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

Chapter 51

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)

English and Chinese (Wade-Giles) Terms: The Nourishment of the Tao, Life or Produce (shêng), Virtue as a Nurse, Guiding, Creativity, Mystical Power or Virtue (tê, Teh), Nourishes or Feeds (hsü), things or matter (wu), Producing, Shape or Form (hsing), The Way, Freedom, Nature, Circumstances or Forces (shih), Follow the Tao, Complete or Perfect (ch'êng), Harmony, Integrity, Nurturing, Ten Thousand Things (wan wu), Integrity, No or None (mo), Prize (kuei), Hidden Power, Self (tzu), Command or Order (ming), Life Giving, Spontaneous (jan), Dao, Grows or Raises (ch'ang), Nurtures or Develops (yü), Working, Covers or Protects (t'ing), Material, Ripens or Matures (tu), Nourishes or Feeds (yang), Origin, Strengthen, Protect or Shelter (fu), Natural Development, Act or Make (wei), Self-So, Power, Claim or Assert (shih), Unforced, Develop or Foster (ch'ang), Esteem or Honor (tsun), Rule or Control (tsai), Secret or Hidden (hsüan), Dao, 養德

Términos en Español: Virtud, Rectores, Creatividad, Místico, Nutre, Producción, Camino, Libertad, Naturaleza, Armonía, Integridad, Crianza, Poder Oculto, Vida, Trabajar, Material, Origen, Fortalecer, Protección, Honor, Vida, Producir, Cosas, Materia, Forma, Circunstancias, Fuerzas, Completo, Perfecto, Ninguno, Autoestima, Premio, Comando, Ser, Espontánea, Crece, Nutre, Desarrolla, Cubiertas, Protege, Madura, Refugio, Haz, Reclamación, Afirmar, Desarrollar, Regla, Oculto, Secreto.

"The Way conceives them.
Integrity receives them.
Matter allows them.
Nature endows them.
All creatures thus respect the Way
and honor its Integrity.
No one demands that this be so.
Their respect by nature ever flows.
The Way gives birth to them and nurtures them.
It shapes them, develops them,
shelters them, strengthens them,
sustains them, preserves them.
Creating, not claiming as one's own,
working, not waiting for return,
guiding, not seeking to control:
such is the wonder of integrity."
- Translated by Douglas Allchin, Chapter 51

"The Way produces all things.
Power nourishes them.
Matter gives them physical form.
Environment shapes their abilities.
Therefore all things respect the Way and honor power.
The Way is respected, and power is honored
without anyone's order and always naturally.
Therefore the Way produces all things,
and power nourishes them,
caring for them and developing them,
sheltering them and comforting them,
nurturing them and protecting them,
producing them but not possessing them,
helping them but not obligating them,
guiding them but not controlling them.
This is mystical power."
- Translated by Sanderson Beck, Chapter 51

"The Principle gives life to beings, then its Virtue nourishes them,
until the completion of their nature, until the perfection of their faculties.
Therefore all beings venerate the Principle and its Virtue.
No one has the eminence of the Principle and its Virtue conferred on them;
they have it always, naturally.
The Principle gives life; its Virtue gives growth, protects, perfects, matures, maintains,
And covers (all beings).
When they are born, it does not monopolize them; it lets them act freely, without exploiting them;
it lets them grow, without tyrannizing them.
This is the action of transcendent Virtue."
- Translated by Derek Bryce, 1999, Chapter 51

"The Tao is the mother of all beings,
The virtue of Tao nurtures them in nature,
The material world gives them form,
Environment and circumstance complete their abilities.
Therefore all things honor the Way, and venerate virtue.
This honoring of the Tao, and the veneration of virtue are not commanded,
They occur spontaneously and for this reason the Way continues to create beings
while virtue continues to nurture and develop them.
The Tao gives birth to all, yet it lays no claim of ownership,
It nourishes all, but it does not control,
This is the mystic virtue."
- Translated by John Dicus, 2002, Chapter 51

"The Tao gives birth to them
Virtue rears them
Nature forms them
Conditions complete them.

Therefore, of the ten-thousand things
There are none that do not honor the Tao
And value Virtue.
The honoring of the Tao
The valuing of Virtue:
Man does not command them [to do so]
And they are always genuinely themselves
Because the Tao gives birth to them
And Virtue raises them

Leads them, nourishes them
Erects them, poisons them
Supports them, destroys them.

Giving birth but not possessing
Acting but not presuming
Leading but not oppressively ruling—

This is called “Mystic Virtue.”"
- Translated by Aalar Fex, 2006, Chapter 51

"The Tao begets all creatures;
The virtue rears them;
Substance gives them shape;
Forces in opposition accomplish them.
Therefore all creatures worship the Tao and honor virtue.
This worship and honor stems from the fact
That the Tao and virtue never unnaturally
Impose their influence on all creatures.
In this way
The Tao begets all creatures;
The virtue rears them,
Promotes them, natures them,
Brings them to fruition and maturity,
Meanwhile maintains and defends them.
Giving them life without claiming to be their owner;
Availing them without claiming to be their benefactor;
And being their head without ruling them;
All these are called the most intrinsic Teh (virtue)."
- Translated by Gu Zhengkun, Chapter 51

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

"Ten thousand Dao begets and breeds,
Which its power tends and feeds
As objects all take varied shape,
As things to use reach final form.
For this the natural myriad
Honour the Way, esteem its power.
Such honour and such high esteem
No mandate from above decreed;
It is their norm of self-becoming.
Dao indeed begets and breeds
All its power tends and feeds
And fosters and then raises up
And brings to full maturity
And still preserves and still protects.
For Dao begets but does not keep,
Works its way but does not bind:
Authority that does not rule.
Such is the meaning of “hidden power”."
- Translated by Moss Roberts, Chapter 51

"Tao brings all the creatures of the world to be born
And by following the way they come to fill their nature
Thus do they follow the tao and honor virtue
No one asks them to; they do it without thinking
It creates them but doesn't own them
It supplies them but doesn't make them dependent
It matures them but doesn't command them
This is the ideal of virtue."
- Translated by Ted Wrigley, Chapter 51

"Tao gives them life,
Virtue nurses them,
Matter shapes them,
Environment perfects them.
Therefore all things without exception worship Tao and
do homage to Virtue.
They have not been commanded to worship Tao and do
homage to Virtue,
But they always do so spontaneously.

It is Tao that gives them life:
It is Virtue that nurses them, grows them, fosters them,
shelters them, comforts them, nourishes them, and
covers them under her wings.
To give life but to claim nothing,
To do your work but to set no store by it,
To be a leader, not a butcher,
This is called hidden Virtue."
- Translated by John C. H. Wu, 1961, Chapter 51

Because of this, the myriad creatures respect Tao and esteem Virtue.
Respect for Tao and esteem for Virtue are by no means 'conferred' on them,
but always occurs naturally.

Tao gives birth to them;
nurtures them
rears them
shelters them
toughens them up
sustains them
protects them.

It gives birth but does not 'claim' them;
acts but does not 'intend;'
rears but does not 'control.'

"The Way brings them forth,
Virtue nurtures them,
Matter shapes them,
Environment forms them.
Therefore, all things without exception venerate the Way and value virtue.
The Way's venerability and virtue's value
are that they do not command but constantly are natural.
Therefore, the Way brings them forth,
Virtue nurtures them,
Grows them and rears them,
Matures them and ripens them,
Nourishes them and shelters them.
Producing without possessing,
Acting without taking credit,
Growing without controlling, --
This is called mystical virtue."
- Translated by Yi Wu, Chapter 51

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

"The Tao begets existence.
Intelligence nurtures existence.
Substance forms existence.
Forces complete existence.
For this reason,
Everything in existence, without exception,
Reveres the Tao and honors Intelligence,
Not by any decree, but with utter spontaneity.
Thus, the Tao begets everything in existence,
And Intelligence nurtures it,
Rears it,
Develops it,
Completes it,
Ripens it,
Sustains it,
Protects it.
Giving birth without possessing,
Availing life without claiming,
Promoting growth without controlling,
These are the Profound Virtues of Kosmic Intelligence."
- Translated by Yasuhiko Genku Kimura, Chapter 51

A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 51 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching

道生之.
德畜之.
物形之.
勢成之.
是以萬物莫不尊道而貴德.
道之尊.
德之貴.
夫莫之命而常自然.
故道生之.
德畜之.
長之育之.
亭之毒之.
養之覆之.
生而不有.
為而不恃.
長而不宰.
是謂玄德.
- Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 51

tao shêng chih.
tê hsü chih.
wu hsing chih.
shih ch'êng chih.
shih yi wan wu mo pu tsun tao erh kuei tê.
tao chih tsun.
tê chih kuei.
fu mo chih ming erh ch'ang tzu jan.
ku tao shêng chih.
tê ch'u chih.
ch'ang chih yü chih.
t'ing chih tu chih.
yang chih fu chih.
shêng erh pu yu.
wei erh pu shih.
ch'ang erh pu tsai.
shih wei hsüan tê.
- Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 51

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.

"A guide starts it,
virtuosity cultivates it,
Natural kinds model it
and circumstances complete it.
For this reason, among the ten-thousand natural kinds,
None fail to respect a guide and value virtuosity.
This respecting of guides
and valuing of virtuosity
is not, in general, commanded in words instead it treats self-so as constant.
Hence a guide starts it,
virtuosity cultivates it,
Acts as its elder, educates it,
shades it, poisons it,
nourishes it and returns it.
Gives rise to and not 'exist,'
Deem: act and not rely on anything.
Acts as elder and does not rule.
This would be called 'profound virtuosity.'"
- Translated by Chad Hansen, Chapter 51

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

"Tao creates all things,
Virtue nurtures them.
Matter gives them forms, and
Environment allows them to succeed.
Thus all things honour Tao and value Virtue.
Tao being honoured and Virtue being valued,
They always occurred naturally without being dictated by anyone.
Thus:
Tao creates all thing.
Virtue nurtures them:
They grow and develop;
Bear fruits and mature; and
Are cared for and protected.
To create, but not to possess;
To care for, but not to control;
To lead, but not to subjugate.
This is called the profound virtue."
- Translated by Cheng, Chapter 51

"Tao is the origin of life.
Your life is that life.
Merely by breathing, by being,
you know and honor the source
and its expression or manifestation.
Each of us is a place of culmination.
Each of us is nurtured by the source
and is what nurtures us.
Create and let go of what you create.
Give and expect nothing.
Work hard and do not claim ownership."
- Translated by Crispin Starwell, Chapter 51

The Way bears all things;
Harmony nurtures them;
Nature shapes them;
Use completes them.
Each follows the Way and honours harmony,
Not by law,
But by being.
The Way bears, nurtures, shapes, completes,
Shelters, comforts, and makes a home for them.
Bearing without possessing,
Nurturing without taming,
Shaping without forcing,
This is harmony.
- Translated by Peter Merel, Chapter 51

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.

"Tao gives life to all creatures; teh feeds them; materiality shapes them; energy completes them.
Therefore among all things there is none that does not honor Tao and esteem teh.
Honor for Tao and esteem for teh is never compelled, it is always spontaneous.
Therefore Tao gives life to them, but teh nurses them, raises them, nurtures, completes, matures, rears, protects them.
Tao gives life to them but makes no claim of ownership; teh forms them but makes no claim upon them, raises them but does not rule them.
This is profound vitality (teh)."
- Translated by Dwight Goddard, Chapter 51

"As Tao gives birth to All Things,
Te provides the nourishment to rear them.
To shape them and form them.
Permitting each to realize the capacity within.
As Tao is revered and worshipped,
Te is exalted and honored by All Things.
Such, being neither requested nor demanded,
Is the nature of things,
Happening spontaneously, of its own accord.

Arising from the Tao,
By Te, are All Things nourished,
developed, cared for, sheltered, comforted, grown and protected.
In rearing All Things,
It seeks neither to lay claim nor possess them.
Acting as a help and guide,
It seeks neither credit nor reward.
Leading them,
It seeks neither to master nor control.

It is called profound and mysterious."
- By Alan B. Taplow, 1982, Chapter 51

"All things are produced by the Tao, and nourished by its outflowing operation.
They receive their forms according to the nature of each, and are completed according to the circumstances of their condition.
Therefore all things without exception honour the Tao, and exalt its outflowing operation.
This honouring of the Tao and exalting of its operation is not the result of any ordination, but always a spontaneous tribute.
Thus it is that the Tao produces (all things), nourishes them, brings them to their full growth, nurses them,
completes them, matures them, maintains them, and overspreads them.
It produces them and makes no claim to the possession of them; it carries them through their processes
and does not vaunt its ability in doing so; it brings them to maturity and exercises no control over them.
This is called its mysterious operation."
- Translated by James Legge, Chapter 51

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons

"Tao gives life to all things.
Virtue nourishes them.
Material world gives them form.
Circumstances make them complete.
Therefore of the myriad things,
Each one reveres Tao
And each one pays tribute to virtue.
They do so without being ordered.
They do so of themselves.
Tao gives life to them.
Virtue nourishes and matures them.
It teaches them and protects them.
It rests them, supports them and guards them.
Tao gives life to them but it does not possess them.
It toils for them but expects no praise.
It guides them but does not dominate them.
This is the secret virtue."
- Translated by Agnieszka Solska, Chapter 51

"The Way gives birth [to all things;
Virtue nourishes; matter shapes; environment perfects.
Therefore all things without exception revere the Way and honor Virtue,
although they are not commanded, but left to do so naturally.
Hence, the Way gives birth;
Virtue nurses, grows, fosters, shelters, comforts, nourishes, and guards.
It gives birth but does not claim as its own;
it does but does not claim its doing; it grows but does not claim to be master.
This is called hidden Virtue."
- Translated by Tien Cong Tran, Chapter 51

"Tao produces them (all things);
Virtue feeds them;
All of them appear in different forms;
Each is perfect by being given power.
Therefore none of the numerous things does not honour Tao and esteem virtue.
The honouring of Tao and the esteem of virtue are done, not by command, but always of their own accord.
Therefore Tao produces them, makes them grow, nourishes them, shelters them, brings them up and protects them.
When all things come into being, Tao does not reject them.
It produces them without holding possession of them.
It acts without depending upon them, and raises them without lording it over them.
When merits are accomplished, it does not lay claim to them.
Because it does not lay claim to them, therefore it does not lose them."
- Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 51

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

"Tao gives Life to all beings.
Teh nourishes them.
It gives to each being its form.
It gives the inward urge towards perfectness.
That is why there is no living creature that does not reverence Tao and honour Teh.
The veneration of Tao!
The honour of Teh!
No Master has decreed it,
But eternally it affirms the Self.
Therefore Tao gives Life to all beings,
It nourishes and makes them grow,
It rears them and perfects them,
It sustains, feeds, and protects them.
It gives them Life, but does not possess them.
It gives them activity, but does not depend o them.
It urges them to grow, but does not rule them.
This is called profound Teh."
- Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 51

"Every being in the universe
is an expression of the Tao.
It springs into existence,
unconscious, perfect, free,
takes on a physical body,
lets circumstances complete it.
That is why every being
spontaneously honors the Tao.

The Tao gives birth to all beings,
nourishes them, maintains them,
cares for them, comforts them, protects them,
takes them back to itself,
creating without possessing,
acting without expecting,
guiding without interfering.
That is why love of the Tao
is in the very nature of things."
- Translated by Edwin Shaw, 1996, Chapter 51

"Existence having born them
And fitness bred them,
While matter varied their forms
And breath empowered them,
All created things render, to the existence and fitness they depend on,
An obedience
Not commanded but of course.
And since this is the way existence bears issue
And fitness raises, attends,
Shelters, feeds and protects,
D0 you likewise
Be parent, not possessor,
Attendant, not master,
Be concerned not with obedience but with benefit,
And you are at the core of living."
- Translated by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 51

This mystic virtue of the whole."
- Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 51

"The Tao gives birth to all of creation.
The virtue of Tao in nature nurtures them,
and their families give them their form.
Their environment then shapes them into completion.
That is why every creature honors the Tao and its virtue.

No one tells them to honor the Tao and its virtue,
it happens all by itself.
So the Tao gives them birth,
and its virtue cultivates them,
cares for them,
nurtures them,
gives them a place of refuge and peace,
helps them to grow and shelters them.

It gives them life without wanting to posses them,
and cares for them expecting nothing in return.
It is their master, but it does not seek to dominate them.
This is called the dark and mysterious virtue."
- Translated by John H. McDonald, 1996, Chapter 51

"Der Sinn erzeugt.
Das Leben nährt.
Die Umgebung gestaltet.
Die Einflüsse vollenden.
Darum ehren alle Wesen den Sinn und schätzen das Leben.
Der Sinn wird geehrt, das Leben wird geschätzt ohne äußere Ernennung, ganz von selbst.
Also: der Sinn erzeugt, das Leben nährt, läßt wachsen, pflegt,
vollendet, hält, bedeckt und schirmt."
- Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 51

"Die Wirkungskraft innerlich kraftvollenLebens

Aus dem Unergründlichen steigt das Leben auf,
erhalten wird es durch die Urkraft des Lebens,
offenbar wird es durch das Leibhafte,
vollendet durch den Zielwillen des Lebens.
Daher verehren die Lebenden das Unergründliche,
nicht, weil es die Pflicht geböte,
sondern weil es ihr Inneres so will.
Denn das Unergründliche gibt allem das Leben:
es läßt im Frühling alles werden und wachsen,
ernährt und erhält es im Sommer,
läßt es im Herbst reifen und vollenden,
schützt es im Winter.
Erzeugen, ohne etwas dafür haben zu wollen,
dem Leben zu dienen, ohne etwas zu erwarten,
es zu fördern, ohne es beherrschen zu wollen:
Das ist das Geheimnis innerlich kraftvollen Lebens."
- Translated by Rudolf Backofen, 1949, Chapter 51

"The Tao creates.
The virtue nourishes.
The things form.
The environment shapes them to completion.
That is why the myriad creatures all respect the Tao, and value virtue.
When the Tao is respected, virtue is valued.
No one can command them but the Tao.
That is why the Tao creates myriad creatures.
Virtue nourishes them, cultivates them, educates them,
completes them, ripens them, supports them, carries them.
The Tao creates them without possessing them,
benefits them without profiting from them, guides them without commanding them.
That is what profound virtue means."
- Translated by Chao Hsiu Chen, Chapter 51

"Tao brings forth and Teh nourishes.
All things take up their several forms, and natural forces bring them to perfection.
Therefore all things conspire to exalt Tao and to cherish virtue.
But this regard of Tao and Teh is not in deference to any mandate.
It is unconstrained, and therefore it endures forever.
For Tao produces all things, and Teh nourishes, increases, feeds, matures, protects, and watches over them.
To produce without possessing; to work without expecting; top enlarge without usurping; this is the absolute virtue!"
- Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 51

"Tao gives all things life
Te gives them fulfillment
Nature is what shapes them
Living is what brings them to completion
Every creature honours Tao and worships Te not by force but through its own living and breathing
Though Tao gives life to all things
Te is what cultivates them
Te is that magic power which raises and rears them completes and prepares them comforts and protects them
To create without owning
To give without expecting
To fill without claiming
This is the profound expression of Tao
The highest perfection of Te"
- Translated by Jonathan Star, 2001, Chapter 51

"Le Tao produit les êtres, la Vertu les nourrit.
Ils leur donnent un corps et les perfectionnent par une secrète impulsion.
C'est pourquoi tous les êtres révèrent le Tao et honorent la Vertu.
Personne n'a conféré au Tao sa dignité, ni à la Vertu sa noblesse: ils les possèdent éternellement en eux-mêmes.
C'est pourquoi le Tao produit les êtres, les nourrit, les fait croître, les perfectionne, les mûrit, les alimente, les protège.
Il les produit, et ne se les approprie point; il les fait ce qu'ils sont et ne s'en glorifie point; il règne sur eux et les laisse libres.
C'est là ce qu'on appelle une vertu profonde."
- Translated by Stanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 51

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

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

"El Tao engendra.
La virtud nutre.
La materia conforma.
La Energía perfecciona.
Por esto, los diez mil seres
respetan al Tao
y honran la virtud.
Este respeto al Tao y honor a la Virtud
no ha de ser impuesto por nadie, sino que es espontáneo,
por ser la propia naturaleza.
Porque el Tao los engendra,
la virtud los nutre,
los hace crecer, los perfecciona,
los conserva, los madura
y los protege.
Engendrar y criar,
Engendrar sin apropiarse,
Obrar sin pedir nada a cambio,
Guiar sin dominar,
Esta es la Gran Virtud."
- Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 51

"Todas las cosas surgen del Tao y
son alimentadas por la Virtud.
Están construidas por temas.
Están modeladas a través del entorno.
Así, las diez mil cosas respetan el Tao y honran la Virtud.
El respeto del Tao y el honor a la Virtud no son exigidas,
aunque son propio de la naturaleza.

Por lo mismo, todas las cosas nacen del Tao.
Por la Virtud se alimentan,
se desarrollan, son cuidadas, amparadas,consoladas.
Crecen y son protegidas.
Creando sin calmar,
realizando, sin buscar beneficio,
guiando, sin interferir.
Esta es la Virtud Principal."
- Translated by Cristina Bosch, 2002, Capítulo 51

"El Tao da vida al todo.
Su poder lo alimenta.
Su materia le da forma.
Su energía lo perfecciona.
Por eso entre las cosas, ninguna cesa de honrar al Tao y ninguna desprecia su virtud.
La magnitud del Tao y la grandeza de su poder no la tuvieron los seres por ser engendrados,
pero siempre está en ellos espontáneamente.
Por eso, el Tao produce las cosas.
El poder las alimenta, las hace crecer y las cría.
Las hace completas y maduras, las nutre y protege.
Dar la vida y no reclamar nada.
Actuar y no mantener.
Gobernar y no mandar.
Esta es la secreta virtud."
- Translation from Logia Medio Dia, 2015, Capítulo 51

"El Camino les de vida.
La virtud les da sustento.
El color la forma les dan figura.
La energía las completa.
Por eso las Diez Mil Cosas.
Repetan el Camino y atesoran la virtud.
Espetar el Camino y atesorar la virtud.
No se lo mada nadie;
Siempre es sólo Así-Por-Sí-Mismo.

Así, el Camino les da vida.
Y la virtud les da sustento.
Ambos les dan larga vida y los sustentan
como quien cría a un niño.
Ambos les brindan refugio y los protegen de daños;
Ambos los nutren y les brindan abrigo;
Ambos les dan la vida, pero no los poseen.
Ambos actúan, pero sin apoyarse en nada;
Ambos les dan larga vida, pero no dirigen sus cosas.
Ambos le llaman la virtud oscura y poco visible."
- Translated by Alejandro Pareja, based on the English translation by William Scott Wilson, 2012, Capítulo 51

"El dao engendra,
la virtud alimenta,
la materia da forma,
y así surgen los diversos seres.
Por eso los seres reverencian al dao y honran a la virtud.
El dao es reverenciado,
la virtud es honrada,
no por imposición jerárquica,
sino de manera espontánea.
El dao,
produce y alimenta,
hace crecer y madurar,
forma y cuida,
nutre y protege.
Engendra sin apropiarse,
obra sin considerar el propio mérito,
es el primero y no manda,
esta es la virtud profunda y misteriosa."
- Translated by Juan Ignacio Preciado, 1978, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 51

Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 51

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.

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, Red Bluff, California
Green Way Research, 2011-2015.
Indexed and Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo

This webpage was last modified or updated on September 27, 2015.

This webpage was first distributed online on May 3, 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.

Valley Spirit Center, Red Bluff, California

Study Chi Kung or Tai Chi or Philosophy with Mike Garofalo

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, Suggestions

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 51

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

By Lao Tzu (Laozi)

Chapter 51

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

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

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.

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons

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

Chapter 51

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

Chapter 51

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

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.

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.

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

Research and Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo

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

By Lao Tzu (Laozi)

Research and Indexing by
Michael P. Garofalo