Tao Te Ching

Chapter 5
[Original text]

Dao Chong [1] and use it, or not profit [2].Yuan [3] Xi, like the ancestor of all things. (Frustrating [4] its sharpness, solving [5] its confusion, and [6] its light, the same as its dust [7].) Zhan [8] Xi, it seems or exists [9].

I don't know whose son is like [10] before the emperor.

【Note】

[1] Chong: Tong "cup", emptiness, nothingness.

[2] Ying: full, here means extreme, limit.

[3] Yuan: Yuan, far-reaching.

[4] Frustration: wear off.

[5] Solution: lift, dissolve.

[6] And: harmony, concealment.

[7] Dust: dust, dust.These four sentences in brackets are inconsistent with the context and should be moved to Chapter 56.

[8] Zhan: deep, quiet.This describes the "Tao" that does exist but cannot see its true form.

[9] Like or exist: It seems to exist.

[10] Xiang: Same as "like", it seems.

【Analysis】

"Tao" seems to be nothing, but its function seems to have no limit.Its depth cannot be explored, just like the origin of all things. (It perfectly restrains its own sharpness, but it can unravel the complexities; it hides its own light, but it can be confused with the world.) It is so deep that it is difficult to understand, but it seems to exist around everything all the time.

I don't know who conceived this "Tao", it seems that it existed in the world before the appearance of the Emperor of Heaven.

【Explanation by Famous Artists】

Mr. He Shang:
Chong, Zhongye.Taoism hides its reputation anonymously, and it is used in Chinese medicine.Or, often also.Dao is always humble and not full.Daoyuan is deep and unknowable, and seems to be the ancestor of all things.Sharp, enter also.If a person wants to strive for fame and fame, he should be discouraged, and the way of law will not be self-evident.Divorce, hatred also.When you read the Tao and do nothing to explain it.Although words have the clarity of one's own opinion, they should be regarded as ambiguous, and should not be used to confuse people.Be in the same dirt as the common people, not be different from yourself.Words should be clear and quiet, so they can live forever.

Lao Tzu said: I don't know what to live from.The Tao seems to be before the Emperor of Heaven, so the Tao is congenitally born.Those who exist so far can be quiet and calm, without worrying about desires, so that people can cultivate themselves and practice the Dharma.

(End of this chapter)