Tao Te Ching Chapter 10 – 能为 (道德經 第10章)
Paul PengShare
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 10: Possibilities Through the Dao
道德經 第十章 · 能為 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
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、畜乎，生而不有，為而不恃，長而不宰，是謂玄德。
English Translation — James Legge
When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating. When one gives undivided attention to the vital breath, and brings it to the utmost degree of pliancy, he can become as a tender babe. When he has cleansed away the most mysterious sights of his imagination, he can become without a flaw.
In loving the people and ruling the state, cannot he proceed without any purpose of action? In the opening and shutting of his gates of heaven, cannot he do so as a female bird? While his intelligence reaches in every direction, cannot he appear to be without knowledge?
The Dao produces all things and nourishes them; it produces them and does not claim them as its own; it does all, and yet does not boast of it; it presides over all, and yet does not control them. This is what is called the mysterious Quality of the Dao.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 10 presents six questions that are really six practices: holding body and soul together, cultivating breath to infant softness, cleansing the inner mirror, governing without contrivance, receiving without forcing, knowing without displaying knowledge. Together they describe the path of xuan de (玄德) — the mysterious virtue that produces, nourishes, and releases without possessing. This is the deepest expression of Taoist inner cultivation and ritual practice.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi explores the cultivation of unity: holding to the One without straying, concentrating vital breath to attain infant-like softness, cleansing the inner mirror until spotless. The Dao gives life without blocking its source, nourishes without restricting its nature, and guides without claiming ownership. This is the mysterious virtue — virtue so deep it does not know its own master, emerging from the profound darkness.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong teaches that the soul resides in the liver and the spirit in the lungs. Joy and anger scatter the soul; sudden shock injures the spirit. Holding to the One means clinging to the primal essence born of the Dao. Concentrating the vital breath without disorder keeps the body supple as an infant. The sage governs the state by loving the people, and cultivates the self by loving the vital breath — all without contrived action. The Dao produces and nourishes all things without possessing, acting without expecting reward, guiding without controlling.
About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
Read his full story →
