Religion

Chapter 28

by Laozi (Lao Tzu) traditionally 6th century BC

Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)

Religion

Who knows his manhood's strength,
Yet still his female feebleness maintains;
As to one channel flow the many drains,
All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.
Thus he the constant excellence retains;
The simple child again, free from all stains.

Who knows how white attracts,
Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,
The pattern of humility displayed,
Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;
He in the unchanging excellence arrayed,
Endless return to man's first state has made.

Who knows how glory shines,
Yet loves disgrace, nor e'er for it is pale;
Behold his presence in a spacious vale,
To which men come from all beneath the sky.
The unchanging excellence completes its tale;
The simple infant man in him we hail.

The unwrought material, when divided and distributed, forms vessels. The sage, when employed, becomes the Head of all the Officers (of government); and in his greatest regulations he employs no violent measures.

✦ ✦ ✦

Prose translation of a largely rhymed original, with occasional rhymed renderings by Legge; words in parentheses are his supplied additions.

MLA

Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 28.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/27/.

Chicago

Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 28.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/27/.

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