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

Chapter 61

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu

English and Chinese (Wade-Giles) Terms: The Virtue of Humility, Stillness, Great or Large (ta), Great States Need to Acquiesce, Below or Under (hsia), Receptivity, Quietude, Female (p'in), Passivity is Power, Serving, Male (mu), Adequate Food, Boundary (pu kuo), Humility, Large Country, Stillness (ching), Small Country, Motherhood, Abasement, Bending, Condescension, Sea, State or Country (kuo), Wife, Constant or Always (ch'ang), Water, Low Lying (hsia), Submission, River or Delta (liu), Unite or Converge (chiao), Win or Capture (ch'ü), Acquiescence, Compromise, Cooperate, Heaven (t'ien hsia), People (jên), Overcomes or Conquers (shêng), Join or Annex (chien), Feed (hsü), Obtain or Get (tê), Rightly or Properly (yi), Nation, Want or Wish (yü), Benefits, Government, Politics, International Relations, Lowering (hsia), Diplomacy, Service (shih), Unity, Peace, 謙德

Términos en Español: La Virtud de la humildad, Quietud, Receptividad, Hembra, La pasividad es Poder, Mujer, Servir, Masculino, Comida, Límite, Humildad, Grande País, Pequeño País, Maternidad, Humillación, Doblado, Condescendencia, Mar, Estado, Esposa, Agua, Bajo, Ŕio, Sumisión, Aquiescencia, Compromiso, Cooperar, Cielo, Personas, Nación, Beneficios, Gobierno, Política, Relaciones Internacionales, Bajada, Diplomacia, Servicio, Unidad, Paz, Grande, Abajo, Bajo, Mujer, Ganar, Captura, Ingreso, Anexo, Obtener, Get, Razón, Correctamente, Flujo, Converbger, Delta.

"A great state, one that lowly flows, becomes the empire's union, and the empire's wife.
The wife always through quietude conquers her husband, and by quietude renders herself lowly.
Thus a great state through lowliness toward small states will conquer the small states,
And small states through lowliness toward great states will conquer great states.
Therefore some render themselves lowly for the purpose of conquering;
Others are lowly and therefore conquer.
A great state desires no more than to unite and feed the people;
A small state desires no more than to devote itself to the service of the people;
Both may obtain their wishes, the greater one must stoop."
- Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 61

"A great state is downstream.
It is the converging point of the water of All-under-heaven.
It is the female of All-under-heaven.
The female always overcomes the male by stillness; by stillness she is underneath.
Therefore, by getting beneath a little state, a great state gains a little one,
and by abasing itself to a great state, a little state gains a big one.
The one gains by becoming low, the other by being low.
A great state only wishes to unite men and feed them;
a little state only wishes to be received and to serve others.
So that each shall get what is wishes, the great must become low."
- Translated by Jan J. L. Duyvendak, 1954, Chapter 61

"What makes a great state is its being like a low-lying, down-flowing stream;
It becomes the centre to which tend all the small states under heaven.
To illustrate from the case of all females:
The female always overcomes the male by her stillness.
Stillness may be considered a sort of abasement.
Thus it is that a great state, by condescending to small states, gains them for itself;
And that small states, by abasing themselves to a great state, win it over to them.
In the one case the abasement leads to gaining adherents, in the other case to procuring favor.
The great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them;
A small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other.
Each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself."
- Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 61

"A large state is down stream (hsia liu).
Where the rivers under heaven (t'ien hsia) converge,
Is the female (p'in) under heaven.
The female always wins the male (mou) by stillness (ching),
By stillness it is low-lying (hsia).
Therefore, by being low-lying (hsia) to a small state,
A large state acquires (ch'ü) a small state.
By lowering (hsia) itself to a large state,
A small state acquires a large state.
The one acquires by being low-lying (hsia),
The other acquires by lowering (hsia).
A large state without overstepping its boundary (pu kuo),
Wishes to keep others under its wings.
A small state without overstepping its boundary (pu kuo),
Wishes to offer service to others.
Now both are granted their proper wishes,
It is fitting that a large state takes the low (hsia) place."
- Translated Ellen Marie Chen, 1989, Chapter 61

A great country is like the lowland toward which all streams flow.
It is the Reservoir of all under heaven, the Feminine of the world.
The Feminine always conquers the Masculine by her quietness, by lowering herself through her quietness.
Hence, if a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win over the small country;
And if a small country can lower itself before a great country, it will win over the great country.
The one wins by stooping; the other, by remaining low.
What a great country wants is simply to embrace more people;
And what a small country wants is simply to come to serve its patron.
Thus, each gets what it wants.
But it behooves a great country to lower itself."
- Translated by John C. H. Wu, 1961, Chapter 61

"A big country may be compared to the lower part of a river.
It is the converging point of the world;
It is the female of the world.
The female always overcomes the male by tranquility,
And by tranquility she is underneath.
A big state can take over a small state if it places itself below the small state;
And the small state can take over a big state if it places itself below the big state.
Thus some, by placing themselves below, take over others,
And some, by being naturally low, take over other states.
After all, what a big state wants is but to annex and herd others,
And what a small state wants is merely to join and serve others.
Since both big and small states get what they want,
The big state should place itself low."
- Translated by Wing-Tsit Chan, 1963, Chapter 61

"A great country is like a low-lying lake where many rivers converge;
A focal point for the Earth, the feminine Spirit of the World.
The female always overcomes the male by stillness.
Stillness is the lowest position.
Therefore a big country, By placing itself below a smaller country
Will win the smaller country.
And a small country, By placing itself below a larger country
Will gain the large country.
Therefore, by being humble, one gains
And the other, being humble already, also gains.
A great country needs to embrace the lowly.
The small country needs to serve others.
Thus, both needs are satisfied
And each gets what it wants.
Remember, the great country should always humble itself."
- Translated by John R. Mabry, 1994, Chapter 61

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

see yourself as a great river
identify wit the fountainhead in the mountains
identify with the watercourse across the land
identify with the emptying into the great sea

rest peacefully within the shape of
an empty vessel
blanketing your bodymind with stillness

see the great river within you
see the great river beneath you
see the great river above you
see yourself as small within the great river

the great and the small have no meaning
on their own
because they are the same thing

and the original self
will appear."
- Translated by John Bright-Fey, 2006, Chapter 61

"A great nation is low, like a river delta,
where all the waters gather.
It is mother of the world.
The female overcomes the male with stillness,
Becomes the foundation by being still.
Thus a great nation should always place itself below a small one."
- Translated by Ned Ludd, Chapter 61

"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."
- Translated by Edwin Shaw, 1996, Chapter 61

In all things under heaven
the female overcomes the male by her stillness,
and because she is still she lies below.

Hence, if the great country will take the low place
it will win over the little country.
If the little country will take the low place
it will win over the great country.

Thus, the one gets below and prospers
and the other remains below and prospers.
All that the great country wants is more people.
All that the little country wants is a place
for its people to go and to be employed.
If each is to get what it wants
it is necessary for the great country
to take the low place."
- Translated by Tolbert McCarroll, 1982, Chapter 61

"A large state is like a low-lying estuary,
the female of all under heaven.
In the congress of all under heaven,
the female always conquers the male through her stillness.
Because she is still, it is fitting for her to lie low.

By lying beneath a small state,
a large state can take over a small state.
By lying beneath a large state,
a small state can be taken over by a large state.
Therefore,
One may either take over or be taken over by lying low.

Therefore,
The large state wishes only to annex and nurture others;
The small state wants only to join with and serve others.
Now,
Since both get what they want,
It is fitting for the large state to lie low."
- Translated by Victor H. Mair, 1990, Chapter 61

"A great country is like a low-lying estuary,
A place where the myriad streams of the world come together.
She is also like a receptive female drawing in an eager male.
The female always conquers the male through her stillness,
Because she knows how to lie low through her stillness.
Thus,
a great country can win over a small country by lying low.
A small country can also win over a great country by lying low.
Therefore, one may either win over or be won over by taking the lower position.
A great country only wants to embrace and nourish more people.
A small country only wants to be embraced and serve her benefactor.
Thus, both can achieve their ends by practicing humility.
Therefore, especially a great country must practice humility."
- Translated by Yasuhiko Genku Kimura, Chapter 61

"A great country is like a low-lying land into which many streams flow.
It draws powerful energies to it as a receptive woman draws an eager man.
The feminine can always conquer the masculine by yielding and taking the lower position.
In this way she becomes as low-lying land: in time, everything comes her way.
Therefore a great country can win over a small country by practicing humility.
A small country can also win over a great country by practicing humility.
One wins by willingly taking the lower position.
The other wins by willingly acknowledging its lower position.
The great country wants to embrace and nourish more people.
The small country wants to ably serve its benefactor.
Both accomplish their ends by yielding."
- Translated by Brian Browne Walker, 1996, Chapter 61

"A great state that is useful is like a bond of unity within the Empire; it is the Empire's wife.
The female controls the male by her quietude and submission.
Thus a great state by its service to smaller states wins their allegiance.
A small state by submission to a great state wins an influence over them.
Thus some stoop to conquer, and others stoop and conquer.
Great states can have no higher purpose than to federate states and feed the people.
Small states can have no higher purpose than to enter a federation and serve the people.
Both alike, each in his own way, gain their end, but to do so, the greater must practice humility."
- Translated by Dwight Goddard, 1919, Chapter 61

A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 61 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching

大國者下流.
天下之交.
天下之牝.
牝常以靜勝牡.
以靜為下, 故大國以下小國.
則取小國.
小國以下大國, 則取大國.
故或下以取.
或下而取.
大國不過欲兼畜人.
小國不過欲入事人.
夫兩者各得其所欲.
大者宜為下.
- Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 61

ta kuo chê hsia liu.
t'ien hsia chih chiao.
t'ien hsia chih p'in.
p'in ch'ang yi ching shêng mu.
yi ching wei hsia, ku ta kuo yi hsia hsiao kuo.
tsê ch'ü hsiao kuo.
hsiao kuo yi hsia ta kuo, tsê ch'ü ta kuo.
ku huo hsia yi ch'ü.
huo hsia erh ch'ü.
ta kuo pu kuo yü chien hsü jên.
hsiao kuo pu kuo yü ju shih jên.
fu liang chê ko tê ch'i so yü.
ta chê yi wei hsia.
- Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 61

da guo zhe xia liu.
tian xia zhi jiao.
tian xia zhi pin.
pin chang yi jing sheng mu.
yi jing wei xia, gu da guo yi xia xiao guo.
ze qu xiao guo.
xia guo yi xia da guo, ze qu da guo.
gu huo xia yi qu.
huo xia er qu.
da guo bu guo yu jian xu ren.
xiao guo bu guo yu ru shi ren.
fu liang zhe ge de qi suo yu.
da zhe yi wei xia.
- Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 61

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

Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition Chinese characters, Wade-Giles (1892) Romanization, and a list of meanings for each character by Jonathan Star

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

"The great country may be compared to a low-lying lake where many rivers converge;
it is the mixing place of the world, the reservoir of all under heaven... the Feminine of the world.
Femininity always overcomes Masculinity, by stillness,
her tranquility gives rise to her humility.
Thus it is that the great country can win over the small country by this practicing of stillness and humility.
And the small state by the practice of humility and deference to the large country
can gain the large country and become one with it.
So it is said that by practice of quiescence and humility the great can absorb and conquer the small without effort,
and the small and insignificant can gain riches and treasure by submitting to the great.
The great state wishes to keep and nourish its people, and help others.
The small state wishes to help its people by joining with the peace and strength of the larger state.
Both states get what they wish by submitting.
Greatness lies in placing oneself below."
- Translated by John Dicus, 2002, Chapter 61

"A state becometh powerful when it resembleth a great river, deep-seated;
to it tend all the small streams under Heaven.

It is as with the female, that conquereth the male by her Silence.
Silence is a form of Gravity.

Thus a great state attracteth small states by meeting their views, and
small states attract the great state by revering its eminence. In the
first case this Silence gaineth supporters; in the second, favour.

The great state uniteth men and nurtureth them; the small state wisheth
the good will of the great, and offereth service; thus each gaineth its
advantage. But the great state must keep Silence."
- Translated (Interpolated) by Aleister Crowley, 1918, Chapter 61

"A large country should take the low place like a great watershed,
which from its low position assumes the female role.
The female overcomes the male by the power of her position.
Her tranquility gives rise to her humility.

If a large country takes the low position,
it will be able to influence smaller countries.
If smaller countries take the lower position,
then they can allow themselves to be influenced.
So both seek to take the lower position
in order to influence the other, or be influenced.

Large countries should desire to protect and help the people,
and small countries should desire to serve others.
Both large and small countries benefit greatly from humility."
- Translated by John H. McDonald, 1996, Chapter 61

"A great state is the worlds low-stream (to which all the river flows down), the world's field and the world's female.
The female always conquers the male by quietude, which is employed as a means to lower oneself.
Thus a great state lowers itself towards a small state before it takes over the small state.
A small state lowers itself towards a great state before it takes over the great state.
Therefore some lower themselves to take, while some lower themselves to gather.
A great state wishes nothing more than to have and keep many people,
and a small state wishes nothing more than to get more things to do.
When the two both mean to obtain their wishes, the greater one should lower itself."
- Translated by Ta-Kao Ch'u, 1904, Chapter 61

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

"To be great, a state must be passively receptive,
like the ocean which accepts whatever the rivers bring into it,
or like the feminine which always submits to the masculine.
Recall how the female always overcomes the male by means of her passivity.
Passivity is submissiveness.
Thus, the great state places itself at the service of a small state before before it absorbs the small state.
And a small state must serve the interests of the great state before it can be taken into the great state.
Hence, some submit in order to take, while others submit in order to be taken.
When a great state desires to have more people, and a small state desires to be protected,
it is by submission that both obtain what they desire."
- Translated by Archie J. Bahm, 1958, Chapter 61

"A great country is lowly.
Everything under heaven blends with it.
It is like the female, which at all times and in every place overcomes the male by her quietude.
Than quietude there is nothing that is more lowly.
Therefore a great state gains the smaller state by yielding;
while the smaller state wins the greater by submission.
In the one case lowliness gains adherents, in the other it procures favours.
For a strong state there is no safer ambition than to desire to gather men and care from them;
and for the weaker state there is nothing better than the ambition to become an indispensable servant.
When each obtains what each desires the strongest should be the humblest."
- Translated by C. Spurgeon Medhurst, 1905, Chapter 61

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

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"A large country is the low level of interflowing rivers.
It draws people to the sea-end of a valley
As the female draws the male,
Receives it into absorbing depth
Because depth always absorbs.
And so a large country, inasfar as it is deeper than a small country,
Absorbs the small-
Or a small country, inasfar as it is deeper than a large country,
Absorbs the large.
Some countnes consciously seek depth into which to draw others.
Some countries naturally have depth into which to draw others:
A large country needs to admit,
A small country needs to emit,
And so each country can naturally have what it needs
If the large country submit."
- Translated by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 61

"A big state puts itself in the low place:
It is the focal point of the world
And the female of the world.
The female constantly wins over the male by her tranquility.
Tranquility is regarded as the low place;
Therefore, a big state, by lowering itself beneath a small state,
Can have the small state.
The small state, by lowering itself beneath a big state,
Can be taken to the big state's heart.
Therefore, one puts itself low to take,
and the other puts itself low to be accepted.
The big state wants only to embrace more people;
The small state wants only to join and serve the big state;
Thus, both have satisfied their needs.
The big one is right to put itself in the low place."
- Translated by Yi Wu, Chapter 61

"A great kingdom is like the mouth of rivers; it is like the female, or the hub of the world.
Females frequently win males with their serenity.
Serenity means humbleness.
Therefore when a great kingdom is humble, it wins small kingdoms.
When a small kingdom is humble, it wins great kingdoms.
This is why with humbleness one can win and will win.
A great kingdom should not excessively conquer.
A small kingdom should avoid undue vassalage.
In order for both great and small kingdoms to have their wishes,
it is better for great kingdoms to be humble."
- Translated by Thomas Zhang, Chapter 61

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"A large state is like low-lying land where the flowing waters meet:
The female of the world.
It is the stillness of the feminine which overcomes the masculine.
Keeping still is to keep to the lower position.
Therefore the large state can conquer the small state by giving way to the small state.
And the small state can conquer the large state by submitting to the large state.
Thus, in order to conquer one must yield,
And those who conquer do so by yielding.
Since the large state wishes to take in more people,
And the small state wishes to serve the people,
Both have their wishes met.
It is right for a large state to yield."
- Translated by Keith H. Seddon, Chapter 61

"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."
- Translated by Stephen Mitchell, 1988, Chapter 61

"A great state is the worlds low-stream (to which all the river flows down), the world's field and the world's female.
The female always conquers the male by quietude, which is employed as a means to lower oneself. Thus a great state lowers itself towards a small state before it takes over the small state.
A small state lowers itself towards a great state before it takes over the great state.
Therefore some lower themselves to take, while some lower themselves to gather.
A great state wishes nothing more than to have and keep many people, and a small state wishes nothing more than to get more things to do.
When the two both mean to obtain their wishes, the greater one should lower itself."
- Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 61

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"A great country is like low-lying land
into which all rivers flow.
It is the meeting place of everything upon the earth,
the female of the world.

The female can always overcome the male by stillness,
by taking up a lower place.
And so by taking up a lower place,
a great country can win over a smaller one.

By taking up a lower place,
a small country can win over a greater one.
The one wins by becoming low,
the other wins by remaining low.

A great country wants nothing more
than to unite and feed its people.
A small country wants nothing more
than to come and serve its people.

Both get what they desire,
but it is fitting that the greater should abase itself."
- Translated by Tim Chilcott, 2005, Chapter 61

"A great nation flows downward into intercourse with the world.
The female of the world always prevails over the male by stillness.
Because stillness is considered lower,
By lowering itself to a small nation a great nation takes a small nation;
By being lower than a great nation a small nation takes a gret nation.
So one takes by lowering itself, another takes place by being lower.
A great nation wants no more than to include and nurture people;
A small nation ants no more than to admit and serve people.
Both get what they want, so the great should be below."
- Translated by Thomas Cleary, 1991, Chapter 61

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

"A great kingdom, lowly like running water, is the Meeting-place of the world.
It is the feminine quality of the world.
The feminine quality always overcomes the masculine by stillness.
In order to be still, we must become lowly.
Therefore, if a great kingdom is lowly towards a little kingdom it will take possession of the little kingdom.
If a little kingdom is lowly towards a great kingdom it will take possession of the great kingdom.
So one becomes lowly in order to conquer,
The other is lowly and yet it conquers.
If a great kingdom only desires to unify and nourish men,
If a small kingdom only desires to enter in and serve men,
Then the Master, in each case, shall obtain his desire.
He who is great ought to be lowly."
- Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 61

"One who is like a large nation is like the lowest depths of a river.
Like a female to everything in the world.
Like the unifier of everything in the world.
A female always uses stillness to subdue a male.
That which becomes still finds its proper place is to remain below.
Therefore, when a large nation remains below a small nation, it can capture the small nation.
When a small nation remains below a large nation, it can be captured by the large nation.
Therefore, perhaps what is below takes over, or perhaps what is below is taken over.
Therefore, one who is like a large nation merely wants to bring together and nurture people;
A small nation merely wants to enter into an involvement with people.
Eventually everyone ends up getting what they want.
As a result, one who is great finds their proper place is to remain below."
- Translated by Nina Correa, 2005, Chapter 61

But to do this the great one must bend."
- Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 61

"Big nations should be like a stream that flows low.
In relating to other nations under heaven.
They should be like a female animal.
Female animals often lie low and still.
By doing so they win over male animals.

Big nations that take on a lower profile than small nations
will win the adherence of small nations.
Small nations that take on a lower profile than big nations
will win the assistance from the big nations.
Big nations keep low and get what they want.
Small nations keep low and get what they want.
Big nations with an abundance of land want to have
a bigger population.
Small nations with a shortage of land want to have more jobs.

If big nations keep low, both the needs of big nations
and those of the small will be fulfilled."
- Translated by Lok Snag Ho, 2002, Chapter 61

"Indem ein großes Reich sich stromabwärts hält, wird es die Vereinigung der Welt.
Es ist das Weibliche der Welt.
Das Weibliche siegt immer durch seine Stille über das Männliche.
Durch seine Stille hält es sich unten.
Wenn so das große Reich sich unter das kleine stellt, so gewinnt es dadurch das kleine Reich.
Wenn das kleine Reich sich unter das große stellt, so wird es dadurch von dem großen Reich gewonnen.
So wird das eine dadurch, daß es sich unten hält, gewinnen, und das andere dadurch, daß es sich unten hält, gewonnen.
Das große Reich will nichts anderes als die Menschen vereinigen und nähren.
Das kleine Reich will nichts anderes als sich beteiligen am Dienst der Menschen.
So erreicht jedes, was es will; aber das große muß unten bleiben."
- Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 61

"Gegenseitige Hilfsbereitschaft der Staaten
Ein großes Reich soll wie ein tiefes Talbecken sein
(in das die Flüße strömen):
Heimat der Völker, Mutter der kleinen Länder.
So wie im Menschenleben
das Weibliche immer das Männliche
durch seine Empfänglichkeit
und sein Sichfügen bändigt,
bändigt im Staatsleben immer der Staat den andern,
der für den andern empfänglich ist.
Empfänglichkeit ist immer Überlegensein,
gleichgültig, ob der Staat groß oder klein ist.
Wenn der große Staat nichts will,
als nur alles zu einen und zu fördern,
und der kleine Staat, ebenso alles fördern wollend,
auch nur das Gesamtwohl sieht,
so gewinnen in dieser ständigen Bereitschaft füreinanderbeide Mächte.
Wahre Größe offenbart sich immer und überall
nur in tiefer Empfänglichkeit und gütiger Hilfe."
- Translated by Rudolf Backofen, 1949, Chapter

"A large country is the low level of interflowing rivers.
It draws people to the sea-end of a valley
As the female draws the male,
Receives it into absorbing depth
Because depth always absorbs.
And so a large country, insofar as it is deeper than a small country,
Absorbs the small-
Or a small country, insofar as it is deeper than a large country,
Absorbs the large.
Some countries consciously seek depth into which to draw others.
Some countries naturally have depth into which to draw others:
A large country needs to admit,
A small country needs to emit,
And so each country can naturally have what it needs
If the large country submit."
- Translated by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 61

"The kingdom, like a river, becomes great by being lowly; it is thereby the centre to which all the world tends.
It is similar in the case of woman:
She conquers man by continual quietness.
And quietness is the same as submission.
Therefore a great state, by condescension to those beneath it, may gain the government of them.
Likewise a small state, by submission to one that is greater, may secure its alliance.
Thus the one gains adherence, and the other obtains favours.
Although the great state desires to annex and to nourish others, yet the small state desires to be allied to and serve the greater.
Thus both will be satisfied, if only the greater will condescend."
- Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 61

"A great nation flows down To be the world's pool,
The female under heaven In stillness
The female constantly overcomes the male,
In stillness Takes the low place.
Therefore a great nation Lowers itself
And wins over a small one.
A small nation keeps itself low
And wins over a great one.
Sometimes becoming low wins,
Sometimes staying low wins.
A great nation desires nothing more
Than to unite and protect people.
A small nation desires nothing more
Than to enter the service of people.
When both get what they wish
The great one should be low."
- Translated by Stephen Addis, 1993, Chapter 61

"A great nation is like a down-stream - the feminine to the world, the rendezvous of the world.
The feminine frequently wins over the masculine with serenity.
Serenity is obsequiousness.
Thus,
a great nation, obsequious to a small nation, gains the small nation;
a small nation, obsequious to a great nation, gains the great nation.
Thus, one is obsequious in order to gain.
Or, one is obsequious because it needs to gain.
A great nation is not to be too keen on conquering.
A small nation is not to be too keen on acquiescing.
Since each gains what each desires, it is better for the great nation to be obsequious."
- Translated by David H. Li, Chapter 61

"Un grand royaume doit s'abaisser comme les fleuves et les mers, où se réunissent (toutes les eaux de) l'empire.
Dans le monde, tel est le rôle de la femelle.
En restant en repos, elle triomphe constamment du mâle.
Ce repos est une sorte d'abaissement.
C'est pourquoi, si un grand royaume s'abaisse devant les petits royaumes, il gagnera les petits royaumes.
Si les petits royaumes s'abaissent devant un grand royaume, ils gagneront le grand royaume.
C'est pourquoi les uns s'abaissent pour recevoir, les autres s'abaissent pour être reçus.
Ce que désire uniquement un grand royaume, c'est de réunir et de gouverner les autres hommes.
Ce que désire uniquement un petit royaume, c'est d'être admis à servir les autres hommes.
Alors tous deux obtiennent ce qu'ils désiraient.
Mais les grands doivent s'abaisser !"
- Translated by Stanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 61

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

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

"Un gran reino es como un cauce profundo
hacia el que todo fluye.
Es como la hembra del mundo.
La hembra,
domina al macho al mostrarse cautelosa con él.
un gran reino, mostrándose cauteloso,
adquiere un reino pequeño.
Un reino pequeño, mostrándose cauteloso,
adquiere un gran reino.
Por lo tanto, uno adquiere mostrándose cauteloso,
el otro adquiere mostrándose cauteloso.
Un gran reino, sin sobrepasar sus fronteras,
reúne a todos y los nutre.
Un reino pequeño, sin sobrepasar sus fronteras,
sirve a la gente.
Asi, ambos reciben lo que desean.
Para provecho de ambos y el logro de sus deseos,
el más grande debe mostrarse cauteloso."
- Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 61

"Un gran país es como una tierra baja:
es el encuentro del universo,
la madre del universo.

A lo femenino se sobrepone lo masculino con quietud,
yaciendo debajo,en quietud.

Por lo tanto, si un gran país da lugar a un país pequeño,
conquistará al pequeño país y
si uno pequeño se somete a uno grande,
puede conquistar al gran país.
Por lo mismo, aquéllos que hubieran conquistado
deben ceder y aquéllos que conquistaron
lo lograron porque cedieron.

Una gran nación necesita más gente .
Un pequeño país necesita servir.
Cada uno logra lo que quiere:
ceder es conveniente para una gran nación."
- Translated by Cristina Bosch, 2002, Capítulo 61

"Un gran reino que se oriente como el agua
descendente, logrará unir en sí las corrientes
del mundo.
Este reino es la parte femenina del mundo.
Lo Femenino, por su quietud,
vence siempre a lo Masculino.
Su quietud lo mantiene humilde.

Si un gran reino se subordina a otro pequeño,
lo gana.
Si el pequeño se subordina al grande,
es aceptado.
Uno de ellos, por mostrarse humilde, gana,
el otro es ganado por su humildad.

El gran reino solo quiere
unir y alimentar a los hombres.
El pequeño, lo que busca es participar en el
servicio de los hombres.
Así, cada uno consigue lo que pretende,
pero el grande debe mantenerse humilde."
- Translation into Spanish from Richard Wilhelm's 1911 German Version by an Unknown Spanish Translator, 2015, Capítulo 61

"Un gran estado que es como un valle en el que corre un riachuelo, se vuelve el centro de la tierra.
Se vuelve como la hembra del universo.
Lo femenino en su receptividad vence a tu masculino, su pasividad es estar debajo.
El gran reino que se somete a sus vasallos, se vuelve señor de sus vasallos.
El pequeño reino que se somete a los mayores, se vuelve señor de los mayores.
Por eso, unos conquistan rebajándose; otros por estar abajo.
Un gran estado desea gobernar mucha gente.
Un pequeño estado sólo desea servir: Para que uno y otro logren tu que desean.
Debe el más pequeño mantenerse abajo."
- Translation from Logia Medio Dia, 2015, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 61

"Un gran Estado es como un cauce muy (hacia el que todos los ríos fluyen).
Es el valle del mundo y la femenino del mundo.
Lo femenino sujeta a lo masculino por la pasividad, que es un modo de ocupar el lugar inferior.
Así, un gran Estado se humilla ante uno pequeño con el fin de someterlo,
y uno pequeño se humilla ante uno grande con el fin de conquistarlo para él.
Luego unos se humillan con el fin de ser más poderosos, y otros con el fin de ser más extensos.
El deseo de un gran Estado es governar, sobre el mayor número de hombres,
y el de uno pequeño, ser más útil.
Y así, al considerar que ambos pueden obtener sus deseos, el más grande es el que debería humillarse."
- Translated into Spanish by Caridad Diaz Faes from the English translation by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 2003, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 61

Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 61

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.

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.

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. ISBN: 0791404560.

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. ISBN: 978-0791451823. Wang Bi (Wang Pi, Fusi), 226-249 CE, Commentary on the Tao Te Ching.

Tao Te Ching Translated by D. C. Lau. Addison Wesley, Reprint Edition, 2000. 192 pages. ISBN: 978-0140441314.

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 Studies, Translated by Bruce R., Linnell, 2015. Chinese, English, Glossary, and Notes.

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

The Tao of Zen. By Ray Grigg. Tuttle, 2012, 256 pages. Argues for the view that Zen is best characterized as a version of philosophical Taoism (i.e., Laozi and Zhuangzi) and not Mahayana Buddhism.

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

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

Research and Indexing by
Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks (2001-2020)

Red Bluff, California from 1998-2017; Vancouver, Washington from 2017-2020

Green Way Research, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 61, 2011-2020.

Compiled and Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo

This webpage was last modified, edited, maintained, expanded, reformatted, improved or updated on November 25, 2019.

This webpage was first distributed online on July 1, 2011.

This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Michael P. Garofalo's E-mail

Brief Biography of Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.

Ripening Peaches: Daoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: Resources and Guides

Cloud Hands Blog

Valley Spirit Qigong

Ways of Walking

The Spirit of Gardening

Months: Cycles of the Seasons

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu, Zhuang Zhou, Master Chuang) 369—286 BCE

Chan (Zen) and Taoist Poetry

Yang Style Taijiquan

Chen Style Taijiquan

Taoist Perspectives: My Reading List

Meditation

Bodymind Theory and Practices, Somaesthetics

The Five Senses

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Grandmaster Chang San Feng

Virtues

Qigong (Chi Kung) Health Practices

One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey: Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove

Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Index to Cloud Hands and Valley Spirit Websites

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching

Introduction

Bibliography

Index to English Language Translators of the Tao Te Ching

Thematic Index 1-81

Chapter Index 1-81

Concordance to the Daodejing

Recurring Themes (Terms, Concepts, Leimotifs) in the Tao Te Ching

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

Resources

Comments, Feedback, Kudos

Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles (1892) and Hanyu Pinyin (1982) Romanizations

The Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) circa 500 BCE

Cloud Hands Blog

Tao Te Ching Chapter Number Index Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Daodejing Chapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in 246 CE Chart by Mike Garofalo Subject Index
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80
81

Chapter 61

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) Classic of the Way and Virtue By Lao Tzu (Laozi)

Chapter 61

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

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

Research and Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching

Bibliography

Thematic Index 1-81

Chapter Index 1-81

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing)
Classic of the Way and Virtue

By Lao Tzu (Laozi)

Research and Indexing by
Michael P. Garofalo