明治時代、熊本市現代美術館、力士。

Sumo wrestlers, made by 熊本靖人Yasumuto Kamehachi in 1890.

Wood with pigment, glass eyes, human hair and textile.

Meiji period, Contemporary Art Museum in Kumamoto city, Japan.

《道德經 ― Dao De Jing》

[Warring States (475 BC - 221 BC)] 

為學日益，為道日損。

損之又損，以至於無為。

無為而無不為。

取天下常以無事，及其有事，不足以取天下。

道德經 第四十八章

English translation: James Legge ― 48. Forgetting knowledge

He who devotes himself to learning (seeks) from day to day to increase (his knowledge); he who devotes himself to the Dao (seeks) from day to day to diminish (his doing).

He diminishes it and again diminishes it, till he arrives at doing nothing (on purpose).

Having arrived at this point of non-action, there is nothing which he does not do.

He who gets as his own all under heaven does so by giving himself no trouble (with that end).

If one take trouble (with that end), he is not equal to getting as his own all under the heaven.

Dao De Jing Chapter 48 ― A. Charles Muller ― In studying, each day something is gained...

In studying, each day something is gained.

In following the Way, each day something is lost.

Lost and again lost.

Until there is nothing left to do.

Not-doing, nothing is left undone.

You can possess the world by never manipulating it.

No matter how much you manipulate

You can never possess the world.

48 ― Arthur Waley

Learning consists of adding to one's stock day by day;

The practise of Tao consists of “subtracting day by day,

Subtracting and yet again subtracting

Till one has reached inactivity.

But by this very inactivity

Everything can be activated.”

Those who of old won the adherence of all who live under heaven

All did so not interfering.

Had they interfered,

They would never have won this adherence.