Tao Te Ching Chapter 77 – 天道 (道德经 第77章)
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Tao Te Ching — Chapter 77: The Way of Heaven
道德经 第七十七章 · 天道 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
May not the Way of Heaven be compared to the method of bending a bow? The part of the bow which was high is brought low, and what was low is raised up. So Heaven diminishes where there is superabundance, and supplements where there is deficiency.
It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency. It is not so with the way of man. He takes away from those who have not enough to add to his own superabundance. As shown in Chapter 76, the strong are placed below and the soft above — Heaven always corrects imbalance, never amplifies it.
Who can take his own superabundance and therewith serve all under heaven? Only he who is in possession of the Dao! Therefore the ruling sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest arrogantly in it — he does not wish to display his superiority.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 77 opens with one of the most vivid images in the Tao Te Ching: Heaven’s Way is like drawing a bow — what is high is pulled down, what is low is raised up. This is the principle of cosmic balance: reduce excess, supplement deficiency. The human way does the opposite — it takes from the poor to enrich the already wealthy. Only the person of the Dao can reverse this and give surplus back to the world. The chapter closes with the sage’s three qualities: acting without claiming, succeeding without resting in success, not wishing to display superiority.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi compares Heaven’s Way to drawing a bow: pull down what is high, raise what is low; reduce what has excess, supplement what is deficient. The human way does the opposite — it takes from the needy to serve the abundant. Only the one with the Dao can offer surplus to the world.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong compares Heaven’s Way to drawing a bow. But the human Way does the opposite — it takes from the poor to satisfy the rich. Only one who follows the Dao can give surplus to the world. The sage acts without claiming and does not display his virtue.
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 →
