Tao Te Ching Chapter 30 – 倶武 (道德經 第30章)
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Tao Te Ching — Chapter 30: A Caveat Against War
道德經 第三十章 · 倶武 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
善有果而已，不敢以取強。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿驕。果而不得已，果而勿強。
物壯則老，是謂不道，不道早已。
English Translation — James Legge
He who would assist a lord of men in harmony with the Dao will not assert his mastery in the kingdom by force of arms. Such a course is sure to meet with its proper return.
Wherever a host is stationed, briars and thorns spring up. In the sequence of great armies there are sure to be bad years.
A skilful commander strikes a decisive blow, and stops. He does not dare by continuing his operations to assert and complete his mastery. He will strike the blow, but will be on his guard against being vain or boastful or arrogant in consequence of it. He strikes it as a matter of necessity; he strikes it, but not from a wish for mastery.
When things have attained their strong maturity they become old. This may be said to be not in accordance with the Dao: and what is not in accordance with it soon comes to an end. As further explored in Chapter 31 on the omen of arms, weapons are instruments of ill omen.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 30 is Lao Tzu's clearest statement on war and governance. Those who assist rulers through the Dao do not use military force to dominate. Force always returns upon itself. Where armies camp, thorns grow; after great wars, bad harvests follow. The skilled commander achieves his objective and stops — without pride, boasting, or arrogance. The principle is universal: what reaches full strength begins to age. To press beyond sufficiency is to depart from the Dao, and what departs from the Dao ends early.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi advises that those who assist rulers with the Dao do not use military force to dominate. Force begets retaliation. Where armies camp, thorns grow. Good commanders achieve results and stop, without daring to dominate. Strength leads to aging — this contradicts the Dao, and what contradicts the Dao soon ends.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong says rulers who rely on force rather than virtue will be repaid in kind. Where armies camp, fields go untended. Good commanders achieve their goal and stop, without boasting. Strength inevitably decays — what grows strong grows old.
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.
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