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"To know (chih) the male, But to abide (shou) by the female (tz'u), Is to be the valley (ch'i) of the world. Being the valley of the world, And departing (li) not from the everlasting power (ch'ang te), One again returns to the infant (ying erh). To know (chih) the white (pe), But to abide (shou) by the black (heh), Is to be the model (shih) of the world. Being the model of the world, And deviating (t'eh) not from the everlasting power, One again returns to the unlimited (wu-chi). To know (chih) the illustrious (yung), But to abide (shou) by the obscure (ju), Is to be the valley (ku) of the world. Being the valley of the world, One's everlasting power (ch'ang te) being full, One again returns to the uncarved wood (p'u). The uncarved wood disperses to become vessels (ch'i), To be used (yung) by the sage as officials. Therefore a great institution does not mutilate (ko)."

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

English

"To know (chih) the male, But to abide (shou) by the female (tz'u), Is to be the valley (ch'i) of the world. Being the valley of the world, And departing (li) not from the everlasting power (ch'ang te), One again returns to the infant (ying erh). To know (chih) the white (pe), But to abide (shou) by the black (heh), Is to be the model (shih) of the world. Being the model of the world, And deviating (t'eh) not from the everlasting power, One again returns to the unlimited (wu-chi). To know (chih) the illustrious (yung), But to abide (shou) by the obscure (ju), Is to be the valley (ku) of the world. Being the valley of the world, One's everlasting power (ch'ang te) being full, One again returns to the uncarved wood (p'u). The uncarved wood disperses to become vessels (ch'i), To be used (yung) by the sage as officials. Therefore a great institution does not mutilate (ko)."

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