Tao Te Ching Chapter 52 – 歸元 (道德經 第52章)
Paul PengAktie
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 52: Returning to the Source
道德經 第五十二章 · 歸元 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
The Dao which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all. When the mother is found, we know what her children should be. When one knows that he is his mother’s child, and proceeds to guard the qualities of the mother that belong to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril.
Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals of his nostrils, and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion. Let him keep his mouth open, and spend his breath in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him.
The perception of what is small is the secret of clear-sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is the secret of strength. As shown in Chapter 51, the Dao nourishes all things without possessing them — and returning to the source is the path of those who truly value life.
Who uses well his light, reverting to its source so bright, will from his body ward all blight, and hides the unchanging from men’s sight.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 52 presents the Dao as the mother of all things. The path of wisdom is to know the children (the ten thousand things) through the mother (the Dao), and then to return to the mother. Closing the gates of the senses brings lifelong ease; opening them to pursue affairs brings lifelong trouble. The chapter closes with two paired principles: seeing the small is insight, holding to softness is strength. Using one’s light wisely and returning to the source wards off all harm — this is the practice of the constant.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi teaches that the world began with a mother; knowing the mother, we know the children. Having known the children, we return to the mother. Block the passages, close the doors — lifelong ease. Open them and engage in affairs — lifelong trouble. Seeing the small is insight, holding to softness is strength.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong begins with the Dao as the mother of all things. Having known the Dao, one knows the One; having known the One, one returns to the Dao. Block the eyes from reckless seeing, close the mouth from reckless speaking — lifelong ease.
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 →
