Tao Te Ching Chapter 31 – 偃武 (道德經 第31章)
Paul PengShare
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 31: Stilling War
道德經 第三十一章 · 偃武 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
Now arms, however beautiful, are instruments of evil omen, hateful, it may be said, to all creatures. Therefore they who have the Dao do not like to employ them.
The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most honourable place, but in time of war the right hand. Those sharp weapons are instruments of evil omen, and not the instruments of the superior man — he uses them only on the compulsion of necessity. Calm and repose are what he prizes; victory by force of arms is to him undesirable. To consider this desirable would be to delight in the slaughter of men; and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot get his will in the kingdom.
On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized position; on occasions of mourning, the right hand. The second in command of the army has his place on the left; the general commanding in chief has his on the right — his place, that is, is assigned to him as in the rites of mourning. He who has killed multitudes of men should weep for them with the bitterest grief; and the victor in battle has his place rightly according to those rites.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 31 is the most solemn in the Tao Te Ching on the subject of war. Weapons, however fine, are instruments of ill omen — all creatures hate them. The person of the Dao does not dwell among them. When force must be used, calm and restraint are paramount. Victory must never be celebrated, for to celebrate killing is to delight in it, and those who delight in killing cannot prevail under Heaven. The victor should conduct himself with the rites of mourning — weeping for the dead, not rejoicing in triumph. This theme of restraint continues in Chapter 32 on the nameless Dao.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi explains that fine weapons are instruments of ill omen, hated by all things. The gentleman honors the left in peace and the right in war — weapons are not the gentleman's tools. Victory should not be celebrated, for celebrating victory delights in killing, and those who delight in killing cannot achieve their will under Heaven.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong explains that weapons are unlucky tools that disturb the spirit. The gentleman values the left side in peace but the right in war. Arms are used only when unavoidable. Victorious generals should conduct themselves with mourning rites, weeping for the innocent dead.
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 →
