Tao Te Ching Chapter 6
Original Chinese Text
谷神不死，是谓玄牝。
玄牝之门，是谓天地根。
绵绵若存，用之不勤。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Gǔ shén bù sǐ, shì wèi xuán pìn.
Xuán pìn zhī mén, shì wèi tiāndì gēn.
Mián mián ruò cún, yòng zhī bù qín.
白话文翻译 (Plain Chinese Translation)
- 谷神不死，是谓玄牝
- 虚空的神妙作用永不消逝，称为”玄牝”（神秘的母性）。
- The valley spirit never dies—it is called the Mystic Feminine.
- 玄牝之门，是谓天地根
- 这神秘母性的门户，就是天地的根源。
- The gate of the Mystic Feminine is the root of Heaven and Earth.
- 绵绵若存，用之不勤
- 它连绵不绝地存在着，作用却永不衰竭。
- Ever-present yet elusive, it functions without exhaustion.
Key Concepts Explained
- 谷神 (gǔ shén / Valley Spirit): Symbolizes the receptive, nurturing void (like an empty valley).
- 玄牝 (xuán pìn / Mystic Feminine): The generative principle of the Tao, contrasting with Yang’s active force.
- 不勤 (bù qín / Without Effort): The Tao’s effortless creativity (compare to Chapter 5’s bellows metaphor).
Philosophical Essence
- Feminine Principle: Highlights the Tao’s passive, sustaining power (later echoed in Chapter 28’s “know the male, keep to the female”).
- Paradox of Generative Emptiness: Like a womb, the void produces all things (compare to Chapter 4’s “道冲”).
- Sustainability: The Tao’s endless efficacy (“用之不勤”) contrasts with human exhaustion (“多言数穷” in Chapter 5).
“The valley embodies humility; the Mystic Feminine embodies boundless life.”
— Modern interpretation linking emptiness (谷) and fertility (牝).