道德經 第十五章

宮本秋風

古之善為士者，微妙玄通，深不可識。

夫唯不可識，故強為之容。

豫兮若冬涉川；

猶兮若畏四鄰；

儼兮其若容；

渙兮若冰之將釋；

敦兮其若樸；

曠兮其若谷；

混兮其若濁；

孰能濁以靜之徐清？

孰能安以久動之徐生？

保此道者，不欲盈。

夫唯不盈，故能蔽不新成。

Dao De jing Chapter Fifteen — C. Ganson

15 — The Dao of the Ancients

The ancient followers of the Tao:

so wise, so subtle, so profound,

so deeply understanding,

that they were themselves misunderstood.

They must therefore be described.

• Cautious, like crossing a stream in mid-winter;
• observant, like moving in fear through hostile land;
• modest, retiring like ice beginning to melt;
• dignified, like an honoured guest;
• genuine, like natural, untouched wood;
• receptive, like an inviting, open valley;
• friendly, like muddied water, freely mixing.

Who can make sense of a world like cloudy water?

Left alone and still, it becomes clear.

Should this stillness be maintained?

Moving hastily will surely cloud it again.

How then can one move and not become clouded?

Accept Tao and achieve without being selfish;

being unselfish one endures the world's wear,

and needs no change of pace.

Dao De jing Chapter Fifteen — James Legge

15 (The exhibition of the qualities of the Dao)

The skilful masters (of the Dao) in old times, with a subtle and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries and were deep (also) so as to elude men's knowledge. As they were thus beyond men's knowledge, I will make an effort to describe of what sort they appeared to be.

• Shrinking looked them like those who wade through a stream in winter;
• irresolute like those who are afraid of all around them;
• grave like a guest (in awe of his host);
• evanescent like ice that is melting away;
• unpretentious like wood that has not been fashioned into anything;
• vacant like a valley, and dull like muddy water.

Who can (make) the muddy water (clear)? Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear. Who can secure the condition of rest? Let movement go on, and the condition of rest will gradually arise. Those who preserve this method of the Dao do not wish to be full (of themselves). It is through their not being full of themselves that they can afford to seem worn and not appear new and complete.

15 — Arthur Waley

Of old those that were the best officers of Court

Had inner natures subtle, abstruse, mysterious, penetrating,

Too deep to be understood.

And because such men could not be understood

I can but tell of them as they appeared to the world:

• Circumspect they seemed, like one who in winter crosses a stream,
• Watchful, as one who must meet danger on every side.
• Ceremonious, as one who pays a visit;
• Yet yielding, as ice when it begins to melt.
• Blank, as a piece of uncarved wood;
• Yet receptive as a hollow in the hills.
• Murky, as a troubled stream —–
• (Tranquil, as the vast reaches of the sea,
• Drifting as the wind with no stop.)

Which of you can assume such murkiness,

To become in the end still and clear?

Which of you can make yourself insert,

To become at the end full of life and stir?

Those who possess this Dao do not try to fill themselves to the brim,

And because they do not try to fill themselves to the brim,

They are like a garment that endures all wear and need never be renewed.