Chapter 16

致虚极

Chapter Translation

致zhì虚xū极jí，

守shǒu静jìng笃dǔ，

万wàn物wù并bìng作zuò，

吾wú以yǐ观guān复fù。

夫fú物wù芸yún芸yún，

各gè复fù归guī其qí根gēn。

归guī根gēn曰yuē静jìng，

静jìng曰yuē复fù命mìng。

复fù命mìng曰yuē常cháng，

知zhī常cháng曰yuē明míng。

不bù知zhī常cháng，

妄wàng作zuò凶xiōng。

知zhī常cháng容róng，

容róng乃nǎi公gōng。

公gōng乃nǎi王wáng，

王wáng乃nǎi天tiān，

天tiān乃nǎi道dào，

道dào乃nǎi久jiǔ，

没méi身shēn不bù殆dài。

Reaching the ultimate of emptiness, deeply guarding stillness, the things of the world arise together; thereby do I watch their return. The things of the world burst out everywhere, and each returns to its own root.

Returning to the root is called stillness; this is called returning to destiny; returning to destiny is called constant; knowing the constant is called enlightenment. Not knowing the constant one acts blindly and ill-omened.

Knowing the constant one can accommodate; accommodation leads to impartiality; impartiality leads to kingliness; kingliness leads to Tian; Tian leads to the Dao. With the Dao one may endure, and to the end of life one will not be in danger.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.