Chapter 10 How to be able to act.
>  
1 Verses | Page 1 / 1
(Version and commentary of He Shanggong in Chinese)


Show / Hide
(Ⅰ)
(Ⅱ)
(Ⅲ)
(Ⅳ)
(Ⅴ)
(Ⅵ)
(Ⅶ)
(Ⅷ)


10. 1  
營魄,營魄,魂魄也。 人載魂魄之上得以生,當愛養之。喜怒亡魂,卒驚傷魄。魂在肝,魄在肺。美酒甘肴,腐人肝肺。故魂靜志道不亂,魄安得壽延年也。抱一,能無離乎,言人能抱一,使不離於身,則長存。 一者,道始所生,太和之精氣也。 故曰:一布名於天下,天得一以清,地得一以寧,侯王得一以為正平,入為心,出為行,布施為德,摠名為一。一之為言,志一無二也。專氣致柔,專守精氣使不亂,則形體能應之而柔順。能嬰兒。能如嬰兒內無思慮,外無政事,則精神不去也。滌除玄覽,當洗其心,使潔淨也。 心居玄冥之處,覽知萬事,故謂之玄覽也。能無疵。不淫邪也,淨能無疵病乎。愛民治國,治身者,愛氣則身全;治國者,愛民則國安。能無為。治身者呼吸精氣,無令耳聞;治國者,佈施惠德,無令下知也。天門開闔,天門謂北極紫微宮。開闔謂終始五際也。 治身:天門,謂鼻孔開,謂喘息闔,謂呼吸也。能為雌。治身當如雌牝,安靜柔弱,治國應變,合而不唱也。明白四達,言達明白,如日月四通,滿於天下八極之外。 故曰:視之不見,聽之不聞,彰布之於十方,煥煥煌煌也。能無知。無有能知道滿於天下者。生之、畜之。道生萬物而畜養之。生而不有,道生萬物,無所取有。為而不恃,道所施為,不恃望其報也。長而不宰,道長養萬物,不宰割以為器用。是謂玄德。言道行德,玄冥不可得見,欲使人如道也。
- Chinese :

《道德經》: 載營魄抱一,能無離乎?專氣致柔,能嬰兒乎?滌除玄覽,能無疵乎?愛民治國,能無知乎?天門開闔,能為雌乎?明白四達,能無知乎?生之、畜之,生而不有,為而不恃,長而不宰,是謂玄德。

《老子河上公章句·能為》: 載營魄,抱一,能無離乎,專氣致柔,能嬰兒。滌除玄覽,能無疵。愛民治國,能無為。天門開闔,能為雌。明白四達,能無知。生之、畜之。生而不有,為而不恃,長而不宰,是謂玄德。

《馬王堆·老子甲道經》: □□□□□□□□□□□□□能嬰兒乎?脩除玄藍,能毌疵乎?愛□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□生之、畜之,生而弗□□□□□□□□德。

《馬王堆·老子乙道經》: 戴營魄抱一,能毌離乎?專氣至柔,能嬰兒乎?脩除玄監,能毌有疵乎?愛民栝國,能毌以知乎?天門啟闔,能為雌乎?明白四達,能毌以知乎?生之、畜之,生而弗有,長而弗宰也,是胃玄德。
(Ⅰ)
- He Shanggong (English) :

If one sustains the spiritual and the animal souls,

營魄 = 魂魄the spiritual and the animal souls. Man sustains the souls. Thereby he makes it possible to live. Joy and hatred cause the spiritual soul to become lost. Sudden fright hurts the animal soul. The spiritual soul is in the liver, the animal soul in the lungs. Who likes wine and is fond of delicacies, spoils liver and lungs. Therefore by keeping the spiritual soul quiet, one strives for Tao and becomes not flurried. By leaving the animal soul in peace, one attains a long life and prolongs one’s years.

and embraces unity, one may be without separation.

This means: Who embraces unity and induces it not to depart from the body, will exist forever. Who becomes one with Tao, first produces the atmosphere of Great Harmony. Therefore it is said: Unity spreads its glory through the world. Heaven attained unity, therefore it is clear. Earth attained unity, thereby it is peaceful. The princes and the king attained unity, thereby they are just and peace-loving. Within it forms the mind, without it forms the doings. Spreading it forms Te. Together with the name it forms unity. Will is unity and not duality.

If one concentrates the breath, if one produces tenderness,

If one holds the breath without allowing oneself to become confused, then the body is able to fit in with this and to become tender and pliant.

one may resemble a little child.

If one is able to resemble a little child, inwardly without fear and outwardly without action, then the spirits do not flee.

By purifying and cleansing one gets the dark look.

One must purify one’s mind and let it become clear. If the mind stays in dark places, the look knows all its doings. Therefore it is called the dark look.

Is one able to be without faults?

One is without immorality.

In loving the people, in governing the country,

Who preaches himself asceticism, ought to save the breath; then the body will be complete. Who governs a country, ought to love the people; then the land will be pacified.

can one be without knowledge?

Who practises asceticism, ought to inhale and exhale the breath, without allowing the ears to hear it. Who governs a country, ought to diffuse Te and to spread compassion, without letting his subjects know it.

The gate of heaven opens and shuts.

The gate of heaven is called the purple secret palace of the north-pole. To open and shut means to end and to begin with the five junctures. In the practice of asceticism, the gate of heaven means the nostrils. To open means to breathe hard; to shut means to inhale and exhale.

Can one not be a female bird?

In practicing asceticism, one must be like a female bird, quiet and still, soft and tender. In governing a country, one must change to harmony and not take the lead.

If it resplendent penetrates the four quarters,

This means: Tao is resplendent like sun and moon which penetrate the four quarters and fill the world beyond the eight poles. Therefore it is said: “If looking for it, one does not see it; if listening for it, one does not hear it.” Within the ten quarters it shows itself in radiant brilliance.

can one be without knowledge?

Nobody is able to know how Tao fills the world.

It generates and nourishes.

Tao generates all things and nourishes them.

It acts and does not possess.

If Tao bequeathes something, it does not expect recompense for it.

It causes growth and does not rule.

Tao causes all things to grow and nourishes them but does not rule them. Thereby it turns them into tools for use.

This is called the mysterious Te.

This means: Tao and Te are mysterious and invisible. The heart of the man who strives for it resembles [that of] Tao.

(Ⅱ)

- Wing-Tsit Chan (1963) :

Can you keep the spirit and embrace the One without departing from them?
Can you concentrate your vital force and achieve the highest degree of weakness like an infant?
Can you clean and purify your profound insight so it will be spotless?
Can you love the people and govern the state without knowledge (cunning)?
Can you play the role of the female in the opening and closing of the gates of Heaven?
Can you understand all and penetrate all without taking any action?
To produce things and to rear them, To produce, but not to take possession of them, To act, but not to rely on one's own ability, To lead them, but not to master them - This is called profound and secret virtue.
(Ⅲ)
- Ellen Marie Chen (1989) :

In bringing your spiritual (ying) and bodily (p'o) souls to embrace the One,
Can (neng) you never depart (li) from it?
In concentrating your breath to attain softness,
Can you be like an infant (ying erh)?
In cleansing your mirror (lan) of the dark (hsüan),
Can you make it spotless?
In opening and closing heaven's gate (t'ien men),
Can you be the female (tz'u)?
In being enlightened (ming) and comprehending all,
Can you do it without knowledge?
In loving the people and governing the state,
Can you practice non-action?
To give birth, to nurture,
To give birth yet not to claim possession (yu),
To act (wei) yet not to hold on to,
To grow (chang) yet not to lord over (tsai),
This is called the dark virtue (yüan te). (Ⅳ)
- Ch'u Ta-Kao (1904) :

Can you keep the soul always concentrated from straying?
Can you regulate the breath and become soft and pliant like an infant?
Can you clear and get rid of the unforeseen and be free from fault?
Can you love the people and govern the state by non-action?
Can you open and shut the gates of nature like a female?
Can you become enlightened and penetrate everywhere without knowledge?
(Ⅴ)
- World by world translation :

Traditional // simplified // pinyin // definition // dictionary
載 // 载 // zǎi // ① année // Chinese-French
載 // 载 // zǎi // ① to record in writing ② to carry (i.e. publish in a newspaper etc) ③ Taiwan pr. [zai4] ④ year // CC-CEDICT
載 // 载 // zài // ① porter (navire, charrette), contenir ② charger, noter // Chinese-French
載 // 载 // zài // ① to carry ② to convey ③ to load ④ to hold ⑤ to fill up ⑥ and ⑦ also ⑧ as well as ⑨ simultaneously // CC-CEDICT
營 // 营 // yíng // ① camp ② cantonnement ③ faire ④ combiner // Chinese-French
營 // 营 // yíng // ① camp ② barracks ③ battalion ④ to build ⑤ to operate ⑥ to manage ⑦ to strive for // CC-CEDICT
魄 // 魄 // pò // ① âme ② esprit // Chinese-French
魄 // 魄 // pò // ① soul ② mortal soul, i.e. attached to the body // CC-CEDICT
抱 // 抱 // bào // ① tenir ② étreindre ③ serrer dans ses bras ④ enlacer ⑤ chérir ⑥ entourer // Chinese-French
抱 // 抱 // bào // ① to hold ② to carry (in one's arms) ③ to hug ④ to embrace ⑤ to surround ⑥ to cherish // CC-CEDICT
一 // 一 // yī // ① 1 (nombre) ② un // Chinese-French
一 // 一 // yī // "① one ② 1 ③ single ④ a (article) ⑤ as soon as ⑥ entire ⑦ whole ⑧ all ⑨ throughout ⑩ ""one"" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) ⑪ also pr. [yao1] for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit" // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① capacité ② énergie ③ pouvoir ④ être capable de // Chinese-French
能 // 能 // néng // ① surname Neng // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① can ② to be able to ③ might possibly ④ ability ⑤ (physics) energy // CC-CEDICT
無 // 无 // wú // ① non ② 71e radical // Chinese-French
無 // 无 // wú // ① not to have ② no ③ none ④ not ⑤ to lack ⑥ un- ⑦ -less // CC-CEDICT
離 // 离 // lí // ① de ② quitter ③ se séparer // Chinese-French
離 // 离 // lí // ① surname Li // CC-CEDICT
離 // 离 // lí // ① to leave ② to part from ③ to be away from ④ (in giving distances) from ⑤ without (sth) ⑥ independent of ⑦ one of the Eight Trigrams 八卦[ba1 gua4], symbolizing fire ⑧ ☲ // CC-CEDICT
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① à ② dans ③ de ④ vers ⑤ (part. interrog.) // Chinese-French
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in ② at ③ from ④ because ⑤ than ⑥ (classical final particle similar to 嗎|吗[ma5], 吧[ba5], 呢[ne5], expressing question, doubt or astonishment) // CC-CEDICT
專 // 专 // zhuān // ① spécial ② spécialisé ③ expert // Chinese-French
專 // 专 // zhuān // ① for a particular person, occasion, purpose ② focused on one thing ③ special ④ expert ⑤ particular (to sth) ⑥ concentrated ⑦ specialized // CC-CEDICT
氣 // 气 // qì // ① gaz ② air ③ souffle ④ odeur ⑤ vigueur ⑥ énergie ⑦ irriter // Chinese-French
氣 // 气 // qì // ① gas ② air ③ smell ④ weather ⑤ to make angry ⑥ to annoy ⑦ to get angry ⑧ vital energy ⑨ qi // CC-CEDICT
致 // 致 // zhì // ① adresser ② causer ③ entraîner ④ s'appliquer à // Chinese-French
致 // 致 // zhì // ① to send ② to devote ③ to deliver ④ to cause ⑤ to convey // CC-CEDICT
緻 // 致 // zhì // ① fine ② delicate // CC-CEDICT
柔 // 柔 // róu // ① souple ② flexible ③ doux // Chinese-French
柔 // 柔 // róu // ① soft ② flexible ③ supple ④ yielding ⑤ rho (Greek letter Ρρ) // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① capacité ② énergie ③ pouvoir ④ être capable de // Chinese-French
能 // 能 // néng // ① surname Neng // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① can ② to be able to ③ might possibly ④ ability ⑤ (physics) energy // CC-CEDICT
嬰兒 // 婴儿 // yīng ér // ① bébé ② nouveau-né // Chinese-French
嬰兒 // 婴儿 // yīng ér // ① infant ② baby ③ CL:個|个[ge4] ④ lead (Pb) // CC-CEDICT
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① à ② dans ③ de ④ vers ⑤ (part. interrog.) // Chinese-French
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in ② at ③ from ④ because ⑤ than ⑥ (classical final particle similar to 嗎|吗[ma5], 吧[ba5], 呢[ne5], expressing question, doubt or astonishment) // CC-CEDICT
滌除 // 涤除 // dí chú // ① to wash away ② to eliminate ③ to do away with // CC-CEDICT
玄 // 玄 // xuán // ① mystérieux ② obscur ③ incroyable // Chinese-French
玄 // 玄 // xuán // ① black ② mysterious // CC-CEDICT
覽 // 览 // lǎn // ① visiter ② lire ③ parcourir // Chinese-French
覽 // 览 // lǎn // ① to look at ② to view ③ to read // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① capacité ② énergie ③ pouvoir ④ être capable de // Chinese-French
能 // 能 // néng // ① surname Neng // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① can ② to be able to ③ might possibly ④ ability ⑤ (physics) energy // CC-CEDICT
無 // 无 // wú // ① non ② 71e radical // Chinese-French
無 // 无 // wú // ① not to have ② no ③ none ④ not ⑤ to lack ⑥ un- ⑦ -less // CC-CEDICT
疵 // 疵 // cī // ① défaut, tache ② faute // Chinese-French
疵 // 疵 // cī // ① blemish ② flaw ③ defect // CC-CEDICT
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① à ② dans ③ de ④ vers ⑤ (part. interrog.) // Chinese-French
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in ② at ③ from ④ because ⑤ than ⑥ (classical final particle similar to 嗎|吗[ma5], 吧[ba5], 呢[ne5], expressing question, doubt or astonishment) // CC-CEDICT
愛民 // 爱民 // ài mín // ① Aimin district of Mudanjiang city 牡丹江市, Heilongjiang // CC-CEDICT
治國 // 治国 // zhì guó // ① régner sur un pays // Chinese-French
治國 // 治国 // zhì guó // ① to rule a country // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① capacité ② énergie ③ pouvoir ④ être capable de // Chinese-French
能 // 能 // néng // ① surname Neng // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① can ② to be able to ③ might possibly ④ ability ⑤ (physics) energy // CC-CEDICT
無知 // 无知 // wú zhī // ① ignorant // Chinese-French
無知 // 无知 // wú zhī // ① ignorant ② ignorance // CC-CEDICT
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① à ② dans ③ de ④ vers ⑤ (part. interrog.) // Chinese-French
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in ② at ③ from ④ because ⑤ than ⑥ (classical final particle similar to 嗎|吗[ma5], 吧[ba5], 呢[ne5], expressing question, doubt or astonishment) // CC-CEDICT
天門 // 天门 // tiān mén // ① Tianmen sub-prefecture level city in Hubei // CC-CEDICT
開 // 开 // kāi // ① ouvrir ② frayer ③ percer ④ s'épanouir ⑤ mettre en marche ⑥ démarrer ⑦ fonder ⑧ établir ⑨ commencer ⑩ débuter ⑪ tenir ⑫ organiser ⑬ bouillir // Chinese-French
開 // 开 // kāi // ① to open ② to start ③ to turn on ④ to boil ⑤ to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc) ⑥ to operate (a vehicle) ⑦ carat (gold) ⑧ abbr. for Kelvin, 開爾文|开尔文[Kai1 er3 wen2] ⑨ abbr. for 開本|开本[kai1 ben3], book format // CC-CEDICT
闔 // 阖 // gé // ① porte ② fermer ③ tout // Chinese-French
闔 // 阖 // hé // ① tout // Chinese-French
闔 // 阖 // hé // ① door ② to close ③ whole // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① capacité ② énergie ③ pouvoir ④ être capable de // Chinese-French
能 // 能 // néng // ① surname Neng // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① can ② to be able to ③ might possibly ④ ability ⑤ (physics) energy // CC-CEDICT
為 // 为 // wèi // ① because of ② for ③ to // CC-CEDICT
為 // 为 // wéi // ① as (in the capacity of) ② to take sth as ③ to act as ④ to serve as ⑤ to behave as ⑥ to become ⑦ to be ⑧ to do ⑨ by (in the passive voice) // CC-CEDICT
雌 // 雌 // cí // ① femelle // Chinese-French
雌 // 雌 // cí // ① female ② Taiwan pr. [ci1] // CC-CEDICT
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① à ② dans ③ de ④ vers ⑤ (part. interrog.) // Chinese-French
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in ② at ③ from ④ because ⑤ than ⑥ (classical final particle similar to 嗎|吗[ma5], 吧[ba5], 呢[ne5], expressing question, doubt or astonishment) // CC-CEDICT
明白 // 明白 // míng bai // ① clair ② franc ③ sage ④ comprendre // Chinese-French
明白 // 明白 // míng bai // ① clear ② obvious ③ unequivocal ④ to understand ⑤ to realize // CC-CEDICT
四 // 四 // sì // ① quatre // Chinese-French
四 // 四 // sì // ① four ② 4 // CC-CEDICT
達 // 达 // dá // ① atteindre ② arriver à ③ exprimer ④ communiquer // Chinese-French
達 // 达 // dá // ① surname Da // CC-CEDICT
達 // 达 // dá // ① to attain ② to reach ③ to amount to ④ to communicate ⑤ eminent // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① capacité ② énergie ③ pouvoir ④ être capable de // Chinese-French
能 // 能 // néng // ① surname Neng // CC-CEDICT
能 // 能 // néng // ① can ② to be able to ③ might possibly ④ ability ⑤ (physics) energy // CC-CEDICT
無知 // 无知 // wú zhī // ① ignorant // Chinese-French
無知 // 无知 // wú zhī // ① ignorant ② ignorance // CC-CEDICT
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① à ② dans ③ de ④ vers ⑤ (part. interrog.) // Chinese-French
乎 // 乎 // hū // ① (classical particle similar to 於|于[yu2]) in ② at ③ from ④ because ⑤ than ⑥ (classical final particle similar to 嗎|吗[ma5], 吧[ba5], 呢[ne5], expressing question, doubt or astonishment) // CC-CEDICT
生 // 生 // shēng // ① vie ② existence ③ élève ④ cru ⑤ inconnu ⑥ étranger ⑦ accoucher ⑧ naître ⑨ pousser ⑩ vivre // Chinese-French
生 // 生 // shēng // ① to be born ② to give birth ③ life ④ to grow ⑤ raw ⑥ uncooked ⑦ student // CC-CEDICT
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (remplaçant une personne ou une chose comme complément) ② (particule possessive dans différentes expressions) // Chinese-French
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) ② him ③ her ④ it // CC-CEDICT
畜 // 畜 // chù // ① bestiaux ② animaux domestiques // Chinese-French
畜 // 畜 // chù // ① livestock ② domesticated animal ③ domestic animal // CC-CEDICT
畜 // 畜 // xù // ① élever ② nourrir // Chinese-French
畜 // 畜 // xù // ① to raise (animals) // CC-CEDICT
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (remplaçant une personne ou une chose comme complément) ② (particule possessive dans différentes expressions) // Chinese-French
之 // 之 // zhī // ① (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) ② him ③ her ④ it // CC-CEDICT
生 // 生 // shēng // ① vie ② existence ③ élève ④ cru ⑤ inconnu ⑥ étranger ⑦ accoucher ⑧ naître ⑨ pousser ⑩ vivre // Chinese-French
生 // 生 // shēng // ① to be born ② to give birth ③ life ④ to grow ⑤ raw ⑥ uncooked ⑦ student // CC-CEDICT
而 // 而 // ér // ① et ② mais ③ tandis que ④ alors que // Chinese-French
而 // 而 // ér // ① and ② as well as ③ and so ④ but (not) ⑤ yet (not) ⑥ (indicates causal relation) ⑦ (indicates change of state) ⑧ (indicates contrast) // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
有 // 有 // yǒu // ① avoir ② posséder ③ il y a ④ exister // Chinese-French
有 // 有 // yǒu // ① to have ② there is ③ there are ④ to exist ⑤ to be // CC-CEDICT
為 // 为 // wèi // ① because of ② for ③ to // CC-CEDICT
為 // 为 // wéi // ① as (in the capacity of) ② to take sth as ③ to act as ④ to serve as ⑤ to behave as ⑥ to become ⑦ to be ⑧ to do ⑨ by (in the passive voice) // CC-CEDICT
而 // 而 // ér // ① et ② mais ③ tandis que ④ alors que // Chinese-French
而 // 而 // ér // ① and ② as well as ③ and so ④ but (not) ⑤ yet (not) ⑥ (indicates causal relation) ⑦ (indicates change of state) ⑧ (indicates contrast) // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
恃 // 恃 // shì // ① s'appuyer sur ② compter sur // Chinese-French
恃 // 恃 // shì // ① to rely on ② mother (formal) // CC-CEDICT
長 // 长 // cháng // ① long ② durable // Chinese-French
長 // 长 // cháng // ① length ② long ③ forever ④ always ⑤ constantly // CC-CEDICT
長 // 长 // zhǎng // ① chef ② tête ③ aîné ④ grandir ⑤ développer ⑥ accroître ⑦ renforcer // Chinese-French
長 // 长 // zhǎng // ① chief ② head ③ elder ④ to grow ⑤ to develop ⑥ to increase ⑦ to enhance // CC-CEDICT
而 // 而 // ér // ① et ② mais ③ tandis que ④ alors que // Chinese-French
而 // 而 // ér // ① and ② as well as ③ and so ④ but (not) ⑤ yet (not) ⑥ (indicates causal relation) ⑦ (indicates change of state) ⑧ (indicates contrast) // CC-CEDICT
不 // 不 // bù // ① ne... pas ② non ③ (pour former une question placé à la fin d'une phrase, pour indiquer l'indifférence avec shen me ④ pour indiquer une alternative avec jiu) // Chinese-French
不 // 不 // bù // ① (negative prefix) ② not ③ no // CC-CEDICT
宰 // 宰 // zǎi // ① gouvernement ② tuer ③ abattre ④ diriger ⑤ gouverner ⑥ prendre la charge de // Chinese-French
宰 // 宰 // zǎi // ① to slaughter livestock ② to govern or rule ③ to cheat customers ④ imperial official in dynastic China // CC-CEDICT
是 // 是 // shì // ① être ② oui ③ correct // Chinese-French
是 // 是 // shì // ① is ② are ③ am ④ yes ⑤ to be // CC-CEDICT
昰 // 是 // shì // ① variant of 是[shi4] ② (used in given names) // CC-CEDICT
謂 // 谓 // wèi // ① dire ② adresser la parole ③ être appelé ④ penser // Chinese-French
謂 // 谓 // wèi // ① surname Wei // CC-CEDICT
謂 // 谓 // wèi // ① to speak ② to say ③ to name ④ to designate ⑤ meaning ⑥ sense // CC-CEDICT
玄 // 玄 // xuán // ① mystérieux ② obscur ③ incroyable // Chinese-French
玄 // 玄 // xuán // ① black ② mysterious // CC-CEDICT
德 // 德 // dé // ① vertu ② moralité ③ volonté ④ coeur ⑤ bonté ⑥ bienveillance ⑦ (abréviation d'Allemagne) // Chinese-French
德 // 德 // dé // ① Germany ② German ③ abbr. for 德國|德国[De2 guo2] // CC-CEDICT
德 // 德 // dé // ① virtue ② goodness ③ morality ④ ethics ⑤ kindness ⑥ favor ⑦ character ⑧ kind // CC-CEDICT
悳 // 德 // dé // ① variant of 德[de2] // CC-CEDICT
惪 // 德 // dé // ① variant of 德[de2] // CC-CEDICT (Ⅵ)
- Yi Wu (1989) :

How is it
That you hold your soul and body together?
Is it like a quiet infant
That you soften your breath?
Is it without any dust
That you clear your mind as a metaphysical mirror?
Is it without willful actions
That you love and take care of your country and people?
Is it without any dark corner
That you sense what is happening in the world?
Is it without misguiding knowledge
That you understand the whole world?
The metaphysical getter is one
That lets be everything that is born,
Produces without possessing anything surplus,
Achieves successes without being proud of them,
And rules well without any executive power. (Ⅶ)
- Lynn (2004) :

Stay where your earthbound soul is protected, and embrace integrity: can you do this with never a deviation?
Rely exclusively on your vital force, and become perfectly soft: can you play the infant?
Cleanse your vision into the mystery of things: can you make it spotless?
Cherish the people and govern the state: can you do this without intelligence?
The gateway of Heaven, whether it is to be open or shut: can you play the female?
Your bright understanding casts its light over the four quarters: can you stay free of conscious effort?
He gives them life
And nurtures them.
He gives them life, yet he possesses them not.
He acts, yet does not make them dependent.
He matures them, yet he is not their steward.
This we call mysterious virtue. (Ⅷ)


Page: 1
10