Tao Te Ching Chapter 12 – 检欲 (道德經 第12章)
Paul PengShare
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 12: The Repression of the Desires
道德經 第十二章 · 檢欲 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
馳騁畑獵，令人心發狂；難得之貨，令人行妨。
是以聖人為腹不為目，故去彼取此。
English Translation — James Legge
Colour's five hues from the eyes their sight will take; music's five notes the ears as deaf can make; the flavours five deprive the mouth of taste; the chariot course, and the wild hunting waste make mad the mind; and objects rare and strange, sought for, men's conduct will to evil change.
Therefore the sage aligned with the Dao seeks to satisfy the craving of the belly, and not the insatiable longing of the eyes. He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 12 is Lao Tzu's warning against sensory overload and the tyranny of desire. The five colors, five tones, five flavors, the thrill of the hunt, the lure of rare goods — all of these pull the self outward and away from its center. The sage chooses the belly over the eye: inner nourishment over outer stimulation. This is not asceticism, but the Taoist art of returning to simplicity and guarding the essential self.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi warns that the five colors blind the eyes, the five notes deafen the ears, the five flavors dull the palate — each sense, when pushed beyond its natural function, turns against itself. Racing and hunting madden the mind; rare goods obstruct right conduct. The sage attends to the belly (inner substance) rather than the eye (outer appearance): to nourish the self with things, not to be enslaved by them.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong warns that lust for colors damages the eyes and vital essence; obsession with sounds drives away inner harmony; craving flavors ruins the mouth's natural function. Racing and hunting scatter the spirit. Rare goods like gold and jewels stir greed without end, leading to self-harm. The sage nourishes the five inner natures, restrains the six emotions, and avoids letting the eyes wander — for wandering eyes leak vital essence outward.
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 →
