第52章 · 原文
现代白话译文
天下万物都有个开端，以此作为天下的根源。既然知道了根源，就能认识万物；既然认识了万物，再坚守着根源，终身不会有危险。堵塞嗜欲的孔窍，关闭嗜欲的门径，终身不会有劳苦。打开嗜欲的孔窍，成就世俗的事务，终身不可救药。能察见细微叫作明，能坚守柔弱叫作强。运用智慧的光芒，复归内在的明智，不给自己留下祸殃，这就是承袭永恒不变的道。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
The world had a beginning And this beginning could be the mother of the world. When you know the mother Go on to know the child. After you have known the child Go back to holding fast to the mother, And to the end of your days you will not meet with danger. Block the openings, Shut the doors, And all your life you will not run dry. Unblock the openings, Add to your troubles, And to the end of your days you will be beyond salvation. To see the small is called discernment; To hold fast to the submissive is called strength. Use the light But give up the discernment. Bring not misfortune upon yourself. This is known as following the constant.
Robert Henricks
1. The world had a beginning, 2. Which can be considered the mother of the world. 3. Having attained the mother, in order to understand her children. 4. If you return and hold on to the mother, till the end of your life you'll suffer no harm. 5. Block up the holes; 6. Close the doors; 7. And till the end of your life you'll not labor. 8. Open the holes; 9. Meddle in affairs; 10. And till the end of your life you'll not be saved. 11. To receive the small is called "discernment." 12. To hold on to the pliant is called "strength." 13. If you use the rays to return to the bright light, 14. You'll not abandon your life to peril. 15. This is called Following the Constant.
Addiss & Lombardo
The world has a beginning, which is the mother of the world. Once the mother is found, we know her children. Knowing the children but holding to the mother, one will not risk danger even to the end of life. Block the openings, close the doors, and to the end of life there is no exhaustion. Open the openings, do the work, and to the end of life there is no salvation. Seeing the small is called enlightenment. Keeping the weak is called strength. Use the light but return to wisdom, and do not bring disaster to oneself. This is called practicing the constant.
Arthur Waley
That which was the beginning of all things under heaven We may speak of as the "mother" of all things. He who apprehends the mother Thereby knows the sons. And he who has known the sons, Will hold all the tighter to the mother, And to the end of his days suffer no harm; "Block the passages, shut the doors, And till the end your strength shall not fail. Open up the passages, increase your doings, And till your last day no help shall come to you." As good sight means seeing what is very small So strength means holding on to what is weak. He who having used the outer-light can return to the inner-light Is thereby preserved from all harm. This is called resorting to the always-so.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
In the beginning was the Tao. All things issue from it; all things return to it. To find the origin, trace back the manifestations. When you recognize the children and find the mother, you will be free of sorrow. If you close your mind in judgements and traffic with desires, your heart will be troubled. If you keep your mind from judging and aren't led by the senses, your heart will find peace. Seeing into darkness is clarity. Knowing how to yield is strength. Use your own light and return to the source of light. This is called practicing eternity.