道德經第十四章

視之不見，名曰夷；聽之不聞，名曰希；搏之不得，名曰微。

此三者不可致詰，故混而為一。

其上不皦，其下不昧。

繩繩不可名，復歸於無物。

是謂無狀之狀，無物之象，是謂惚恍。

迎之不見其首，隨之不見其後。

執古之道，以御今之有。

能知古始，是謂道紀。

Dao De Ching Chapter 14 - Muller

14. Look for it, it cannot be seen...

Look for it, it cannot be seen.

It is called the distant.

Listen for it, it cannot be heard.

It is called the rare.

Reach for it, it cannot be gotten.

It is called the subtle.

These three ultimately cannot be fathomed.

Therefore they join to become one.

• Its top is not bright;
• Its bottom is not dark;
• Existing continuously, it cannot be named and it returns to nothingness.

Thus, it is called the formless form,

The image of no-thing.

This is called the most obscure.

Go to meet it, you cannot see its face.

Follow it, you cannot see its back.

By holding to the ancient Way

You can manage present existence

And know the primordial beginning.

This is called the very beginning thread of the Way

14 ― Arthur Waley

Because the eye gazes but can catch no glimpse of it,

It is called elusive.

Because the ear listens but cannot hear it,

It is called the rarefied.

Because the hand feels for it but cannot find it,

It is called the infinitesimal.

These three, because they cannot be further scrutinized,

Blend into one,

• Its rising brings no light;
• Its sinking, no darkness.

Endless the series of things without a name

On the way back to where there is nothing.

They are called shapeless shapes;

Forms without form;

Are called vague semblance.

Go towards them, and you can see no front;

Go after them, and you see no rear.

Yet by seizing on the Way that was

You can ride the things that are now.

For to know what once there was, in the Beginning,

This is called the essence of the Way.