第10章 · 原文
现代白话译文
身体和灵魂合一，能不分离吗？凝聚气息达到柔顺，能像婴儿一样吗？清除心中的杂念，能没有瑕疵吗？爱护人民治理国家，能无为而治吗？感官与外界接触，能保持宁静吗？明白通达四方，能不用心机吗？生长万物，养育万物，生养而不占有，施为而不自恃，统领而不主宰，这就叫做深奥的德。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
When carrying on your head your perplexed bodily soul Can you embrace in your arms the One and not let go? In concentrating your breath can you become as supple As a babe? Can you polish your mysterious mirror And leave no blemish? Can you love the people and govern the state Without resorting to action? When the gates of heaven open and shut Are you capable of keeping to the role of the female? When your discernment penetrates the four quarters Are you capable of not knowing anything? It gives them life and rears them. It gives them life yet claims no possession; It benefits them yet exacts no gratitude; It is the steward yet exercises no authority. Such is called the mysterious virtue.
Robert Henricks
1. In nourishing the soul and embracing the One — can you do it without letting them leave? 2. In concentrating your breath and making it soft — can you [make it like that of] a child? 3. In cultivating and cleaning your profound mirror — can you do it so that it has no blemish? 4. In loving the people and giving life to the state — can you do it without using knowledge? 5. In opening and closing the gates of Heaven — can you play the part of the female? 6. In understanding all within the four reaches — can you do it without using knowledge? 7. Give birth to them and nourish them. 8. Give birth to them but don't try to own them; 9. Help them to grow but don't rule them. 10. This is called Profound Virtue.
Addiss & Lombardo
Carrying your body and your spirit and embracing them as one, can you keep them from parting? Focusing your breath, making it soft, can you be like a child? Cleansing your mysterious mirror, can you make it spotless? Loving the people, ruling the nation, can you be innocent? Opening and closing the gates of heaven, can you play the female? Understanding all four directions, can you be ignorant? Bear them, feed them, bear but don't own, act but don't claim, lead but don't control—this is the dark female's power.
Arthur Waley
Can you keep the unquiet physical-soul from straying, Hold fast to the Unity, and never quit it? Can you, when concentrating your breath, Make it soft like that of a little child? Can you wipe and cleanse your vision of the Mystery till all is without blur? Can you love the people and rule the land, Yet remain unknown? Can you in opening and shutting the heavenly gates play always the female part? Can your mind penetrate every corner of the land, But you yourself never interfere? Rear them, then, feed them, Rear them, but do not lay claim to them. Control them, but never lean upon them, Be chief among them, but do not manage them. This is called the Mysterious Power.
林语堂
This version is not yet available.
Stephen Mitchell
Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness? Can you let your body become supple as a newborn child's? Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light? Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will? Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course? Can you step back from you own mind and thus understand all things? Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue.