𒅆𒂍𒉪

Akkadian 𒅆𒂍𒉪 (ziqqurratu), from 𒁲 𒊑 (zaqāru, literally “to build high”)

a temple tower of the ancient Mesopotamian valley,

having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories

道德經: 第二十一章

孔德之容，唯道是從。

道之為物，唯恍唯惚。

忽兮恍兮，其中有象；恍兮忽兮，其中有物。

窈兮冥兮，其中有精；其精甚真，其中有信。

自古及今，其名不去，以閱衆甫。

吾何以知衆甫之狀哉？以此。

Great Ziggurat of Ur, 4000 years ago by King Ur-Nammu, 

Neo-Sumerian Empire, dedicated to Moon God, Nanna

Dao De Jing: Chapter 21 ― James Legge (The empty heart, or the Dao in its operation)

The grandest forms of active force

From Dao come their only source.

Who can of Dao nature tell?

Our sight it flies our touch as well.

Eluding sight, eluding touch,

The forms of things all in it crouch;

Eluding touch, eluding sight,

There are their semblances, all right.

Profound it is, dark and obscure;

Things' essences all there endure.

Those essences the truth enfold

Of what, when seen, shall then be told.

Now it is so; 'twas so of old.

Its name - what passes not away;

So, in their beautiful array,

Things form and never know decay.

How know I that it is so with all the beauties of existing things? By this (nature of the Dao).

21― Arthur Waley

Such the scope of the All-pervading Power.

That it alone can act through the Way.

For the Way is a thing impalpable, incommensurable.

Incommensurable, impalpable.

Yet latent in it are forms;

Impalpable, incommensurable

Yet within it are entities.

Shadowy it is and dim;

Yet within it, there is a force,

Is nonetheless efficacious.

From the times of old till now

Its charge has not departed

But cheers onward the many warriors.

How do I know that the many warriors are so?

Through this.

21. Muller: The form of great virtue...

The form of great virtue is something that only the Way can follow.

The Way as a "thing" is only vague and obscure.

How obscure! How vague! In it there is form.

How vague! How obscure! In it are things.

How deep! How dark! In it, there is an essence.

The essence is so real—therein is belief.

From the present to antiquity, its name has never left it, so we can examine all origins.

How do I know the form of all origins?

By this.