道德經第五十章

出生入死。

生之徒，十有三；

死之徒，十有三；

人之生，動之死地，十有三。

夫何故？以其生，生之厚。

蓋聞善攝生者，陸行不遇兕虎，入軍不被甲兵；

兕無所投其角，虎無所措其爪，兵無所容其刃。

夫何故？以其無死地。

Daodejing 50 ― James Legge (The value set on life)

Men come forth and live; they enter (again) and die.

Of every ten three are ministers of life (to themselves);

and three are ministers of death.

There are also three in every ten whose aim is to live, but whose movements tend to the land (or place) of death.

And for what reason? Because of their excessive endeavours to perpetuate life.

But I have heard that he who is skilful in managing the life entrusted to him for a time travels on the land without having to shun rhinoceros or tiger, and enters a host without having to avoid buff coat or sharp weapon. The rhinoceros finds no place in him into which to thrust its horn, nor the tiger a place in which to fix its claws, nor the weapon a place to admit its point.

And for what reason? Because there is in him no place of death.

Dao De Jing 50 ― A. Charles Muller, 50. Coming into life and entering death...

Coming into life and entering death,

The followers of life are three in ten.

The followers of death are three in ten.

Those whose life activity is their death ground are three in

ten.

Why is this?

Because they live life grasping for its rich taste.

Now I have heard that those who are experts in handling life

Can travel the land without meeting tigers and rhinos,

Can enter battle without being wounded.

The rhino has no place to plant its horn,

The tiger has no place to place its claws,

Weapons find no place to receive their sharp edges.

Why?

Because he has no death-ground.

Daodejing 50 ― Arthur Waley

He who aims at life achieves death.

If the “companions of life” are thirteen,

So likewise are the “companions of death” thirteen.

How is it that the “death-stops” in man's life

And activity are also thirteen?

It is because men feed life too grossly.

It is said that he who has a true hold on life,

When he walks on land does not meet tigers or wild buffaloes;

In battle, he is not touched by weapons of war.

Indeed,

A buffalo that attacked him would find nothing for its horns to butt,

A tiger would find nothing for its claws to tear,

A weapon would find no place for its point to enter

Guardian of the Entrance, Nicholas Roerich, 1927.

And why?

Because such men have no “death-spot” in them