Tao Te Ching Chapter 50
Original Chinese Text
出生入死。
生之徒，十有三；
死之徒，十有三；
人之生，动之于死地，亦十有三。
夫何故？以其生生之厚。
盖闻善摄生者，陆行不遇兕虎，入军不被甲兵；
兕无所投其角，虎无所用其爪，兵无所容其刃。
夫何故？以其无死地。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Chū shēng rù sǐ.
Shēng zhī tú, shí yǒu sān;
Sǐ zhī tú, shí yǒu sān;
Rén zhī shēng, dòng zhī yú sǐ dì, yì shí yǒu sān.
Fú hé gù? Yǐ qí shēng shēng zhī hòu.
Gài wén shàn shè shēng zhě, lù xíng bù yù sì hǔ, rù jūn bù bèi jiǎ bīng;
Sì wú suǒ tóu qí jiǎo, hǔ wú suǒ yòng qí zhǎo, bīng wú suǒ róng qí rèn.
Fú hé gù? Yǐ qí wú sǐ dì.
Structured Translation & Interpretation
Core Teachings
| Concept | Translation | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 出生入死 | “Emerging into life, entering death” | Life and death are natural cycles |
| 生之徒 (30%) | “Those who live long” | Natural longevity |
| 死之徒 (30%) | “Those who die early” | Natural premature death |
| 动之于死地 (30%) | “Those who move toward death” | Self-destructive behaviors |
| 生生之厚 | “Over-nourishing life” | Excessive attachment to life |
| 善摄生者 | “Those good at nurturing life” | Masters of harmonious existence |
| 无死地 | “No place for death” | Transcending fear of mortality |
Plain English Paraphrase
- The Statistics of Existence
- 30% live full lifespans
- 30% die prematurely naturally
- 30% actively court death through actions
- The Paradox of Preservation
- “Those who obsess over longevity often shorten their lives”
- Example: Over-medication, extreme risk-aversion
- The Master’s Secret
- Walks unharmed among dangers (“Meets no rhinos or tigers”)
- Enters battles unscathed (“Weapons find no target”)
- Why? “They leave death no foothold”
Key Philosophical Terms
| Chinese | Literal Meaning | Core Insight |
|---|---|---|
| 摄生 | “Life cultivation” | Art of harmonious living |
| 死地 | “Death’s ground” | Vulnerabilities created by fear |
| 无死地 | “No death-ground” | Existential fearlessness |
Modern Applications
For Personal Development
- “Health obsession can become its own disease” (生生之厚)
- “True safety comes from inner peace, not external armor”
For Leadership
- “The most secure leaders don’t provoke threats” (兵无所容其刃)
- Contrast: Paranoid dictators vs. enlightened rulers
“Like walking through a storm—the calm center remains untouched.”
— Metaphor for 无死地
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