Tao Te Ching Chapter 15
第15章
古之善為士者，微妙玄通，深不可識。夫唯不可識，故強為之容。豫焉若冬涉川，猶兮若畏四鄰，儼兮其若容，渙兮若冰之將釋，敦兮其若樸，曠兮其若谷，混兮其若濁。孰能濁以靜之徐清？孰能安以久動之徐生？保此道者不欲盈，夫唯不盈，故能蔽不新成。
The skilful masters (of the Tao) in old times, with a subtle and exquisite penetration, comprehended its mysteries, and were deep (also) so as to elude men's knowledge. As they were thus beyond men's knowledge, I will make an effort to describe of what sort they appeared to be.
Shrinking looked they like those who wade through a stream in winter; irresolute like those who are afraid of all around them; grave like a guest (in awe of his host); evanescent like ice that is melting away; unpretentious like wood that has not been fashioned into anything; vacant like a valley, and dull like muddy water.
Who can (make) the muddy water (clear)? Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear. Who can secure the condition of rest? Let movement go on, and the condition of rest will gradually arise.
They who preserve this method of the Tao do not wish to be full (of themselves). It is through their not being full of themselves that they can afford to seem worn and not appear new and complete.
English: James Legge (1891), The Tâo Teh King, Sacred Books of the East vol. 39 (1891) — public domain. Chinese: Wang Bi recension (王弼本), commentary removed.
Character glossary
- 古gǔold, classic, ancient
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 善shàngood, virtuous, charitable, kind
- 為wèito do, to act; to handle, to govern; to
- 士shìscholar, gentleman; soldier
- 者zhěthat which; they who; those who
- 微wēismall, tiny, trifling; micro-
- 妙miàomysterious, subtle; clever, exquisite, w
- 玄xuándeep, profound, abstruse
- 通tōngto pass through, to open, to connect; to
- 深shēndeep, profound; depth
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 識shíknowledge; to understand, to recognize,
- 夫fūman, husband; worker; those
- 唯wéionly; sole
- 故gùreason, cause; happening, instance
- 強qiángstrong, powerful, energetic
- 容róngappearance, looks; form, figure; to cont
- 豫yùrelaxed; hesitant
- 焉yānwhy? where? how?; strange; thereupon, th
- 若ruòif, supposing, assuming; similar
- 冬dōngwinter, 11th lunar month
- 涉shèsconcerned, involved; to experience; to
- 川chuānstream, river
- 猶yóusimilar to, just like, as
- 兮xīexclamatory particle
- 畏wèifear, dread, awe, reverence
- 四sìfour
- 鄰línneighbor; neighborhood
- 儼yǎngrave, respectful; majestic
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 渙huànscattered; to scatter
- 冰bīngice; ice-cold
- 將jiāngthe future, what will be; ready, prepare
- 釋shìto explain, to interpret; to release
- 敦dūnhonest, candid, sincere; kind-hearted; t
- 樸pǔplain, simple; sincere; surname
- 曠kuàngbroad, vast, wide; empty
- 谷gǔvalley, gorge, ravine
- 混hùnmuddy, confused; to mix, to blend; to mi
- 濁zhuódirty, filthy, muddy, turbid
- 孰shúwho? which? what? which one?
- 能néngcan, may; capable, full of energy
- 以yǐaccording to; so as to; because of; then
- 靜jìngstill, quiet, motionless, gentle
- 徐xúslowly, quietly, calmly; dignified, comp
- 清qīngclean, pure; clear, distinct; peaceful
- 安ānpeaceful, tranquil, quiet
- 久jiǔlong ago; a long time
- 動dòngto move, to happen; movement, action
- 生shēnglife, lifetime; birth; growth
- 保bǎoto safeguard, to protect, to defend, to
- 此cǐthis, these; in this case, then
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
- 欲yùdesire, want, longing, intent
- 盈yíngfull, overflowing; surplus; to fill
- 蔽bìto cover, to hide, to shelter
- 新xīnnew, recent, fresh, modern
- 成chéngto accomplish; to become; to complete, t
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Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.