Those who build well cannot be uprooted. Jian, to establish. Those who skillfully use the Dao to establish themselves and their country cannot be pulled or uprooted. Those who are good at holding on do not fall away. Those who skillfully use the Dao to embrace their spirit cannot ultimately be pulled or freed from it. The descendants and children continue ancestral worship without interruption. If descendants and children can cultivate the Dao in this way, they will attain longevity and immortality, lasting for generations. They will offer sacrifices to their ancestors, and ancestral temples will never be without offerings. Cultivating it within oneself, one's virtue becomes genuine. Cultivating the Dao within the body, cherishing vital energy and nurturing the spirit leads to increased longevity and extended years. With virtue like this, one is a True Person. Cultivating it within the family, one's virtue overflows. Cultivating the Dao in the family means fathers are kind and children filial, elder brothers friendly and younger brothers obedient, husbands trustworthy and wives chaste. With virtue like this, blessings will overflow to future generations of descendants. Cultivating it in the village, one's virtue grows long. Cultivating the Dao at the village level means respecting elders, loving and nurturing children, and teaching and instructing the ignorant and vulgar. With virtue like this, nothing remains uncovered or untouched. Cultivating it within the country, one's virtue becomes abundant.

Cultivating the Dao for the nation means rulers are trustworthy and ministers loyal; benevolence and righteousness arise naturally, rites and music flourish spontaneously, and governance is just without partiality. With virtue like this, it becomes abundant and rich. Cultivating it throughout the world, one's virtue then becomes universal. When a ruler cultivates the Dao throughout the world, without speaking transformation occurs; without teaching, order is achieved. The people respond to their superiors with trust as sure as shadow follows form or echo follows sound. With virtue like this, its influence becomes universally widespread. Therefore, by observing oneself one can understand others. By examining a body that cultivates the Dao and comparing it to a body that does not cultivate the Dao, one can see which perishes and which endures. By observing one's own family, one understands other families. By examining a family that cultivates the Dao in comparison to a family that does not cultivate it. By observing one's own village, one understands other villages. By examining a village that cultivates the Dao compared to a village that does not cultivate it. By observing one's own country, one understands other countries. By examining a nation that cultivates the Dao against a nation that does not cultivate it. By observing the world as a whole, one understands the entire world. By examining a ruler who cultivates the Dao in contrast to a ruler who does not cultivate it. How do I know that the world is like this? From this. Laozi said: how do I know those in the world who cultivate the Dao flourish and those who abandon it perish? This is known by observing these five matters.