Tao Te Ching Chapter 21
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
孔德之容,惟道是从。道之为物,惟恍惟惚。惚兮恍兮,其中有象;恍兮惚兮,其中有物。窈兮冥兮,其中有精;其精甚真,其中有信。自今及古，其名不去,以阅众甫。吾何以知众甫之状哉?以此。
The grandest forms of active force
From Dao come, their only source.
Who can of Dao the nature tell?
Our sight it flies, our touch as well.
Eluding sight, eluding touch,
The forms of things all in it crouch;
Eluding touch, eluding sight,
There are their semblances, all right.
Profound it is, dark and obscure;
Things'essences all there endure.
Those essences the truth enfold
Of what, when seen, shall then be told.
Now it is so; it was so of old.
Its name —- what passes not away;
So, in their beautiful array,
Things form and never know decay.
How know I that it is so with all the beauties of existingthings? By this (nature of the Dao).
【译文】大德的表现,是由道来决定的。道作为一种事物，模糊不清,不易捉摸。隐隐约约，其中却有形象;模糊不清，其中却有实体。幽暗深远，其中却有精气。这种精气非常真实，是能够验证的。从当今上溯到古代,它的名字永远不能废除,，依据它,才能观察万物的初始。我怎么才能知道万事万物初始的情况呢?是从道认识的。
The manifestation of great virtue is determined by the Tao. As a thing, the Tao is indistinct and elusive. Dim and vague, yet within it there is form; indistinct and vague, yet within it there is substance. Profound and obscure, yet within it there is vital essence. This vital essence is utterly real and can be verified. From the present day ancient times, its name has never been obliterable. By relying on it, one can observe the origin of all things. How can I know the state of the beginning of all things? It is through the Tao that I come to know.
