Tao Te Ching Chapter 53 – 益證 (道德經 第53章)
Paul PengShare
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 53: Increase of Evidence
道德經 第五十三章 · 益證 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
If I were suddenly to become known, and put into a position to conduct a government according to the Great Dao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display.
The great Dao is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways. Their court-yards and buildings shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty.
They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth — such princes may be called robbers and boasters. As shown in Chapter 46, when the Dao is disregarded, warhorses breed on the borders and desire runs unchecked. This is contrary to the Dao surely!
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 53 is one of the most politically pointed in the Tao Te Ching. Lao Tzu imagines himself in government and says his only fear would be boastful display. The Great Dao is smooth and level — yet people prefer crooked paths. The result is visible everywhere: splendid palaces, barren fields, empty granaries. Rulers in fine robes with sharp swords, gorging themselves while the people starve. Lao Tzu calls this by its true name: robbery. The chapter ends with a rare exclamation — fei dao ye zai 非道也哉 — this is not the Dao!
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi laments that though the Great Dao is smooth and level, people prefer bypaths. The court is splendid but the fields are barren, the granaries empty while officials wear fine clothes, carry sharp swords, and gorge themselves — this is robbery, not the Dao.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong laments that rulers do not practice the Way. Though the Way is smooth and level, people take crooked paths. Palaces are splendid while fields are barren. Rulers wear fine clothes, carry swords, and gorge themselves — this is robbery, not the Way.
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 →
