Translation
Carrying the soul, embracing it as one— | 載營 魄抱一 |
Can you be free from separation? | 能無離乎 |
Rolling up your vital energy, becoming gentle, supple— | 摶氣 致柔 |
Can you become an infant? | 能嬰兒乎 |
Purifying, cleansing, removing, seeing the profound— | 滌除 玄覽 |
Can you be free from blemish? | 能無疵乎 |
Loving the people, governing the nation: | 愛民 治國 |
Can you be free from action? | 能無為乎 |
The Gate of Heaven opens and shuts: | 天門 開闔 |
Can you be gentle, female? | 能為雌乎 |
Understanding, reaching all four corners: | 明白 四達 |
Can you be free from knowledge? ~~ | 能無知乎 |
Giving birth and raising life | 生之畜之 |
Living but not having | 生而不有 |
Doing but not presuming | 為而不恃 |
Leading but not ruling | 長而不宰 |
These are called the profound virtues | 是謂 玄德 |
Notes:
1. Last 4 verses: some variations don’t include the last 4 verses.
2. Last but one verse (Zhǎng ér bù zǎi,): 長 also has another pronunciation cháng, which means longer. Some versions adopt this variant and meaning.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
載營魄抱一， | 载营魄抱一， | Zài yíng pò bào yī, |
能無離乎？ | 能无离乎？ | Néng wú lí hu? |
摶氣致柔， | 抟气致柔， | Tuán qì zhì róu, |
能嬰兒乎？ | 能婴儿乎？ | Néng yīng ér hu? |
滌除玄覽， | 涤除玄览， | Dí chú xuán lǎn, |
能無疵乎？ | 能无疵乎？ | Néng wú cī hu? |
愛民治國， | 爱民治国， | ài mín zhì guó, |
能無為乎？ | 能无为乎？ | Néng wú wéi hu? |
天門開闔， | 天门开阖， | Tiān mén kāi hé, |
能為雌乎？ | 能为雌乎？ | Néng wéi cí hu? |
明白四達， | 明白四达， | Míng bái sì dá, |
能無知乎？ | 能无知乎？ | Néng wú zhī hu? |
生之畜之。 | 生之畜之。 | Shēng zhī xù zhī. |
生而不有， | 生而不有， | Shēng ér bù yǒu, |
為而不恃， | 为而不恃， | Wéi ér bù shì, |
長而不宰， | 长而不宰， | Zhǎng ér bù zǎi, |
是謂玄德。 | 是谓玄德。 | Shì wèi xuán dé. |
Literal Translation
載營魄抱一， | Carry/load/convey strive-for/manage/build soul/vigor embrace/cherish/hold one/alone [strive-for= spiritual soul] |
能無離乎？ | Able-to/capability/can-possibly not separate/leave/depart hu [hu= Chinese character in the end with no real meaning, but indicating it’s a question.] |
摶氣致柔， | Roll-up-to-a-ball/roll-with-hand/spiral/circle vital/spirit-energy reach/send/deliver/cause soft/gentle/supple |
能嬰兒乎？ | Able-to/can-possibly baby son [baby son= infant, baby] |
滌除玄覽， | Wash/cleanse/purify get-rid-of/remove black/mysterious/profound/deep view/perceive |
能無疵乎？ | Able-to no blemish/flaw/defect |
愛民治國， | Love citizen/people govern/manage country/nation |
能無為乎？ | Can no action/do [no action = Daoist doctine of inaction, letting things take their course, laissez-faire] |
天門開闔， | Heaven/sky door open close/shut |
能為雌乎？ | Can be/as female/feminine/gentle/soft |
明白四達， | Understand/bright/brilliant/clear white/pure four reach/attain/intelligent/arrive-at [Understand white= understand/clear/realize/obvious/] [four reach/attain= reach anywhere] |
能無知乎？ | Can no knowledge/perceive/comprehend [no knowledge = ignorance] |
生之畜之。 | Give-birth/life/living it raise(animals)/livestock |
生而不有， | Give-birth/grow/living/be-born/life but not have/own/possess |
為而不恃， | Do but not rely-upon/presume |
長而不宰， | Elder/senior/leader/develop/enhance/increase but not dominate/slaughter/rule/govern |
是謂玄德。 | This/indeed/is so-called mysterious/deep/profound virtue/ethics/morality |
The notes, character table, and literal translation were prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
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