Empty Mind Like a Valley from Tao Te Ching (Chapter 15)
- Literal Meaning
- 虚怀 (xū huái): “Empty mind” or “humble heart” – free from pride, preconceptions, or rigid opinions.
- 若谷 (ruò gǔ): “Like a valley” – open, spacious, and receptive, symbolizing humility and capacity to receive.
- Philosophical Core
- A metaphor for the ideal state of mind in Daoism:
- Emptiness: Not cluttered by ego or fixed ideas, allowing natural wisdom (道, Dào) to flow.
- Receptivity: Like a valley collects water, a humble person absorbs knowledge and adapts effortlessly.
- A metaphor for the ideal state of mind in Daoism:
- Practical Implication
- Self-cultivation: To remain open-minded, learn continuously, and avoid arrogance.
- Governance (applied to rulers): Leading with humility and flexibility, as echoed in Tao Te Ching‘s advocacy for “non-action” (无为, wúwéi).
- Contrast
- Opposes a “full” (stubborn) mind, which blocks growth, like a filled cup cannot hold more water.（If only my father could read these philosophies!I need to pay attention too!）
Key Quote from Chapter 15:
“The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, perceptive… Who can be muddy and yet, settling, slowly become limpid? Who can be tranquil and yet, stirring, slowly come to life?”
- “虚怀若谷” reflects this quiet readiness to transform by embracing emptiness.
Modern Application:
Encourages adaptability in leadership, learning, or conflict resolution by valuing openness over rigidity.
(Note: This phrase is often linked to Chapter 15’s description of the wise, though the exact characters appear in later commentaries.)
The author: Lives in the cultural province of Henan, a few hundred miles from Laozi’s hometown near Luoyang, the Zhou capital.