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

41

Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Dao, earnestly carry it into practice. Scholars of the middle class, when they have heard about it, seem now to keep it and now to lose it. Scholars of the lowest class, when they have heard about it, laugh greatly at it. If it were not (thus) laughed at, it would not be the Dao. Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves:—'The Dao, when brightest, seems obscure; the Dao, when advancing, seems to retire; the Dao, when at its smoothest, seems uneven; highest virtue from the valley (of its lowliness) comes; the greatest pureness seems to feel some stain; the abundant virtue seems to be deficient; the virtue's establishment seems to be stealthy and mean...'

The superior scholar hears of the Dao and diligently practices it. Describes the reactions of different levels of people to the Dao and its counter-intuitive traits.

No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.33 Hexagram: 遁 No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.20 Hexagram: 观 No.30 Hexagram: 离

42

The Dao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things. All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are harmonised by the Breath of Vacancy. What men dislike is to be an orphan, a childless man, or one of little virtue; and yet kings and princes use these as designations of themselves. So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased.

The Dao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced all things. Emphasizes the harmony of Yin and Yang.

No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.42 Hexagram: 益

43

The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no (substantial) existence enters where there is no crevice. I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing (with a purpose). There are few in the world who attain to the teaching without words, and the advantage arising from non-action.

The softest thing in the world dashes against the hardest. Discusses the benefits of non-action and wordless teaching.

No.57 Hexagram: 巽 No.29 Hexagram: 坎 No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.20 Hexagram: 观 No.58 Hexagram: 兑

44

Or your name or your person, which do you hold more dear? Or your person or your wealth, which do you more prize? Or profit or loss, which is the more grievous? Thus it is that excessive individual affection cannot but lead to great expenditure; and excessive hoarding cannot but lead to heavy loss. He who is satisfied with his lot runs no risk of shame; he who knows when to stop incurs no danger:—such an one can continue long.

Which is more to you, your name or your person? Which is more to you, your person or your goods? Warns that greed leads to a heavy price; contentment is joy.

No.60 Hexagram: 节 No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.28 Hexagram: 大过 No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.10 Hexagram: 履

45

What is most perfect seems to have something lacking, yet its use is not exhausted. What is most full seems empty, yet its use is not impaired. What is most straight seems crooked; the greatest skill seems stupid; the greatest eloquence seems to stutter. Movement overcomes cold; stillness overcomes heat. The pure and still is the correct model of the world.

Greatest completion seems incomplete, yet its utility is unimpaired. Explores the logic that purity and stillness are the world's standard.

No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.52 Hexagram: 艮

46

When the Dao prevails in the world, they send back their swift horses to (draw) the dung-carts. When the Dao is disregarded in the world, the war-horses breed in the border lands. There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.

When the Dao prevails, horses are used for farming. When it doesn't, war horses are bred. Discusses greed as the greatest disaster.

No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.12 Hexagram: 否 No.26 Hexagram: 大畜 No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.10 Hexagram: 履

47

Without going out of one's door, one understands all that takes place under the sky; without looking out from one's window, one sees the Dao of Heaven. The farther that one goes out (from himself), the less he knows. Therefore the sages got their knowledge without traveling; gave their (right) names to things without seeing them; and accomplished their ends without any purpose of doing so.

Without going out of the door, one can know the world. Advocates seeking wisdom within rather than through travel.

No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.24 Hexagram: 复 No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.20 Hexagram: 观 No.2 Hexagram: 坤

48

He who devotes himself to learning (believes that) from day to day he increases; he who devotes himself to the Dao (believes that) from day to day he diminishes. He diminishes it and again diminishes it, till he arrives at doing nothing (on purpose). Having arrived at this, there is nothing that he does not do. He who gets as his own all under heaven does so giving himself no trouble (with that end). If he take trouble (with that end), he is not equal to getting as his own all under heaven.

In pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired; in pursuit of the Dao, every day something is dropped. Advocates for the return to non-action.

No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.42 Hexagram: 益 No.25 Hexagram: 无妄 No.13 Hexagram: 同人 No.2 Hexagram: 坤

49

The sage has no decided opinion and feelings of his own; he regards the mind and feelings of the people as being his own. To those who are good (to me), I am good; and to those who are not good (to me), I am also good;—and thus (all) get to be good. To those who are deserving of trust, I lend my trust; and to those who are not deserving of trust, I also lend my trust;—and thus (all) get to be trusted. The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision, and keeps his mind in a state of confusion, so that the people all keep their eyes and ears directed to him.

The sage has no settled mind; he makes the mind of the people his mind. Discusses trust and kindness toward others.

No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.8 Hexagram: 比 No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.14 Hexagram: 大有

50

Men come forth into life and go into death. The followers of life are three in ten; the followers of death are three in ten; those whose life is their movement towards the place of death are also three in ten. And why is this? Because of their excessive endeavor to live. But I have heard that he who is skillful in managing the life entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff coat or sharp weapon.

Man comes forth into life and goes into death. Three out of ten are followers of life; three out of ten are followers of death. Discusses methods of preserving life.

No.3 Hexagram: 屯 No.10 Hexagram: 履 No.27 Hexagram: 颐 No.24 Hexagram: 复 No.5 Hexagram: 需