Tao Te Ching Chapter 11
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
三十辐共一毂，当其无，有车之用。埏埴以为器，当其无，有器之用。凿户牖以为室，当其无，有室之用。故有之以为利，无之以为用。
The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space (for the axle).that the use of the wheel depends. Clay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness, that theiruse depends.The door and windows are cue out(from the walls) to form an apartment;but it is on the empty space (within), that its use depends.Therefore, what has a(positive) existence serves for profitable adaptation, and what has not that for (actual)usefulness.
【译文】三十根辐条合起来汇聚到同一个车毂上组成车轮，恰是因为车毂中间是虚无的,才使车轮转动发挥了车功用。揉合陶土使之成为器皿，恰是因为器皿中间是虚无的，才使其发挥了盛装的功用。开凿门窗建造房屋，恰是因为房屋中间是虚无的,才使房屋发挥了住人的功用。所以，有形东西的利惠,往往是因其内中的虚无在发挥作用。
[Translation] Thirty spokes converge and are assembled on the same hub to form a wheel. It is precisely because there is emptiness in the middle of the hub that the wheel can rotate and fulfill the function of a vehicle. Clay is kneaded and shaped into a utensil. It is precisely because there is emptiness in the middle of the utensil that it can serve the function of containing things. Doors and windows are cut out and a house is built. It is precisely because there is emptiness in the middle of the house that the house can serve the function of providing shelter for people. Therefore, the benefits of tangible things often come from the function exerted by the emptiness within them.
