Chapter 5

Tao Te Ching  (Daodejing)
Classic of the Way and Virtue

By Lao Tzu  (Laozi)

Compiled and Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington

Chapter 4       Chapter 6       Index to All 81 Chapters     Daoism     Concordance     Commentary     Cloud Hands Blog  

English       Chinese       Spanish      

Chapter 5

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu

Classic Book (Ching) about the Tao (Way, Nature, Patterns, Processes) and Te (Virtue, Potency, Power, Integrity, Wise Person, Sage)

Concordance: Indexing, Search Terms, Topics, Themes, Keys, Subjects

English and Chinese (Wade-Giles) Terms:  Act or Make (wei), Bellows, Blacksmith, Brings (shu), Calmness, Center or Middle or Core or Moderation (chung), Contracted, Doing Nothing, Don't Gossip, Earth (ti), Empty or Vacant or Hollow (hsü),  虛用, Exhaust or collapse (ch'ü), Expanded, Families (hsing), Families or Everyone (hsing), Full, Good and Evil, Goodness, Heart, Heaven (t'ien), Hold (shou), Human or Human Kindness or Benevolence or Sentimental (jên), Hundred (pai), Impartial or Neutral or Indifferent (pu jên), Impartiality, Inhumane, Inner Essence, Keep To or Hold (shou), Leads To or Brings About (shu), Less Talking, Moves (tung), Neutral, Pipe or Flute (yo), Power, Preserve the Inner, Produces (ch'u), Quietness, Sack or Bag or Bellows (t'o), Sage or Holy Person (shêng jên), Space or Crevice (chien), Stay Centered, Straw Dogs (ch'u kou), Ten Thousand Things (wan wu), The End or The Limit or Finished (ch'iung), Uses or Value of Emptiness, Watch Within, Words or Speech (yen).

Términos en Español:  Abajo, Actuando, Actuar, Ampliado, Bellows, Benevolencia, Bien, Bolsa, Bondad, Calma, Centro, Cielo, Cien, Colapso, Completa, Conservar el Interior, Contratado, Corazón, de Escape, Diez Mil Cosas, Energía, Esencia Interior, Espacio, Familias, Final, Flauta, Fuelle, Grieta, Habla, Hacer, Haciendo,  Herrero, Hueco, Imparcial, Indiferente, Ley, Mantener, Medio, Menos Hablar, Movimientos, Neutral, No Hacer Nada, Núcleo, Oriente, Paja, Palabras, Perros de Paja, Perros, Sabio, Saco, Santo, Sentimental, Tierra, Todos, Trae, Tranquilidad, Tubería, Vacío, Valor de la Vacuidad.

Electronic Concordance for all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching

English Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

"Heaven and earth are not Good
They treat the thousands of things like straw dogs.
The Wise Person is not Good
He treats the hundred clans like straw dogs.
The space between heaven and earth
Isn't like a bellows?
Empty, by not shriveled up,
Set it in motion and always more comes out.
Much talking, quickly exhausted. 
It can't compare to watching over what is inside."  
-  Translated by Michael LaFargue, 1992, Chapter 5   

"Heaven and Earth have no humanity;
They regard all things as straw-dogs.
The sage has no humanity;
He regards the people as straw-dogs.
Between Heaven and Earth, it is like a bellows or a flute!
Empty, but not exhausted;
With movement, more comes out.
Too much talk always exhausts;
It is better to keep to the inside."
-  Translated by Yi Wu, Chapter 5

"Heaven and Earth have no permanence
A man may choose one over another but to Heaven and Earth all are the same
The high, the low, the great, the small ?all are given light all get a place to rest
The Sage is like Heaven and Earth
To him none are especially dear or is there anyone he disfavours
He gives and gives without condition offering his treasure to everyone
The universe is like a bellows
It stays empty yet is never exhausted
It gives out yet always brings forth more
Man is not like this
When he blows out air like a bellows he becomes exhausted
Man was not made to blow out air
He was made to sit quietly and find the truth within."
-  Translated by Jonathan Star, 2001, Chapter 5

"Holding to the Center

Heaven and Earth are impartial;
They regard All Things as straw dogs.
Evolved Individuals are impartial;
They regard all people as straw dogs.

Between Heaven and Earth,
The space is like a bellows.
The shape changes,
But not the form.
The more it moves,
The more it produces.

Too much talk will exhaust itself.
It is better to remain centered."
-  Translated by R. L. Wing, 1986, Chapter 5

"The Tao doesn't take sides;
it gives birth to both good and evil.
The Master doesn't take sides;
she welcomes both saints and sinners.

The Tao is like a bellows:
it is empty yet infinitely capable.
The more you use it, the more it produces;
the more you talk of it, the less you understand.

Hold on to the center."
-  Translated by Edwin Shaw, 1996, Chapter 5

"Heaven and earth are not merciful,
They treat all things as straw dogs;
The sage is not merciful,
He treats the people as straw dogs.
Does not the space between heaven and earth form like a bellows?
It is empty but the air in it can never be exhausted;
The more air it expels, the more comes out.
That is why too many government decrees only result in more failures.
It is better, therefore, to hold fast to moderation and the void."
-  Translated by Gu Zhengkun, Chapter 5

"If Heaven and Earth were not benevolent, they would regard creation in the light of grass [which is worthless] and dogs [which are killed].
If the Sage were not benevolent, he would likewise regard the people in the light of grass and dogs.
The space between Heaven and Earth may be compared to a leathern bag, or box; [a receptacle with Heaven for a lid and Earth for a floor].
It is a vacuum [outside which there is nothing], exercising no pressure [on that which is within]; the more it moves, the more prolific it is.
Those who talk too much will often come to an end of their words. It is better to maintain rectitude [inwardly]."
-  Translated by Frederic Henry Balfour, 1884, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and Earth are not humane.
They regard all things a straw dogs.
The sage is not humane.
He regards all people as straw dogs.
How Heaven and Earth are like a bellows.
While vacuous, it is never exhausted.
When active, it produces even more.
Much talk will of course come to a dead end.
It is better to keep to the centre."
-  Translated by Chan Wing-Tsit, 1963, Chapter 5  

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2020 CCA 4.0

Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living  Translated by Eva Wong

The Daodejing of Laozi   Translated by Philip Ivahoe 

Daoism: A Beginner's Guide   By James Miller

Early Daoist Scriptures  Translated by Stephen Bokencamp

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons

Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance  By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins

Practical Taoism  Translated by Thomas Cleary

Daoism and Chinese Culture  By Livia Kohn

"Heaven and earth do not act from any wish to be benevolent;
They deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
The sages do not act from any wish to be benevolent;
The deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?
'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;
'Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more.
Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see;
Your inner being guard, and keep it free."
-  Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 5

"Heaven and earth are indifferent.
All creatures are considered straw dogs;
not distinguished, not judged.

The sage is indifferent.
All people are one;
not distinguished, not judged.

Infinity is like a bellows,
empty yet encompassing the potential
of all things.

In time all potentials manifest.

Words are straw in the wind.
The more one talks, the less one says.

Keep focused on Infinity.
Remain centered in the oneness of
all things."
-  Translated by John Worldpeace, Chapter 5  

Cloud Hands Blog

"Heaven and earth are impartial, they regard all creatures as sacred.
The self-controlled man is impartial, he regards all people as sacred.
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows.
Emptied, it loses not power,
Moved, it sends forth more and more wind.
Many words lead to exhaustion.
Be not thus; keep to thy center."
-  Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 5    

"Nature is not biased by anything,
Sees everything with equal potential.
Similarly, the Wise Person doesn't have preferences,
For him, everyone is seen equally.
The universe in infinite,
In it there is everything.
By moving, creates,
Moving more, more things appear.
Too much talking results in tiredness,
The best to keep is the middle way."
-  Translated by Sarbatoare, Chapter 5

"The subtle virtue of the universe is wholeness.
It regards all things as equal.
The virtue of the sage is wholeness.
He too regards all things as equal.
The universe may be compared to a bellows.
It is empty, yet it never fails to generate its products.
The more it moves, the more it brings forth.
Many words lead one nowhere.
Many pursuits in different directions bring only exhaustion.
Rather, embrace the subtle essence within."
-  Translated by Ni Hua-Ching, 1995, Chapter 5

"Heaven and Earth are not humane;
They regard the ten thousand things as straw dogs.
The Sage is not humane;
He regards the common people as straw dogs.
The space between Heave and Earth─is it not like a bellows?
It is empty and yet not depleted:
Move it and more always comes out.
Much learning means frequent exhaustion.
That's not so good as holding on to the mean."
-  Translated by Robert G. Henricks, 1989, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and Earth are not (willfully) benevolent
The myriad things are treated no differently
Than grass for dogs
Sages are not (willfully) benevolent
The hundred clans are treated no differently
Than grass for dogs

The gate of Heaven and Earth
Is it not like a bagpipe:
Empty yet not finished.
It moves, and again more is pushed forth

To speak countless words is worthless
This is not as good ad guarding balance within."
-  Translated by Dan G. Reid, 2016, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and Earth are not benevolent.
They treat all beings as straw dogs.
The sage is not benevolent.
He treats all other beings as straw dogs.
The space between Heaven and Earth
is like a bellows.
It is empty yet never exhausted,
always in motion,
yet always producing more.
Fewer words are better than many.
It is best to abide in our true nature."
-  Translated by Solala Towler, 2016, Chapter 5

"Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs;
the sage is ruthless, and treats the people as straw dogs.

Is not the space between heaven and earth like a bellows?
It is empty without being exhausted:
The more it works the more comes out.

Much speech leads inevitably to silence.
Better to hold fast to the void."
-  Translated by D. C. Lau, 1963, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and earth are not humane;
they regard all beings as straw dogs.
Sages are not humane;
they see all people as straw dogs..
The space between heaven and earth is like a bellows and pipes,
empty yet inexhaustible, producing more with each movement.
The talkative reach their wits' end again and again;
that is not as good as keeping centered."
-  Translated by Thomas Cleary, 1991, Chapter 5 

Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance   By Alexander Simkins

The Tao of Daily Life: The Mysteries of the Orient Revealed   By Derek Lin

Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony    By Ming-Dao Deng. 

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

The Tao of Pooh   By Benjamin Hoff. 

Scholar Warrior: An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life   By Ming-Dao Deng

Vitality, Energy, Spirit: A Taoist Sourcebook   Translated by Thomas Cleary

"Heaven and earth are not like humans, they are impartial.
They regard all things as insignificant, as though they were playthings made of straw.
The wise man is also impartial.
To him all men are alike and unimportant.
The space between heaven and earth is like a bellows,
It is empty but does not collapse,
It moves and more and more issues.
A gossip is soon empty, it is doubtful if he can be impartial."
-  Translated by Dwight Goddard and Henri Borel, 1919, Chapter 5     

A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 5 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching

天地不仁, 以萬物為芻狗.
聖人不仁, 以百姓為芻狗. 
天地之間, 其猶橐籥乎.
虛而不屈.
動而愈出. 
多言數窮.
不如守中. 
-  Chinese characters, Chapter 5, Tao Te Ching

t'ien ti pu jên, yi wan wu wei ch'u kou. 
shêng jên pu jên, yi pai hsing wei ch'u kou.
t'ien ti chih chien, ch'i yu t'o yo hu. 
hsü erh pu ch'u.
tung erh yü ch'u.
to yen shu ch'iung.
pu ju shou chung.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Chapter 5, Tao Te Ching

Audio Version in Chinese of Chapter 5 of the Tao Te Ching

tian di bu ren, yi wan wu wei chu gou.
sheng ren bu ren, yi bai xing wei chu gou.
tian di zhi jian, qi you tuo yue hu.
xu er bu qu.
dong er yu chu.
duo yan shu qiong.
bu ru shou zhong.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Chapter 5, Daodejing

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English (includes a word by word key) from YellowBridge

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 

Laozi Daodejing: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English. 

Chinese and English Dictionary, MDGB

Chinese Character Dictionary

Dao De Jing Wade-Giles Concordance by Nina, Dao is Open

Dao De Jing: English and Spanish and Wade-Giles Concordance   Indexing by Mike Garofalo.    GWR Hypertext Notebooks. 

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization with Chinese characters, WuWei Foundation

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English

Tao Te Ching: English translation, Word by Word Chinese and English, and Commentary, Center Tao by Carl Abbott

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, English, Word by word analysis, Zhongwen

Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition  Chinese characters, Wade-Giles Romanization, and a list of meanings for each character by Jonathan Star 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters: Big 5 Traditional and GB Simplified

Convert from Pinyin to Wade Giles to Yale Romanizations of Words and Terms: A Translation Tool from Qi Journal

Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanizations, and 25 English Translations for Each Chapter of the Daodejing.  Compiled and indexed by Mike Garofalo. 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin and Wade Giles Romanization spellings, English; a word for word translation of the Guodian Laozi Dao De Jing Version. 

Lao Zi's Dao De Jing: A Matrix Translation with Chinese Text by Bradford Hatcher. 

"Nature is not humane.
It treats all things like sacrificial objects.
The wise are not humane.
They regard people like sacrificial objects.
How the universe is like a bellows!
While empty, it is never exhausted.
The more it is worked, the more it produces.
Much talk brings exhaustion.
It is better to keep to the center."
-  Translated by Beck Sanderson, 1996, Chapter 5 

Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-Depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic  By Hu Xuzehi

Tao Te Ching  Annotated translation by Victor Mair  

Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation  By Ha Poong Kim

The Philosophy of the Daodejing  By Hans-Georg Moeller  

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation  By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall

The Way and Its Power: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought   By Arthur Waley

"Heaven and Earth are impartial;
They see the ten thousand things as straw dogs.
The wise are impartial;
They see the people as straw dogs.
The space between heaven and Earth is like a bellows.
The shape changes but not the form;
The more it moves, the more it yields.
More words count less.
Hold fast to the center."
-  Translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English, 1989, Chapter 5  

"The Sage does not take sides,
He welcomes both saints and sinners.
The Tao works upon man as it works upon the grasses of the fields.
Sages act out of the need for rightness, not purely compassion.
The Tao is like a bellows, even though it appears empty, its workings are obvious,
Yet the more you use it the more it produces, it is inexhaustible.
Yet speaking of it will not increase the comprehension.
Hold to the center path."
-  Translated by John Dicus, 2002, Chapter 5

"Nature is unkind:
It treats the creation like sacrificial straw-dogs.
The Sage is unkind:
He treats the people like sacrificial straw-dogs.

How the universe is like a bellows!
Empty, yet it gives a supply that never fails;
The more it is worked, the more it brings forth.

By many words is wit exhausted.
Rather, therefore, hold to the core."
-  Translated by Lin Yutang, 1955, Chapter 5

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2020 CCA 4.0

The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching   Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni

The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu   Translated by Brian Walker

Tao Te Ching  Translated by Arthur Waley

Tao - The Way   Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles

Taoism: An Essential Guide   By Eva Wong

"Heaven and Earth are ruthless;
To them the Ten Thousand things are but as straw dogs.
The Sage too is ruthless;
To him the people are but as straw dogs.
Yet Heaven and Earth and all that lies between
Is like a bellows
In that it is empty, but gives a supply that never fails.
Work it, and more comes out.
Whereas the force of words is soon spent.
Far better is it to keep what is in the heart."
-  Translated by Arthur Waley, 1934, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and Earth are not humane
For the ten-thousand things are taken to be straw dogs.
Sages are not humane
For the hundred clans are taken to be straw dogs.

The space between Heaven and Earth—
Its similarity to bellows and flutes?
Empty but not exhausted.
Use it and more and more is produced.

With too many words and ideas is distress.
This is not as good as staying in the middle."
-  Translated by Aalar Fex, 2006, Chapter 5 

"But for heaven and earth’s humaneness, the ten thousand things are straw dogs.
But for the holy man’s humaneness, the hundred families are straw dogs.
Is not the space between heaven and earth like unto a bellows?
It is empty; yet it collapses not.
It moves, and more and more comes forth.
But, how soon exhausted is
A gossip’s fulsome talk!
And should we not prefer
On the middle path to walk?”
-  Translated by D. T. Suzuki, 1913, Chapter 5 

Tao Te Ching  Translated by Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo  

Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching  Translated by John C. Wu

Lao-Tzu and the Tao-Te-Ching  Translated by Livia Kohn

Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way Translated by Moss Roberts

"Nature is non-benevolent.
It regards the masses as straw dogs.
The Holy Man is non-benevolent.
He regards the masses as straw dogs.
The space between the heaven and the earth is like a bellows;
though unsupported, it does not warp; when in motion the more it expels.
Though words could exhaust this theme, they would not be so profitable
As the preservation of its inner essence."
-  Translated by C. Spurgeon Medhurst, 1905, Chapter 5

"Nature is indifferent to life.
It realizes everything is as a straw dog
(a sacrificial animal-image).
The truly wise are also indifferent to life.
They realize humanity is as a straw dog.
The universe is like a bellows:
empty, yet quite full.
As it proceeds, it produces.
Much talk, much exhaustion.
Keep your thoughts within!"
-  Translated by C. Ganson, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and Earth do not claim to be kindhearted or pitiful.
To them all things and all creatures are as straw dogs
brought to the sacrifice and afterwards discarded.
Nor is the Sage kindhearted or pitiful.
To him to the people are as straw dogs.
But the space between Heaven and Earth may be likened to a bellows:
It seems empty, and yet it gives all that is required of it.
The more it is worked, the more it yields.
Whereas the force puffed up by words is soon exhausted.
Better to hold fast to that which dwells within the heart."
-  Translated by Herman Ould, 1946, Chapter 5 

Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching by Robert Meikyo Rosenbaum

The Tao of Zen by Ray Grigg

Tao Te Ching: Zen Teachings on the Taoist Classic by Takuan Soho 

Buddhism and Taoism Face to Face: Scripture, Ritual, and Iconographic Exchange in Medieval China by Christine Mollier  

"Nature, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs,
Faces the decay of its fruits.
A sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs,
Faces the passing of human generations.
The universe, like a bellows,
Is always emptying, always full:
The more it yields, the more it holds.
Men came to their wit's end arguing about it
And had better meet it at the marrow."
-  Translated by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 5

"Heaven and Earth are not sentimental; they regard all things as dispensable.
The sage isn't sentimental, either;
He views all forms as ephemeral and transitional.
Tao is like a bellows: empty but inexhaustible.
The more you move it the more it makes.
Too much talk about it evaporates your understanding, though.
Simply stay at the center of the circle."
-  Translated by Brian Browne Walker, 1996, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and earth are inhumane;
they view the myriad creatures as straw dogs.
The sage is inhumane;
he views the common people as straw dogs.
The space between heaven and earth, how like a bellows it is!
Empty but never exhausted,
The more it pumps, the more comes out.
Hearing too much leads to utter exhaustion;
Better to remain in the center."
-  Translated by Victor H. Mair, 1990, Chapter 5 

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2020 CCA 4.0

"Heaven and earth do not own their benevolence;
To them all things are straw dogs.
The Sage does not own his benevolence;
To him the people are straw dogs.

The space between heaven and earth is like a blacksmith's bellows.
Hollow as it seems, nothing is lacking.
If it is moved, more will it bring forth

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.
It is better to keep what is within himself."
-  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and Earth are not kindly;
They equate the ten thousand things with straw dogs.
The Sage is not kindly;
He equates the people with straw dogs.
The space between Heaven and Earth,
Is it not like a bellows?
It is hollow, yet it never fails to supply.
The more it is worked, the more it gives forth.
Much talk often leads to exhaustion.
Better concentrate on the center."
-  Translated by Henry Wei, 1982, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and Earth are impartial;
they treat all of creation as straw dogs.
The Master doesn't take sides;
she treats everyone like a straw dog.

The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows;
it is empty, yet has not lost its power.
The more it is used, the more it produces;
the more you talk of it, the less you comprehend.

It is better not to speak of things you do not understand."
-  Translated by John H. McDonald, 1996, Chapter 5  

"Himmel und Erde sind nicht gütig.
Ihnen sind die Menschen wie stroherne Opferhunde,
Der Berufene ist nicht gütig.
Ihm sind die Menschen wie stroherne Opferhunde.
Der Zwischenraum zwischen Himmel und Erde
ist wie eine Flöte,
leer und fällt doch nicht zusammen;
bewegt kommt immer mehr daraus hervor.
Aber viele Worte erschöpfen sich daran.
Besser ist es, das Innere zu bewahren."
-  Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 5

The Routledge Encyclopedia of Taoism

The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching   Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni

Practicing the Tao Te Ching: 81 Steps on the Way by Solala Towler

"Schöpferisches Unbekümmertsein

Das All kennt keine Liebe;
es schreitet über alles hinweg, als wäre es nichts.

Auch der Weyse kennt keine Liebe,
wie Menschen sie kennen;
natürliche Bande verpflichten ihn nicht.
(Denn mehr als Liebe ist, was im All und im Weysen wirkt.)

Wie des Schmiedes Blasebalg,
in sich leer, doch höchste Glut
und edelstes Schaffen ermöglicht,
wenn er im Innern bewegt wird,
so wirkt aus dem Nichts schöpferisch das All;
so wirkt der schweigende Mensch, der ledigen Gemüts ist.
Wer aber nicht schweigen kann, der erschöpft sich."
-  Translated by Rudolf Backofen, 1949, Chapter 5

"Heaven and Earth cannot be called benevolent letting all things emerge or perish of themselves.
The sage cannot be called benevolent letting all people live or die by themselves.
Isn't between Heaven and Earth like a bellows?
While vacuous, it is not inexhaustible;
The more it is drawn off, the more air it sends forth.
Much talk is doomed to a dead end,
It is better to keep to moderation."
-  Translated by Jiyu Ren, 1985, Chapter 5

Further Teachings of Lao-Tzu: Understanding the Mysteries (Wen Tzu)   Translated by Thomas Cleary

The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons   By Deng Ming-Dao

Awakening to the Tao   By Lui I-Ming (1780) and translated by Thomas Cleary

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo

Zhuangzi: The Essential Writings with Selections from Traditional Commentaries   Translation and commentary by Brook Ziporyn

"The ways which heaven and earth pursue are not benevolent,

They treat the myriad things as sacrificial dogs of grass,

And so the sages, comprehending nature's argument,

Regard the hundred families, too, as grass-dogs when they pass.

Heaven and earth a bellows are, which emptied from its strain

Collapses not, but moved again produces more and more,

But men who talk and talk exhaust themselves, and talk in vain,

And all unlikely are to keep the middle path secure."
-  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 5

"Neither Heaven nor Earth has any predilections;
they regard all persons and things as sacrificial images.
The wise man knows no distinctions;
he beholds all men as things made for holy uses.
The celestial space is like unto bellows though containing nothing that is solid,
it does not at any time collapse; and the more it is set in motion,
the more does it produce.
The inflated man, however, is soon exhausted.
Than self-restraint there is nothing better."
-  Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 5 

"Heaven and earth are Inhumane:
they use the ten thousand things like straw dogs.
And the sage too is Inhumane:
he uses the hundred-fold people like straw dogs.
Is all heaven and earth
really so much like a bellows-chamber?
It's empty but never contracts,
just keeps bringing forth more and more.
Words go on failing and failing, nothing like abiding in its midst."
-  Translated by David Hinton, Chapter 5  

"Le ciel et la terre n'ont point d'affection particulière.
Ils regardent toutes les créatures comme le chien de paille du sacrifice.
Le saint homme n'a point d'affection particulière; il regarde tout le peuple comme le chien de paille du sacrifice.
L'être qui est entre le ciel et la terre ressemble à un soufflet de forge qui est vide et ne s'épuise point,
que l'on met en mouvement et qui produit de plus en plus (du vent).
Celui qui parle beaucoup du Tao est souvent réduit au silence.
Il vaut mieux observer le milieu."
-  Translated by Stanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 5

Spanish Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing)
Tao Te Ching en Español

Lao Tsé Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Anton Teplyy

Tao Te Ching   Traducido por Stephen Mitchell, versión española  

Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por el Padre Carmelo Elorduy

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons   Consejos de Estilo de Vida de Sabios

Tao Te Ching en Español

Lao Tzu-The Eternal Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Yuanxiang Xu y Yongjian Yin 

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo    Maduración Duraznos: Estudios y Prácticas Taoístas por Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching - Wikisource

Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por William Scott Wilson. 

Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Javier Cruz

Tao te king   Translated by John C. H. Wu, , versión española  

Daodejing   Español, Inglés, y Chino Versiones Lingüísticas de la Daodejing

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

"El universo no tiene afecciones humanas:
todas las cosas del mundo son para él como un perro de paja.
El santo no tiene affeciones humanas;
el pueblo es para él como un perro de paja.

El universo es iqual que un fuelle de forja;
vacío, pero no aplanado.
Cuanto máa se le mueve, más exhala,
cuanto más se habla de él, menos se le comprende,
más vale insertarse en el."
-  Translated by Alba, 1998, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 5 

"El Universo es imparcial:
ve a las diez mil cosas como imitaciones.
El sabio es imparcial:
ve a la gente como simulaciones.
El universo es como un fuelle,
vacío, pero nunca agotado.
Cuanto más se mueve,
más produce.
De igual modo, Cuanto más cosas ambiciamos,
más pobres nos hacemos;
es mejor buscar el conocimiento interno."
-  Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 5

"El cielo y la tierra no son humanitarios.
Consideran a los diez mil seres como perros de paja.
El sabio no es humanitario.
Considera a las cien familias como perros de paja.

El espacio entre el cielo y la tierra
¡cómo se parece a un fuelle!
Se vacía y, con todo, no se extingue.
Se agita y , con todo, tanto más produce.

Con muchas palabras los métodos se agotan.
Nada es mejor que guardar fielmente el centro."
-  Translated by Álex Ferrara, 2003, Capítulo 5

"Cielo y tierra no son benevolentes; tratan las cosas del mundo como perros de paja.
El sabio no es benevolente; trata a las personas como perros de paja.
El espacio entre el cielo y la tierra es como un fuelle, exhala vacío sin cesar.
Cuanto más se mueve tanto más exhala.
Más se habla de él/ y menos se le alcanza.
Es mejor mantenerse en el centro."
-  Translation from Logia Medio Dia, 2015, Capítulo 5

"La Naturaleza no es amable;
Trata a todas las cosas imparcialmente.
El sabio no es amable;
Trata a toda la gente imparcialmente.
La Naturaleza es semejante a un fuelle;
Vacía, pero satisface todas las necesidades,
Cuanto más se mueve, más produce;
El sabio actúa de acuerdo al Tao de la misma forma
Y no puede ser agotado."
-  Translated by Antonio Rivas Gonzálvez, 1998, Capítulo 5 

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2020 CCA 4.0

Commentary, Notes, Links, Comparisons, Resources
Chapter 5

By Mike Garofalo

Lao-tzu's Taoteching  Translated by Red Pine (Bill Porter), 1996.  184 pages.  Includes many brief commentaries from in the past 2,000 years. 

Tao Te Ching: The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained.  By Stefan Stenudd.  CreateSpace Independent Pub., 2015.  320 pages.   

Tao Te Ching: A New Translation and Commentary.  By Ellen Chen.  Paragon House, 1998.  274 pages. 

The Whole Heart of Tao: The Complete Teachings From the Oral Tradition of Lao Tzu. By John Bright-Fey.  Crane Hill Publishers, 2006.  376 pages.

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation  By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall.  Ballantine, 2003, 256 pages. 

Return to the Top of this Webpage

Next Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #6

Previous Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #4

Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching 

Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 5

Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse.  Complete versions of all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching by many different translators in many languages: 124 English, 24 German, 14 Russian, 7 Spanish, 5 French and many other languages.  Links are organized first by languages, and then alphabetically by translators.  Formatting varies somewhat.  The original website at Onekellotus went offline in 2012; but, the extensive collection of these Tao Te Ching versions was saved for posterity by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and available as of 9/9/2015.  This is an outstanding original collection of versions of the Daodejing─ the Best on the Internet.  Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website. 

Tao Te Ching, Translations into English: Terebess Asia Online (TAO).  124 nicely formatted complete English language translations, on separate webpages, of the Daodejing.  Alphabetical index by translators.  Each webpage has all 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching translated into English.  A useful collection!  Many reformatted and colored versions from the original collection at Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse.  Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website. 

Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts (Classics of Ancient China) Translated with and introduction and detailed exposition and commentary by Professor Robert G. Henricks.  New York, Ballantine Books, 1992.  Includes Chinese characters for each chapter.  Bibliography, detailed notes, 282 pages. 

Early Daoist Scriptures.  Translated by Stephen R. Bokenkamp.  Peter Nickerson, Contributor.  Berkeley, University of California Press, Revised Edition, 1999.  520 pages.  This compilation includes a translation of "The Xiang'er Commentary to the Laozi," pages 78-148, with a long introduction to the same, pages 29-78.  Scholars think this document was created in the late 5th century, CE.  It was discovered in Buddhist Grottos in 1920, but parts were missing. 

Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition  By Jonathan Star.  Translation, commentary and research tools.  New York, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Penguin, 2001.  Concordance, tables, appendices, 349 pages.  A new rendition of the Tao Te Ching is provided, then a verbatim translation with extensive notes.  Detailed tables for each verse provide line number, all the Chinese characters, Wade-Giles Romanization, and a list of meanings for each character.  An excellent print reference tool! 

Chinese Reading of the Daodejing  Wang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi with Critical Text and Translation.  By Professor Rudolf G. Wagner.  A SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture.  English and Mandarin Chinese Edition.  State University of New York Press; Bilingual edition (October 2003).  540 pages.  Wang Bi (Wang Pi, Fusi), 226-249 CE, Commentary on the Tao Te Ching.

Lao-Tzu: My Words are Very Easy to Understand.  Lectures on the Tao Teh Ching by Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing (1902-1975).  Translated from the Chinese by Tam C. Gibbs, 1981.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1981, 1991.  240 pages.  Includes the Chinese characters for each of the 81 Chapters.  A brief biography of Professor Cheng is included.  Professor Cheng was a Master of Five Excellences: Taijiquan, Painting, Poetry ...  Taijiquan and Qigong are  considered Daoist practices. 

The Teachings of Lao-Tzu: The Tao Te Ching.  Translation, commentary, and notes by Paul Carus, 1913.  New York, St. Martin's Press, 2000.  D.T. Suzuki worked and studied with Paul Carus around 1905 in Illinois, and translated together their version the Tao Te Ching.   

Daodejing by Laozi: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English.  This is an outstanding resource for serious students of the Tao Te Ching. 

The New Lao Tzu: A Contemporary Tao Te Ching.  By Ray Grigg.  Interpretation, comments, notes by Ray Grigg.  Tuttle, 1995.  187 pages.  

The Tao and Method: A Reasoned Approach to the Tao Te Ching.  A translation and commentary by Professor Michael Lafargue.  New York, SUNY Press, 1994.  640 pages.  Detailed index, bibliography, notes, and tables.  An essential research tool. 

The Tao of the Tao Te Ching.  A Translation and Commentary by Profesor Michael LaFargue.  State University of New York Press, 1992.  Detailed glossary, extensive bibliography, 270 pages. This translation is based on the oldest version ( 168 BCE) of the Tao Te Ching found in King Ma's tomb - the famous Magwandali manscript.  81 Chapters arranged in a topical order by the author.

Two Visions of the Way: A Study of the Wang Pi and the Ho-Shang Kung Commentaries on the Lao-Tzu.  By Professor by Alan Kam-Leung Chan.   SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture.  State University of New York Press, 1991.  Index, bibliography, glossary, notes, 314 pages. 

Tao Te Ching  Translated with commentary by D. C. Lau.  Addison Wesley, Reprint Edition, 2000.  192 pages. 

The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi.  Translated by Richard John Lynn.  Translations from the Asian Classics Series.  New York, Columbia University Press, 1999.  Extensive index, glossaries, notes, 244 pages. 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 

Tao Te Ching: Annotated and Explained.  Translation and Annotation by Derek Lin.  Foreword by Lama Surya Das.  "An inspiring, precise translation of the ancient Chinese wisdom classic─ with facing-page commentary that brings the text to life for you."  Woodstock, Vermont, 2006, 2010.  167 pages.   

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons 

The Taoism Reader  By Thomas Cleary.  Shambhala, 2012.  192 pages.

Tao Te Ching: A New Translation and Commentary.  By Ellen M. Chen.  Paragon House, 1989.  Detailed glossary, index, bibliography, notes, 274 pages.  A substantial commentary and fine translation.  One of my favorites. 

Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao  By Wayne W. Dyer.  Hay House, Reprint Edition, 2009.  416 pages. 

The Routledge Encyclopedia of Taoism.  Edited by Fabrizio Pregadio.  London, Taylor and Francis Group, Routledge, 2008, 2011. 2 Volumes, 1551 pages.

Lao Tzu's Tao Teh Ching, A Parallel Translation Collection. Compiled by B. Boisen. 

Tao Te Ching: The Book of the Way.  Revised by Sam Torode based on the translation by Dwight Goddard, 1919. Independent Pub., 2009, 88 pages. 

Tao Te Ching: Annotated and Explained.  By Derek Lin.  Foreword by Lama Surya Das.  Skylight Illuminations, SkyLight Paths, 2006.  208 pages. 

Comparison and Analysis of Selected English Interpretations of the Tao Te Ching.  By Damian J. Bebell and Shannon M. Fera. 

Practicing the Tao Te Ching: 81 Steps on the Way.  By Solala Towler.  Foreword by Chunglang Al Huang.  Sounds True, 2016.  320 pages.

One Old Philosopher's Notebooks  Research, reading, and reflections by Mike Garofalo.

Concordance for the Daodejing   Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo in 2011.  Updated indexing in 2020 of one Chapter each week. 

Yellow Bridge Dao De Jing Comparison Table   Provides side by side comparisons of translations of the Tao Te Ching by James Legge, D. T. Suzuki, and Dwight Goddard.  Chinese characters for each paragraph in the Chapter are on the left; place your cursor over the Chinese characters to see the Pinyin Romanization of the Chinese character and a list of meanings. 

Translators Index, Tao Te Ching Versions in English, Translators Sorted Alphabetically by Translator, Links to Books and Online Versions of the Chapters 

Taoism and the Tao Te Ching: Bibliography, Resources, Links

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching, Daodejing en Español, Translators Index 

The Philosophy of the Daodejing  By Hans-Georg Moeller.  Columbia University Press, 2006, 176 pages.  

Valley Spirit, Gu Shen, Concept, Chapter 6   Valley Spirit Center in Red Bluff, California.   Sacred Circle in the Gushen Grove. 

Lao-tzu's Taoteching  Translated by Red Pine (Bill Porter).  Provides a solid verbatim translation and shows the text in Chinese characters.  Includes around 10 brief selected commentaries for each Chapter of the Taoteching, drawn from commentaries in the past 2,000 years.  San Francisco, Mercury House, 1996, Second Edition, 184 pages.  An invaluable resource for brief commentaries.   

The Way and Its Power: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought.  By Arthur Waley, 1889-1966.  Translation and commentary by Arthur Waley in 1934.  Part of the UNESCO collection of representative works, 1994.  Grove Press, First Edition, 1994.  262 pages.

Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation  By Ha Poong Kim.  Xlibris, 2003, 198 pages. 

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation  By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall.  Ballantine, 2003, 256 pages. 

Thematic Index to the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching

Epicurean and Stoicism in Hellenistic Philosophy  

Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living.  Translated by Eva Wong.  Lieh-Tzu was writing around 450 BCE.  Boston, Shambhala, 2001.  Introduction, 246 pages. 

Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic.  By Hu Huezhi.  Edited by Jesse Lee Parker.  Seven Star Communications, 2006.  240 pages. 

Cloud Hands Blog   Mike Garofalo writes about Mind-Body Arts, Philosophy, Taoism, Gardening, Taijiquan, Walking, Mysticism, Qigong, and the Eight Ways.

The Whole Heart of Tao: The Complete Teachings From the Oral Tradition of Lao Tzu. By John Bright-Fey.  Crane Hill Publishers, 2006.  376 pages.

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching