Tao Te Ching Chapter 45 – 洪德 (道德經 第45章)
Paul PengShare
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 45: Great or Overflowing Virtue
道德經 第四十五章 · 洪德 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
Who thinks his great achievements poor shall find his vigour long endure. Of greatest fulness, deemed a void, exhaustion never shall stem the tide. Do thou what’s straight still crooked deem; thy greatest art still stupid seem, and eloquence a stammering scream.
Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat. Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven.
As explored in Chapter 44 on contentment and knowing when to stop, the one who does not overreach preserves his vigour longest.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 45 presents five paradoxes of greatness: great perfection seems flawed, great fullness seems empty, great straightness seems bent, great skill seems clumsy, great eloquence seems stammering. In each case, the outward appearance conceals the inner reality. The chapter closes with a practical principle: restlessness overcomes cold, stillness overcomes heat — and purity and stillness are the standard (zheng 正) for all under heaven.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi teaches that great perfection seems flawed yet its use never wears out. Great fullness seems empty yet its use is inexhaustible. Great straightness seems bent, great skill seems clumsy, great eloquence seems stammering. Restlessness overcomes cold, stillness overcomes heat — purity and stillness are the standard for the world.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong says the person of great virtue hides his fame and appears flawed, but his virtue never wears out. The truly fulfilled person remains humble. Rush leads to cold and decay; stillness nurtures life. Purity and stillness make one the standard for the world.
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 →
