and close the portals (of his senses). He will blunt his sharp points and unravel the complications of (his care); he will attemper his brightness, and bring himself into agreement with the obscurity of others. This is called 'The Mysterious Sameness'. Such a one cannot be treated with familiarity or with remoteness; he cannot be benefited or harmed; he cannot be raised to a state of honor or degraded to a state of meanness. He is therefore the most honorable (man) in the world.

He who knows does not speak; he who speaks does not know. Blunt the sharpness, unravel the complications, attemper the brightness, and share the dust. This is 'Mysterious Sameness'.

No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.59 Hexagram: 涣 No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.13 Hexagram: 同人

57

A state may be ruled by (measures of) correction; weapons of war may be used with crafty dexterity; (but) the kingdom is made one's own (only) by freedom from action and purpose. How do I know that it is so? By these facts:—The more prohibitions and inhibitions there are in the kingdom, the poorer the people become; the more implements to add to their profit the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state and clan; the more acts of crafty dexterity men possess, the more do strange contrivances appear; the more display there is of legislation, the more thieves and robbers there are. Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing, and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct; I will take no trouble about it, and the people will of themselves become rich; I will manifest no ambition, and the people will of themselves attain to the primitive simplicity.'

Rule a state with uprightness; use arms with surprise; win the world through non-action. The more taboos there are, the poorer the people.

No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.7 Hexagram: 师 No.20 Hexagram: 观 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.25 Hexagram: 无妄

58

The government whose measures are dull and unnoticed yields a people that are pleased and rest in their integrity. The government that is searching and obstructive yields a people that are miserable and wanting. It is on misery that happiness rests; it is under happiness that misery lurks. Who knows the limit (of this cycle)? Is there no (set rule of) correction? That which is correct becomes the strange; that which is good becomes the monstrous. The seduction of the people (from the Dao) has been of long duration. Therefore the sage is (like) a square which has no corner (of offense); (like) a corner which is not sharp (to injure); (like) a straight-line which does not stretch; (like) a light which does not dazzle.

When the government is muddled, the people are simple. Misery is that on which happiness rests; happiness is that under which misery lurks.

No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.24 Hexagram: 复 No.63 Hexagram: 既济 No.64 Hexagram: 未济 No.15 Hexagram: 谦

59

For ruling men and serving Heaven, there is nothing like moderation. It is only by this moderation that there is effected an early return (to man's normal state). That early return is what I call the repeated accumulation of Virtue. With that repeated accumulation of Virtue, there comes the overcoming of every obstacle. When every obstacle is overcome, we know not what are the limits (of our power). When one knows not what the limits (of his power) are, he may be the possessor of a state. He who possesses the Mother of the state will continue long. It may said of him that he has a deep root and a firm base—which is the way of long life and enduring vision.

For ruling men and serving Heaven, there is nothing like thrift. The way of deep roots and firm base for long life.

No.26 Hexagram: 大畜 No.32 Hexagram: 恒 No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.1 Hexagram: 乾

60

Governing a great state is like cooking small fish. Let the kingdom be governed according to the Dao, and the manes of the departed will not manifest their spiritual energy. It is not that those manes have not that spiritual energy, but it will not be employed to hurt men. It is not that it could not hurt men, but neither does the sage hurt them. When these two do not injuriously affect each other, their good influences converge in the virtue (of the Dao).

Governing a large state is like frying a small fish. If one rules the world with the Dao, evil spirits lose their power.

No.50 Hexagram: 鼎 No.14 Hexagram: 大有 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.25 Hexagram: 无妄 No.30 Hexagram: 离