Tao Te Ching Chapter 2
Original Text (Chinese)
天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已；皆知善之为善，斯不善已。
故有无相生，难易相成，长短相形，高下相倾，音声相和，前后相随。
是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教。
万物作焉而不辞，生而不有，为而不恃，功成而弗居。
夫唯弗居，是以不去。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Tiānxià jiē zhī měi zhī wéi měi, sī è yǐ; jiē zhī shàn zhī wéi shàn, sī bù shàn yǐ.
Gù yǒu wú xiāng shēng, nán yì xiāng chéng, cháng duǎn xiāng xíng, gāo xià xiāng qīng, yīn shēng xiāng hé, qián hòu xiāng suí.
Shì yǐ shèngrén chù wúwéi zhī shì, xíng bù yán zhī jiào.
Wànwù zuò yān ér bù cí, shēng ér bù yǒu, wéi ér bù shì, gōng chéng ér fú jū.
Fú wéi fú jū, shì yǐ bù qù.
白话文译文 (Plain Chinese Translation)
- 天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已；皆知善之为善，斯不善已。
- 当天下人都知道“美”是美的时候，丑的观念就产生了；都知道“善”是善的时候，不善的观念也就出现了。
- When the world recognizes beauty as beauty, ugliness arises; when it recognizes good as good, evil arises.
- 故有无相生，难易相成…前后相随。
- 因此，“有”和“无”相互依存，难和易互相成就…前后互相跟随。
- Thus, being and non-being create each other; difficult and easy complete each other… front and back follow each other.
- 是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教。
- 所以圣人以“无为”的态度行事，施行“不言”的教化。
- The Sage acts without effort, teaches without words.
- 万物作焉而不辞…功成而弗居。
- 万物自然生长而不干预，生养万物而不占有，有所作为而不自恃，成就功业而不居功。
- He nurtures all things without claiming, acts without relying, accomplishes without clinging.
- 夫唯弗居，是以不去。
- 正因为不居功，所以功绩不会消失。
- Because he does not claim, his merit never fades.
Key Concepts Explained
- 无为 (wúwéi / Non-action): Effortless action aligned with nature.
- 不言之教 (bù yán zhī jiào / Wordless teaching): Leading by example, not dogma.
- 相生 (xiāng shēng / Mutual dependence): Opposites define and sustain each other (e.g., beauty/ugliness).
Philosophical Essence
This chapter introduces:
- Relativity: All values (e.g., good/evil) are interdependent.
- Wuwei (无为): The Sage’s way of harmonizing with the Tao.
- Humility: True achievement requires no ownership.