第28章 · 原文
现代白话译文
知道什么是雄强，却安守雌柔，做天下的溪涧。做天下的溪涧，永恒的德性就不会离散，回复到婴儿的状态。知道什么是光明，却安守暗昧，做天下的范式。做天下的范式，永恒的德性就不会有差错，回复到不可穷极的真理。知道什么是荣耀，却安守屈辱，做天下的川谷。做天下的川谷，永恒的德性才能够充足，回复到朴的状态。朴一旦分散就成为器具，圣人使用它，就成为掌管器具的官长，所以完善的政治制度是不割裂的。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
Know the male But keep to the role of the female And be a ravine to the empire. If you are a ravine to the empire, Then the constant virtue will not desert you And you will again return to being a babe. Know the white But keep to the role of the sullied And be a model to the empire. If you are a model to the empire, Then the constant virtue will not be wanting And you will return to the infinite, Know honour But keep to the role of the disgraced And be a valley to the empire. If you are a valley to the empire, Then the constant virtue will be sufficient And you will return to being the uncarved block. When the uncarved block shatters it becomes vessels. The sage makes use of these and becomes the lord over the officials. Hence the greatest cutting does not sever.
Robert Henricks
1. When you know the male yet hold on to the female, 2. You'll be the ravine of the country. 3. When you're the ravine of the country, 4. Your constant virtue will not leave. 5. And when your constant virtue doesn't leave, 6. You'll return to the state of the infant. 7. When you know the pure yet hold on to the soiled, 8. You'll be the valley of the country. 9. When you're the valley of the country, 10. Your constant virtue is complete. 11. And when your constant virtue is complete, 12. You'll return to the state of uncarved wood. 13. When you know the white yet hold on to the black, 14. You'll be the model for the country. 15. And when you're the model for the country, 16. Your constant virtue will not go astray. 17. And when your constant virtue does not go astray, 18. You'll return to the condition which has no limit. 19. When uncarved wood is cut up, it's turned into vessels; 20. When the Sage is used, he becomes the Head of Officials. 21. Truly, great carving is done without splitting up.
Addiss & Lombardo
Know the male, keep the female - be the ravine of the world. Being the ravine of the world, constant virtue does not leave, return to infancy. Know the white, keep the black - be the model of the world. Being the model of the world, constant virtue does not err, return to the limitless. Know the glory, keep the disgrace - be the valley of the world. Being the valley of the world, constant virtue is sufficient, return to simplicity. Simplicity breaks into vessels, the sage uses them and becomes the leader. Therefore the great carving does not cut.
Arthur Waley
"He who knows the males, yet cleaves to what is female Because like a ravine, receiving all things under heaven," And being such a ravine He knows all the time a power that he never calls upon in vain. This is returning to the state of infancy. He who knows the white, (yet cleaves to the black Becomes the standard by which all things are tested; And being such a standard He has all the time a power that never errs, He returns to the Limitless. He who knows glory,) yet cleaves to ignominy Become like a valley that receives into it all things under heaven, And being such a valley He has all the time a power that suffices; He returns to the state of the Uncarved Block. Now when a block is sawn up it is made into implements; But when the Sage uses it, it becomes Chief of all Ministers. Truly, "The greatest carver does the least cutting".
林语堂
This version is not yet available.
Stephen Mitchell
Know the male, yet keep to the female: receive the world in your arms. If you receive the world, the Tao will never leave you and you will be like a little child. Know the white, yet keep to the black: be a pattern for the world. If you are a pattern for the world, the Tao will be strong inside you and there will be nothing you can't do. Know the personal, yet keep to the impersonal: accept the world as it is. If you accept the world, the Tao will be luminous inside you and you will return to your primal self. The world is formed from the void, like utensils from a block of wood. The Master knows the utensils, yet keeps to the block: thus she can use all things.