Tao Te Ching Chapter 5 – 虚用 (道德經 第5章)
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Tao Te Ching — Chapter 5: The Use of Emptiness
道德經 第五章 · 虛用 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
天地之間，其猶橐籰乎？虛而不屈，動而愈出。
多言數窮，不如守中。
English Translation — James Legge
Heaven and earth do not act from the impulse of any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with. The sages do not act from any wish to be benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows? 'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power; 'tis moved again, and sends forth air the more. This principle of effortless action rooted in the Dao reaches its most vivid expression here: the universe is not governed by intention, but by impartial, inexhaustible emptiness.
Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see; your inner being guard, and keep it free.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 5 introduces one of Lao Tzu's most challenging ideas: Heaven, Earth, and the sage are not benevolent in the human sense. They do not play favorites. Like a bellows, the cosmos operates through impartial emptiness — the more it moves, the more it produces. This is the essence of Taoist non-interference and ritual practice: guard the center, speak less, and let nature unfold.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi teaches that Heaven and Earth are impartial — they treat all things as straw dogs, allowing nature to take its course without benevolent interference. The sage follows this principle. The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows: empty yet never exhausted. The more one speaks and acts with intention, the more one fails. Therefore, it is better to hold to the center.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong says Heaven and Earth act without benevolence — they follow nature impartially. The sage loves the people without partial benevolence, imitating Heaven and Earth. The space between Heaven and Earth is empty, yet vital energy flows through it and all things are born. A bellows is empty yet produces sound continuously. Excessive speech harms the body and spirit; it is better to guard virtue within and nourish the spirit through quietness and few words.
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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