Tao Te Ching

Chapter 27
[Original text]

Heavy is light root [1], static is restless king [2].Therefore, a gentleman [3] cannot leave his luggage [4] all day long.

Although there are Rongguan[5] and Yanchu[6], they are detached.But why is the Lord of Ten Thousand Vehicles [7] despising the world with his body?

If you are light, you will lose your minister, and if you are rash, you will lose your ruler.

【Note】

[1] Root: root, foundation.

[2] Jun: Ruler, dominate.

[3] Gentleman: A person of high moral character, a person of righteousness.This refers to the ideal monarch.

[4] 食 (zī) heavy: vehicles carrying equipment and food in the army.

[5] Rongguan: The place where the nobles play, here refers to the gorgeous life.

[6] Yan Chu: A safe place to live in.

[7] The Lord of Ten Thousand Vehicles: The Lord of a great country with ten thousand chariots.Multiply, the unit of quantity of ancient chariots.

【Analysis】

Prudence is the root of frivolity, and tranquility is the master of restlessness.Therefore, no matter how ideal the virtuous monarch is, if he runs all day, he cannot do without a vehicle loaded with food and clothes.

Although enjoying a gorgeous life, he can maintain a peaceful heart and reach a state of detachment.But why does a monarch with great strength still deal with major affairs in the world with a rash attitude?

Reckless exaggeration will lose the foundation of prudence, while impetuous action will lose the peaceful heart of dominating the world.

Heaviness and lightness, stillness and movement are two opposing existences, but Lao Tzu believes that one of the two contradictions must be the root cause.In the relationship between lightness and heaviness, heaviness is the root of lightness. If you only pay attention to lightness and ignore heaviness, you will lose the root, and the entire system of contradictory dependence will be destroyed, and the principle of static and dynamic is also the same.

This view is in the service of its political views.Laozi believes that the extravagant life enjoyed by the rulers of many big countries and the hegemonic rule they implement are frivolous and restless, which will inevitably make them lose stability and tranquility, which is the foundation of governing the country, and the country will not last long.If you follow the avenue and focus on tranquility and weight, the country will live in peace and the people will be safe.

【Explanation by Famous Artists】

Mr. He Shang:
If the ruler is not respectful, he will not be respected; if the body is not governed, he will lose his mind; the flowers and leaves of grass and trees will fall because they are light;A man who is not quiet will lose his prestige, and a man who is not calm will be in danger.The dragon is quiet so it can change, and the tiger is irritable so it loses its life.Yi, static also.A sage walks the way all day long, never leaving his tranquility and heaviness.

Rongguan is called the palace.Yan, where the concubine lives.Detachment, avoiding and not being there.No matter what, the Lord speaks of pain when he is ill.The Lord of Ten Thousand Vehicles is called King.The king is supreme, but is he acting lightly and impetuously with his body?In times of illness, the king is extravagant and indulgent.

The king loses his ministers if he is light on prostitution, and loses his essence when he governs his body lightly.A king loses his throne if he acts restlessly, and loses his spirit if he cures restlessness.

(End of this chapter)