Tao Te Ching Chapter 5
Original Chinese Text
天地不仁，以万物为刍狗；
圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗。
天地之间，其犹橐龠乎？
虚而不屈，动而愈出。
多言数穷，不如守中。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Tiāndì bù rén, yǐ wànwù wéi chúgǒu;
Shèngrén bù rén, yǐ bǎixìng wéi chúgǒu.
Tiāndì zhī jiān, qí yóu tuóyuè hū?
Xū ér bù qū, dòng ér yù chū.
Duō yán shù qióng, bùrú shǒu zhōng.
白话文翻译 (Plain Chinese Translation)
- 天地不仁，以万物为刍狗
- 天地没有偏爱，视万物如草扎的狗（任其自然生灭）。
- Heaven and Earth are impartial—they treat all things like straw dogs (used and discarded).
- 圣人不仁，以百姓为刍狗
- 圣人没有偏爱，视百姓如草扎的狗（不加干预）。
- The Sage is impartial—he treats people like straw dogs (letting them follow their nature).
- 天地之间，其犹橐龠乎？虚而不屈，动而愈出
- 天地之间，不正像风箱吗？空虚却不会枯竭，越鼓动风越多。
- Is not the space between Heaven and Earth like a bellows? Empty yet inexhaustible—the more it moves, the more it gives.
- 多言数穷，不如守中
- 政令繁多反而加速失败，不如持守虚静。
- Too many rules lead to exhaustion—better to hold to stillness.
Key Concepts Explained
- 刍狗 (chúgǒu / Straw Dogs): Ritual objects discarded after use—symbolizing nature’s detachment.
- 橐龠 (tuóyuè / Bellows): A metaphor for the Tao’s generative emptiness.
- 守中 (shǒu zhōng / Hold to the Center): The practice of non-interference and balance.
Philosophical Essence
- Impartiality of Nature: Rejects human-like compassion in favor of natural law (contrasts with Confucian “ren” 仁).
- Paradox of Emptiness: Like a bellows, the Tao’s power comes from its void (see Chapter 4’s “冲”).
- Wuwei in Governance: “守中” mirrors Chapter 3’s “无为”—rulers should avoid excessive control.
“Nature is not kind; it allows all things to live and die impartially.”
— Modern ecological interpretation of verse 1.
One Comment