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Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Outer Chapters -> The Way of Heaven -> 1.1

The Way of Heaven operates (unceasingly), and leaves no accumulation (of its influence) in any particular place,
so that all things are brought to perfection by it;
天下so does the Way of the Dis operate, and all under the sky turn to them (as their directors);
so also does the Way of the Sages operate, and all within the seas submit to them.
Those who clearly understand (the Way of) Heaven,
who are in sympathy with (that of) the sages,
and familiar through the universe and in the four quarters (of the earth) with the work of the Dis and the kings,
yet act spontaneously from themselves:
with the appearance of being ignorant they are yet entirely still.
圣人 The stillness of the sages does not belong to them as a consequence of their skilful ability;
all things are not able to disturb their minds
- it is on this account that they are still.
When water is still, its clearness shows the beard and eyebrows (of him who looks into it).
It is a perfect Level,
and the greatest artificer takes his rule from it.
Such is the clearness of still water, and how much greater is that of the human Spirit!
圣人The still mind of the sage
is the mirror of heaven and earth,
the glass of all things.
Vacancy, stillness, placidity, tastelessness,
quietude, silence, and non-action
- this is the Level of heaven and earth, and the perfection of the Dao and its characteristics.
圣人Therefore the Dis, Kings, and Sages found in this their resting-place.
Resting here, they were vacant;
from their vacancy came fullness;
from their fullness came the nice distinctions (of things).
From their vacancy came stillness;
that stillness was followed by movement;
their movemerts were successful.
From their stillness came their non-action.
Doing-nothing,
they devolved the cares of office on their employes,
Doing-nothing was accompanied by the feeling of satisfaction.
Where there is that feeling of satisfaction, anxieties and troubles find no place;
寿 and the years of life are many.
Vacancy, stillness, placidity, tastelessness,
quietude, silence, and doing-nothing
are the root of all things.
When this is understood, we find such a ruler on the throne as Yao,
and such a minister as Shun.
When with this a high position is occupied,
天子we find the attributes of the Dis and kings,-- the sons of Heaven;
with this in a low position,
we find the mysterious sages, the uncrowned kings, with their ways.
退With this retiring (from public life), and enjoying themselves at leisure,
we find the scholars who dwell by the rivers and seas, among the hills and forests, all submissive to it;
with this coming forward to active life and comforting their age,
天下their merit is great, and their fame is distinguished - and all the world becomes united in one.
(Such men) by their stillness become sages;
and by their movement, kings.
Doing-nothing, they are honoured;
天下in their plain simplicity, no one in the world can strive with them (for the palm of) excellence.
The clear understanding of the virtue of Heaven and Earth
is what is called 'The Great Root,' and 'The Great Origin;'
- they who have it are in harmony with Heaven,
天下 and so they produce all equable arrangements in the world
- they are those who are in harmony with men.
Being in harmony with men
is called the joy of men;
being in harmony with Heaven
is called the joy of Heaven.


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