Tao Te Ching Chapter 34 – 任成 (道德經 第34章)
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Tao Te Ching — Chapter 34: The Task of Achievement
道德經 第三十四章 · 任成 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
All-pervading is the Great Dao! It may be found on the left hand and on the right.
All things depend on it for their production, which it gives to them, not one refusing obedience to it. When its work is accomplished, it does not claim the name of having done it. It clothes all things as with a garment, and makes no assumption of being their lord — it may be named in the smallest things. All things return to their root and disappear, and do not know that it is it which presides over their doing so — it may be named in the greatest things.
Hence the sage is able in the same way to accomplish his great achievements. It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them. As shown in Chapter 35, the Dao that seems tasteless and small is the very source of inexhaustible power.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 34 describes the Dao as all-pervading — present on left and right, above and below. All things depend on it for life, yet it takes no credit, claims no lordship, and makes no demands. It can be called small because it desires nothing; it can be called great because all things return to it. The sage follows this same pattern: by never claiming greatness, he achieves it. This is the Taoist paradox of effortless accomplishment.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi describes the Great Dao as all-pervading, present everywhere. All things depend on it for life, yet it takes no credit. It clothes and nourishes without ruling. It can be named among the small things, yet also among the great. Because it never claims greatness, it accomplishes great things.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong describes the Dao as floating like drift, appearing and disappearing, invisible yet pervasive. All things depend on it for life, yet it never refuses. It is both small and great. The sage follows the Dao — not making himself great, he achieves greatness.
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 →
