What is Mysterious Virtue in Taoism? 什么是玄德

Mysterious Virtue refers to a virtue that is profound, remote, and obscure.

Dao De Jing states: “The Dao gives birth to them; Virtue fosters them; grows them, nurtures them, matures them, perfects them, sustains them, shelters them. It gives birth yet does not possess; acts yet does not claim credit; guides yet does not dominate. This is called Mysterious Virtue.”

What is Mysterious Virtue in Taoism?

The Dao generates all things without pride, acting entirely through natural non‑action — this is Mysterious Virtue. “Mysterious Virtue is deep, is distant, turns back with all things, and only then reaches great harmony.”

Lin Xixie said: “Great harmony is nature itself.” Daoists esteem nature and take natural non‑action as Mysterious Virtue.

Taoism adopted this concept into its doctrines.

Explanations of Mysterious Virtue vary in Taoist scriptures. The early classic Xiang'er Commentary on the Laozi theologized Laozi’s thought: “Xuan is Heaven.” Mysterious Virtue is thus the Virtue of Heaven. Heaven and humanity correspond; Heavenly Virtue derives from the Dao and is modeled by humans. Heshang Gong Commentary on the Laozi also refers to Mysterious Virtue as Heavenly Virtue: those who know the method of cultivating the self and ordering the state are said to be one with Heaven’s Virtue.

After the Tang Dynasty, Taoist doctrinal studies and internal alchemy flourished, and Mysterious Virtue mostly referred to states of cultivation unified with the Dao. Cheng Xuanying Commentary on the Laozi: “To merge with truth and unite with the Dao is called Mysterious Virtue. To reach the ultimate depth is called profound and distant.” Practitioners abide in stillness, eliminate desires, benefit beings without seeking merit, follow the sages, and realize the true great Dao — this is Mysterious Virtue.

Zhang Sicheng Annotations and Odes to the Dao De Jing described the realm of Mysterious Virtue in cultivation: “The four great elements combine temporarily, relying on spiritual clarity; following harmony to preserve them, empty and unoccupied. Looking within, what exists? The world is peaceful of itself. The gate of coming and going: discern movement and stillness. The multitude dazzle with cleverness; I remain as if in darkness. Not claiming merit, not sanctifying holiness, substance and function follow nature — this is true nature and life.”

The great Dao has no form or name, yet gives birth to heaven, earth, and all things. Practitioners who penetrate this principle act naturally and non‑assertively, preserve life and complete their nature, remain tranquil and indifferent, do not claim merit or flaunt holiness, reveal the true Dao through the function of Mysterious Virtue, cultivate nature and nurture life, unify with the Dao, and thus attain longevity.