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Chapter 21

孔德之容

Chapter Translation

孔kǒng德dé之zhī容róng，

惟wéi道dào是shì从cóng。

道dào之zhī为wèi物wù，

惟wéi恍huǎng惟wéi惚hū。

惚hū兮xī恍huǎng兮xī，

其qí中zhōng有yǒu象xiàng；

恍huǎng兮xī惚hū兮xī，

其qí中zhōng有yǒu物wù。

窈yǎo兮xī冥míng兮xī，

其qí中zhōng有yǒu精jīng；

其qí精jīng甚shèn真zhēn，

其qí中zhōng有yǒu信xìn。

自zì今jīn及jí古gǔ，

其qí名míng不bù去qù，

以yǐ阅yuè众zhòng甫fǔ。

吾wú何hé以yǐ知zhī众zhòng甫fǔ之zhī状zhuàng哉zāi？以yǐ此cǐ。

a> The bearing of abundant virtue is to follow the Dao alone.

b> As a thing the Dao is shadowed, obscure.

Shadowed, obscured,

A thing lies within;

Obscured, shadowed,

An image lies within.

Dark, dim,

An essence lies within.

So sound is the essence,

Full concord lies within.

c> From the past to the present, its name has never left it, and hence it has pleased the multitude of elders. How do I know this of the multitude of elders? By means of this.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.