Tao Te Ching Chapter 57
1. Classical Chinese Original
以正治国，以奇用兵，以无事取天下。
吾何以知其然哉？以此：
天下多忌讳，而民弥贫；
人多利器，国家滋昏；
人多伎巧，奇物滋起；
法令滋彰，盗贼多有。
故圣人云：
我无为，而民自化；
我好静，而民自正；
我无事，而民自富；
我无欲，而民自朴。
2. Pinyin Transcription
Yǐ zhèng zhì guó, yǐ qí yòng bīng, yǐ wú shì qǔ tiānxià.
Wú hé yǐ zhī qí rán zāi? Yǐ cǐ:
Tiānxià duō jìhuì, ér mín mí pín;
Rén duō lìqì, guójiā zī hūn;
Rén duō jìqiǎo, qí wù zī qǐ;
Fǎlìng zī zhāng, dàozéi duō yǒu.
Gù shèngrén yún:
Wǒ wúwéi, ér mín zì huà;
Wǒ hào jìng, ér mín zì zhèng;
Wǒ wú shì, ér mín zì fù;
Wǒ wú yù, ér mín zì pǔ.
3. Structural Analysis
Section 1: Three Governance Principles
- Administration: “Govern the state with correctness”
- Military: “Employ surprise in warfare”
- Sovereignty: “Win the world through non-interference”
Section 2: Four Social Pathologies
- “More taboos → greater poverty”
- “More weapons → national confusion”
- “More cleverness → strange phenomena”
- “More laws → more criminals”
Section 3: Sage’s Governance Model
- Fourfold Spontaneous Harmony:
- “I practice non-action → people self-transform”
- “I love stillness → people self-correct”
- “I avoid meddling → people self-prosper”
- “I remain desireless → people return to simplicity”
4. Key Concepts
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Philosophical Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 正/奇 | zhèng/qí | Straight/unconventional | Balanced governance strategies |
| 忌讳 | jìhuì | Taboos | Artificial restrictions |
| 自化 | zì huà | Self-transformation | Organic social development |
| 自朴 | zì pǔ | Self-simplification | Natural return to essence |
5. Comparative Commentary
- Chapter 58 Parallel: “When government is dull, people are happy”
- Libertarianism: Minimal governance philosophy
- Complexity Theory: Emergent order from simple rules
6. Plain-English Summary
This chapter reveals:
- Effective Leadership:
- Standard administration + tactical flexibility
- Ultimate power through non-coercion
- Social Problems Stem From:
- Excessive control
- Over-complication
- Ideal Governance:
- Leader’s non-action → People’s natural flourishing