Tao Te Ching Chapter 28
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
知其雄，守其雌，为天下溪。为天下溪，常德不离，复归于婴儿。知其白，守其黑，为天下式。为天下式，常德不忒，复归于无极。知其荣，守其辱，为天下谷。为天下谷，常德乃足，复归于朴。朴散则为器，圣人用之，则为官长，故大制不割。
Who knows his manhood's strength,
Yet still his female feebleness maintains;
As to one channel flow the many drains,
All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.
Thus he the constant excellence retains;
The simple child again, free from all stains.
Who knows how white attracts,
Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,
The pattern of humility displayed,
Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;
He in the unchanging excellence arrayed,
Endless return to man's first state has made.
Who knows how glory shines,
Yet loves disgrace, nor ever for it is pale;
Behold his presence in a spacious vale,
To which men come from all beneath the sky.
The unchanging excellence completes its tale;
The simple infant man in him we hail.
The unwrought material, when divided and distributed,forms vessels. The sage, when employed, becomes the Headof all the Officers (of government); and in his greatestregulations he employs no violent measures.
【译文】知道什么是雄强，却安守于雌柔，充当天下的溪流。充当天下的溪流，永恒存在的自然之德就不会离失，就会回复到婴儿般纯真的状态。知道什么是明亮，却安于暗昧，充当天下的范式。充当天下的范式，永恒的自然之德就不会出现差错，就会回归到不可穷极的真理。知道什么是荣耀，却安守于屈辱，充当天下的川谷。充当天下的川谷，永恒的德行才得以充足，回复到自然的真朴状态。真朴分散而形成万物，圣人沿用真朴，则为百官之长，所以完善的政治是不可分割的。
Knowing what is strong and masculine, yet abiding in what is gentle and feminine, one becomes a stream for the world. As a stream for the world, the eternal natural virtue never departs, and one returns to the innocent state of a baby.
Knowing what is bright and luminous, yet embracing what is dim and obscure, one becomes a model for the world. As a model for the world, the eternal natural virtue never errs, and one reverts to the infinite truth.
Knowing what is glorious and honorable, yet dwelling in what is humble and humiliation, one becomes a valley for the world. As a valley for the world, eternal virtue is fulfilled, and one returns to the state of natural simplicity.
When simplicity scatters, it forms all things; sages use this simplicity to become leaders of all officials. Thus, perfect governance is indivisible.
