Tao Te Ching Chapter 16 – 归根 (道德經 第16章)
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Tao Te Ching — Chapter 16: Returning to the Root
道德經 第十六章 · 歸根 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
夫物芸芸，各復歸其根。歸根曰靜，是謂復命。
復命曰常，知常曰明。不知常，姄作凶。
知常容，容乃公，公乃王，王乃天，天乃道，道乃久，沒身不殆。
English Translation — James Legge
The state of vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike go through their processes of activity, and then we see them return to their original state. When things in the vegetable world have displayed their luxuriant growth, we see each of them return to its root.
This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness; and that stillness may be called a reporting that they have fulfilled their appointed end. The report of that fulfilment is the regular, unchanging rule. To know that unchanging rule is to be intelligent; not to know it leads to wild movements and evil issues.
The knowledge of that unchanging rule produces a grand capacity and forbearance, and that capacity and forbearance lead to a community of feeling with all things. From this community of feeling comes a kingliness of character; and he who is king-like goes on to be heaven-like. In that likeness to heaven he possesses the Dao. Possessed of the Dao, he endures long; and to the end of his bodily life, is exempt from all danger of decay.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 16 describes the great cycle of return: all things arise, flourish, and return to their root. This root is stillness; stillness is the fulfillment of destiny; destiny fulfilled is the eternal constant. To know this constant is wisdom — to act without knowing it is to court disaster. The sage who knows the constant becomes all-embracing, impartial, kingly, heavenly, and one with the Dao. This is the foundation of all Taoist inner cultivation and ritual practice: return to the root, and endure.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi explains that attaining ultimate emptiness and guarding stillness is the highest truth of things. All things arise from emptiness and movement arises from stillness — so all things, however active, ultimately return to emptiness and stillness. Returning to the root is stillness; stillness is returning to destiny; returning to destiny is the eternal constant. Knowing the constant, one becomes all-embracing, impartial, kingly, heavenly, and one with the Dao — which endures without limit. The one who embodies non-being cannot be harmed by water, fire, or metal.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong teaches that those who have attained the Dao empty their hearts of emotion and desire, reaching utmost stillness. All things arise and return to their root — withering and dying only to be reborn. Stillness is the root; returning to it means returning to life. Knowing the constant, one becomes all-embracing, impartial, kingly, and in harmony with Heaven and the Dao. With all four qualities complete, virtue reaches far and wide, and one endures together with Heaven and Earth without danger.
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 →
