第16章 · 原文
现代白话译文
努力使心灵虚空到极点，坚守清静到极致。万物都在蓬勃生长，我由此观察到了循环往复的道理。万物纷繁茂盛，最终各自返回到它们的本根。返回本根叫作静，静叫作复命。复命叫作常，认识了常叫作明。不认识常，轻举妄动就会遇到凶险。认识了常才能包容，包容才能公正，公正才能称王，称王才能顺应天，顺应天才能符合道，符合道才能长久，终身没有危险。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
I do my utmost to attain emptiness; I hold firmly to stillness. The myriad creatures all rise together And I watch their return. The teaming creatures All return to their separate roots. Returning to one's roots is known as stillness. This is what is meant by returning to one's destiny. Returning to one's destiny is known as the constant. Knowledge of the constant is known as discernment. Woe to him who wilfully innovates While ignorant of the constant, But should one act from knowledge of the constant One's action will lead to impartiality, Impartiality to kingliness, Kingliness to heaven, Heaven to the way, The way to perpetuity, And to the end of one's days one will meet with no danger.
Robert Henricks
1. Take emptiness to the limit; 2. Maintain tranquility in the center. 3. The ten thousand things — side-by-side they arise; 4. And by this I see their return. 5. Things [come forth] in great numbers; 6. Each one returns to its root. 7. This is called tranquility. 8. "Tranquility" — This means to return to your fate. 9. To return to your fate is to be constant; 10. To know the constant is to be wise. 11. Not to know the constant is to be reckless and wild; 12. If you're reckless and wild, your actions will lead to misfortune. 13. To know the constant is to be all-embracing; 14. To be all-embracing is to be impartial; 15. To be impartial is to be kingly; 16. To be kingly is to be [like] Heaven; 17. To be [like] Heaven is to be [one with] the Dao; 18. If you're [one with] the Dao, to the end of your days you'll suffer no harm.
Addiss & Lombardo
Empty to the limit, become still. Ten thousand things arise, I watch them return. Things flourish and each returns to its root. Returning to the root is stillness. Stillness is returning to life. Returning to life is the constant. Knowing the constant is enlightenment. Not knowing the constant is recklessness, leading to disaster. Knowing the constant is acceptance. Acceptance is impartiality. Impartiality is kingship. Kingship is heaven. Heaven is the way. The way is eternal. Though the body dies, the way does not.
Arthur Waley
Push far enough towards the Void, Hold fast enough to Quietness, And of the ten thousand things none but can be worked on by you. I have beheld them, whither they go back. See, all things howsoever they flourish Return to the root from which they grew. This return to the root is called Quietness; Quietness is called submission to Fate; What has submitted to Fate has become part of the always so. To know the always-so is to be Illumined; Not to know it, means to go blindly to disaster. He who knows the always-so has room in him for everything; He who has room in him for everything is without prejudice. To be without prejudice is to be kingly; To be kingly is to be of heaven; To be of heaven is to be in Tao. Tao is forever and he that possess it, Though his body ceases, is not destroyed.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return. Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity. If you don't realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow. When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, dignified as a king. Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.