Chapter V
(Chapter 5)

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Ko Yuen Translation

The Formula of the Vacuum
1. Heaven and earth proceed without motive, but casually in their order of nature, dealing with all things carelessly, like used talismans.  So also the sages deal with their people, not exercising benevolence, but allowing the nature of all to move without friction.
2. The Space between heaven and earth1 is their breathing apparatus2:   Exhalation is not exhaustion, but the complement of Inhalation, and this equally of that.  Speech3 exhausteth; guard thyself, therefore, maintaining the perfect freedom of thy nature.

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S. Mitchell Translation
The Tao doesn't take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil.
The Master doesn't take sides; she welcomes both saints and sinners.

The Tao is like a bellows:  it is empty yet infinitely capable.
The more you use it, the more it produces; the more you talk of it, the less you understand.

Hold on to the center.

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James Legge Translation

1. Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with.  The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with.
2. May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows?

'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power;
'Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more.
Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see;
Your inner being guard, and keep it free.

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GNL not Lao Interpolation

Nature

Nature is not kind;
It treats all things impartially.
The Sage is not kind,
And treats all people impartially.

Nature is like a bellows,
Empty, yet never ceasing its supply.
The more it moves, the more it yields;
So the sage draws upon experience
And cannot be exhausted.

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Ko Yuen Commentary
1. I.e., the six trigrams between.

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2. and so these must not be interfered with.

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3. by interfering with this regular order of breathing.  References to the trigrams of the Yi King must be explained by that Book.  It would be impossible to elucidate such passages in a note.  Ko Yuen is now at work to prepare an edition of the Yi.

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