Tao Te Ching Chapter 16
Original Chinese Text
致虚极，守静笃。
万物并作，吾以观复。
夫物芸芸，各复归其根。
归根曰静，静曰复命。
复命曰常，知常曰明。
不知常，妄作凶。
知常容，容乃公，
公乃全，全乃天，
天乃道，道乃久，
没身不殆。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Zhì xū jí, shǒu jìng dǔ.
Wànwù bìngzuò, wú yǐ guān fù.
Fú wù yúnyún, gè fù guī qí gēn.
Guīgēn yuē jìng, jìng yuē fùmìng.
Fùmìng yuē cháng, zhī cháng yuē míng.
Bù zhī cháng, wàngzuò xiōng.
Zhī cháng róng, róng nǎi gōng,
Gōng nǎi quán, quán nǎi tiān,
Tiān nǎi dào, dào nǎi jiǔ,
Mò shēn bù dài.
白话文翻译 (Plain Chinese Translation)
- 致虚极，守静笃
- 达到极致的虚空，保持深度的宁静。
- Attain complete emptiness; maintain steadfast stillness.
- 万物并作，吾以观复
- 万物蓬勃生长，我从而观察其循环往复。
- All things flourish, and I observe their return.
- 夫物芸芸…静曰复命
- 万物纷繁众多，最终都回归其根本。回归根本叫作”静”，静叫作”复命”。
- Countless things return to their root—this return is stillness; stillness is destiny fulfilled.
- 复命曰常…妄作凶
- 复命叫作”常”，认识常叫作”明”。不认识常，就会轻举妄动招致凶险。
- Fulfilled destiny is the eternal law; knowing this law is wisdom. Ignorance leads to reckless disaster.
- 知常容…没身不殆
- 认识常就能包容，包容就能公正，公正就能周全，周全就能合天，合天就能合道，合道就能长久，终身没有危险。
- Knowing the law brings tolerance→fairness→wholeness→harmony with Heaven→union with Tao→enduring safety.
Key Concepts Explained
- 观复 (guān fù): Observing nature’s cyclical patterns (呼应 Chapter 40’s “反者道之动”).
- 复命 (fùmìng): Fulfilling one’s cosmic purpose through stillness.
- 知常 (zhī cháng): The wisdom to align with eternal laws (对比 Chapter 55’s “知和曰常”).
Philosophical Essence
- Meditation Technique
- “致虚极，守静笃” describes Taoist meditation for attaining clarity.
- Ecological Wisdom
- “归根” mirrors modern systems theory’s emphasis on sustainability cycles.
- Governance Principle
- The chain “容→公→全→天→道” provides a leadership development roadmap.
“A tree’s strength comes not from reaching skyward but from sinking roots.”
— Metaphor for “归根” (returning to the root).