第61章 · 原文
现代白话译文
大国要像居于江河下游那样，使天下百川汇集，处在天下雌柔的位置。雌柔常以静定战胜雄强，因为静定而又居于下位。所以大国对小国谦下，就能取得小国的信任；小国对大国谦下，就能取得大国的信任。所以有的因为谦下而取得，有的因为谦下而被取得。大国不过是要兼并小国，小国不过是要见容于大国。如果双方都能达到目的，大国尤其应该谦下。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
A large state is the lower reaches of a river: The place where all the streams of the world unite. In the union of the world, The female always gets the better of the male by stillness. Being still, she takes the lower position. Hence the large state, by taking the lower position, annexes the small state; The small state, by taking the lower position, affiliates itself to the large state. Thus the one, by taking the lower position, annexes; The other, by taking the lower position, is annexed. All that the large state wants is to take the other under its wing; All that the small state wants is to have its services accepted by the other. If each of the two wants to find its proper place, It is meet that the large should take the lower position.
Robert Henricks
1. The large state is like the lower part of a river; 2. It is the female of the world; 3. It is the meeting point of the world. 4. The female constantly overcomes the male with tranquility. 5. Because she is tranquil, therefore she is fittingly underneath. 6. The large state — if it is below the small state, then it takes over the small state; 7. The small state — if it is below the large state, then it is taken over by the large state. 8. Therefore some by being low take over, 9. And some by being low are taken over. 10. Therefore the large state merely desires to unite and rear others; 11. While the small state merely desires to enter and serve others. 12. If both get what they want, 13. Then the large state should fittingly be underneath.
Addiss & Lombardo
A large state is like a lower river, the meeting place of the world, the female of the world. The female always overcomes the male through stillness. Through stillness she takes the lower position. Therefore if a large state serves a small state, it gains the small state. If a small state serves a large state, it gains the large state. Therefore some serve to gain, others serve to be served. The large state only wishes to gather and protect people. The small state only wishes to enter and serve people. If each gets what it wants, the large should especially take the lower position.
Arthur Waley
A large kingdom must be like the low ground towards which all streams flows down. It must be a point towards which all things under heaven converge. Its part must be that of the female in its dealings with all things under heaven. The female by quiescence conquers the male; by quiescence gets underneath. If a large kingdom can in the same way succeed in getting underneath a small kingdom Then it will win the adherence of the small kingdom; And it is because small kingdoms are by nature in this way underneath large kingdoms That they win the adherence of large kingdoms. The one must get underneath in order to do it; The other is underneath and therefore does it. (What large countries really need is more inhabitants; And what small countries need is some place Where their surplus inhabitants can go and get employment.) Thus each gets what it needs. That is why I say the large kingdom must "get underneath".
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
When a country obtains great power, it becomes like the sea: all streams run downward into it. The more powerful it grows, the greater the need for humility. Humility means trusting the Tao, thus never needing to be defensive. A great nation is like a great man: When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he corrects it. He considers those who point out his faults as his most benevolent teachers. He thinks of his enemy as the shadow that he himself casts. If a nation is centered in the Tao, if it nourishes its own people and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others, it will be a light to all nations in the world.