My Translation
Heaven and earth are not kind | 天地 不仁 |
Thus all living things serve as fodder for dogs. | 以 萬物 為 芻狗 |
The Sage is not kind | 聖人 不仁 |
Thus the common people serve as fodder for dogs. | 以 百姓 為 芻狗 |
Among the heavens and the earth | 天地 之間 |
It’s like a key to a bag that opens at both ends! | 其猶 橐 籥乎 |
Empty yet unyielding, | 虛而 不屈 |
Using yet producing more. | 動而 愈出 |
Many words enumerate exhaustion— | 多言 數 窮 |
It is better to preserve your center. | 不如 守 中 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
天地不仁， | 天地不仁， | Tiān dì bù rén, |
以萬物為芻狗； | 以万物为刍狗； | Yǐ wàn wù wéi chú gǒu; |
聖人不仁， | 圣人不仁， | Shèng rén bù rén, |
以百姓為芻狗。 | 以百姓为刍狗。 | Yǐ bǎi xìng wéi chú gǒu. |
天地之間， | 天地之间， | Tiān dì zhī jiān, |
其猶橐籥乎？ | 其犹橐籥乎？ | Qí yóu tuó yuè hu? |
虛而不屈， | 虚而不屈， | Xū ér bù qū, |
動而愈出。 | 动而愈出。 | Dòng ér yù chū. |
多言數窮， | 多言数穷， | Duō yán shǔ qióng, |
不如守中。 | 不如守中。 | Bù rú shǒu zhōng. |
Literal Translation
天地不仁， | Heaven earth not kindness [not kindness = not benevolent, heartless] |
以萬物為芻狗； | Thus ten-thousand things serve-as straw/fodder dog [ten-thousand things = all living things] |
聖人不仁， | Sage man not kindness [not kindness = not benevolent, heartless] |
以百姓為芻狗。 | Thus hundred clans handle straw/fodder dog [hundred clans = common people] |
天地之間， | Heaven earth ’s/of between [’s/of between = between, among, inter-] |
其猶橐籥乎？ | Its/that like a-bag-open-both-ends flute/key ! |
虛而不屈， | Empty/humble yet not bend [not bend = unyielding, unbending] |
動而愈出。 | Use yet [the more...the more...] produce |
多言數窮， | Much words fate/enumerated poor/exhausted [much words = wordy/talkative] |
不如守中。 | Not like protect/observe center [not like = it would be better to] |
Year:
2011
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