六十九

Receiving instead of Engaging

Spiral in & Spiral out

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which – unless fully understood – is XV –  the Devil, i.e. a declination of VI – L'Amovrevx

Nina Paley, Animator. Director. Artist. Scapegoat. Spiral In, Spiral Out

六 Pictogram (象形) – perhaps a shed.

Originally using the similar-sounding word 廬 (OC *ra, “shed, cabin”) to represent the concept “six” (劉興龍 Liu Xinglong).

Alternatively, it may be an ancient counting symbol.

九 Pictogram (象形) – a stylized hand, with bent wrist/forearm (hence the hook stroke at lower right). Earlier forms resemble 手, 寸. The original meaning of the glyph was “elbow”, which is now written 肘 (OC *tkuʔ).

After the meaning “elbow” was forgotten, 九 was taken to symbolize a fist tightening to bump up against something; thus, there is a metaphorical bumping up of nine against ten, which is the last number when counting on one's fingers.

Tibetan assorted Clouds drawn while using the technique 'Spiral In, Spiral Out' without lifting the pen

Drawing Hands, a lithograph by the Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis Escher, first printed in January 1948

用兵有言：吾不敢為主，而為客；不敢進寸，而退尺。

是謂行無行；攘無臂；扔無敵；執無兵。

禍莫大於輕敵，輕敵幾喪吾寶。

故抗兵相加，哀者勝矣。

《道德經》第六十九章

Dao De Jing Chapter 69 ― Arthur Waley

The strategists have the sayings:

“When you doubt your ability to meet the enemy's attack,

Take the offensive yourself”

And “If you doubt your ability to advance an inch, then retreat a foot”.

This latter is what we call to march without moving,

To roll the sleeve, but present no bare arm,

The hand that seems to hold, yet had no weapon in it,

A host that can confront, yet presents no battle-front.

Now the greatest of all calamities is to attack and find no enemy.

I can have no enemy only at the price of losing my treasure.

Therefore when armies are raised

And issues joined it is he who does not delight in war that wins.

《道德經》第六十九章

Dao De Jing Chapter 69 ― A. Charles Muller

Strategists have a saying...

Strategists have a saying:
"I prefer to be able to move, rather than be in a fixed position
I prefer to retreat a foot rather than advancing an inch."
This is called progress without advancing;
Preparing without showing off;
Smashing where there is no defense;
Taking him without a fight.
There is no greater danger than under-estimating your opponent.
If I under-estimate my opponent
I will lose that which is most dear.
Therefore
When opponents clash
The one who is sorry about it will be the winner.

《道德經》第六十九章

Dao De Jing Chapter 69 ― James Legge

(The use of the mysterious (Dao))

A master of the art of war has said, 'I do not dare to be the host (to commence the war); I prefer to be the guest (to act on the defensive). I do not dare to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a foot.' This is called marshalling the ranks where there are no ranks; baring the arms (to fight) where there are no arms to bare; grasping the weapon where there is no weapon to grasp; advancing against the enemy where there is no enemy.

There is no calamity greater than lightly engaging in war. To do that is near losing (the gentleness) which is so precious. Thus it is that when opposing weapons are (actually) crossed, he who deplores (the situation) conquers.