Tao Te Ching Chapter 61 – 谦德 (道德经 第61章)
Paul PengAktie
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 61: The Attribute of Humility
道德经 第六十一章 · 谦德 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
What makes a great state is its being like a low-lying, down-flowing stream; it becomes the centre to which tend all the small states under heaven.
To illustrate from the case of all females: the female always overcomes the male by her stillness. Stillness may be considered a sort of abasement.
Thus it is that a great state, by condescending to small states, gains them for itself; and that small states, by abasing themselves to a great state, win it over to them. In the one case the abasement leads to gaining adherents, in the other case to procuring favour. As shown in Chapter 60, the ruler who does not disturb or interfere draws all things to himself naturally.
The great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them; a small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other. Each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself — like water, which benefits all things and dwells in the lowest places.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 61 applies the Taoist principle of lowness and stillness to international relations. A great state is like a river’s lower reach — all streams flow into it because it is low. The female overcomes the male by stillness; stillness is a form of abasement. A great state that humbles itself before smaller ones draws them in; a small state that humbles itself before a great one wins its favour. Both get what they want — but the burden of humility falls more on the great, because the great has more to gain from it.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi explains that a great state is like a downstream — the convergence point for all. The female overcomes the male by stillness. Great states should abase themselves before small states, and small states should abase themselves before great states. The greater should be the more humble.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong says great states should be like a downstream that accepts all streams. The female overcomes the male by stillness. A great state that humbles itself before smaller ones will possess them. Each gets what it wants — the greater should be the more humble.
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.
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