《道德经第二十八章》

知其雄，守其雌，為天下谿。

為天下谿，常德不離，復歸於嬰兒。

知其白，守其黑，為天下式。

為天下式，常德不忒，復歸於無極。

知其榮，守其辱，為天下谷。

為天下谷，常德乃足，復歸於樸。

樸散則為器，聖人用之，則為官長，故大制不割。

Dao De jing Chapter Twenty-eight — C. Ganson

28

He who knows the mystic male (Yang)

yet retains the mystic female (Yin)

is as a great canyon welcoming the whole world.

He has De and is innocent as a child.

Whoever is aware of the white (Yang)

yet retains the black (Yin)

is as a standard for all the world.

He has De and has returned to the Absolute.

Whoever is aware of fame and glory

yet retains humility and obscurity

is as a valley that can hold the earth.

He has De and has returned to Unity.

Divide the Unity; the parts become tools.

In the hands of the truly wise

they become the means to an end,

but never ends in themselves.

Dao De jing Chapter Twenty-eight — James Legge

28 (Returning to simplicity)

Who knows his manhood's strength,

Yet still, his female feebleness maintains;

As to one channel flow the many drains,

All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.

Thus he the constant excellence retains;

The simple child again, free from all stains.

Who knows how white attracts,

Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,

The pattern of humility displayed,

Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;

He is the unchanging excellence arrayed,

Endless return to man's first state has made.

Who knows how glory shines,

Yet loves disgrace, nor ever for it is pale;

Behold his presence in a spacious vale,

To which men come from all beneath the sky.

The unchanging excellence completes its tale;

The simple infant man in him we hail.

The unwrought material, when divided and distributed, forms vessels. The sage, when employed, becomes the Head of all the Officers (of government); and in his greatest regulations, he employs no violent measures.

Dao De jing Chapter Twenty-eight — Arthur Waley

28

“He who knows the males yet cleaves to what is female

Because like a ravine, receiving all things under heaven,”

And being such a ravine

He knows all the time a power that he never calls upon in vain.

This is returning to the state of infancy.

He who knows the white, (yet cleaves to the black

Becomes the standard by which all things are tested;

And being such a standard

He has all the time a power that never errs,

He returns to the Limitless.

He who knows glory,) yet cleaves to ignominy

Become like a valley that receives into it all things under heaven,

And being such a valley

He has all the time a power that suffices;

He returns to the state of the Uncarved Block.

Now when a block is sawed up it is made into implements;

But when the Sage uses it, it becomes Chief of all Ministers.

Truly, “The greatest carver does the least cutting”.