Tao Te Ching Chapter 67 – 三宝 (道德经 第67章)
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Tao Te Ching — Chapter 67: Three Precious Things
道德经 第六十七章 · 三宝 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
All the world says that, while my Dao is great, it yet appears to be inferior to other systems of teaching. Now it is just its greatness that makes it seem to be inferior. If it were like any other system, for long would its smallness have been known.
But I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast. The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others. With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honour. As shown in Chapter 66, the sage who does not strive and places himself last is the one the world most gladly follows.
Now-a-days they give up gentleness and are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal; the hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost — of all which the end is death. Gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and firmly to hold its ground. Heaven will save its possessor, by his very gentleness protecting him.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 67 is one of the most personal chapters in the Tao Te Ching: Lao Tzu speaks in the first person and names his three treasures. Gentleness (ci 慈) enables courage because the compassionate fight for others, not themselves. Economy (jian 俣) enables generosity because the frugal never run out. Not daring to be first enables true leadership because the humble are trusted. Abandon these three and you walk toward death. Keep them and Heaven itself protects you.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi declares his three treasures: compassion, frugality, and not daring to be first in the world. Compassion enables courage, frugality enables generosity, humility enables leadership. Without these three, one is doomed. With compassion, even war brings victory.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong says his three treasures are: compassion (loving people like infants), frugality (taxing only as needed), and not daring to be first (humility). Without these, one walks into death. The compassionate and virtuous are aided by Heaven.
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 →
