Religion
Chapter 1
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.
(Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things.
Always without desire we must be found,
If its deep mystery we would sound;
But if desire always within us be,
Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.
Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development takes place, it receives the different names. Together we call them the Mystery. Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.
Codex Note
Prose translation of a largely rhymed original, with occasional rhymed renderings by Legge; words in parentheses are his supplied additions.
Cite this poem
MLA
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 1.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/0/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 1.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/0/.
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