Chapter XXIII
(Chapter 23)

Ko Yuen Translation The Void of Naught
1.	To keep silence is the mark of one who is acting in full accordance with his Will. A fierce wind soon falleth; a storm-shower doth not last all day. Yet Heaven and Earth cause these; and if they fail to make violence continue, how much less can man abide in spasm of passion!
2.	With him that devoteth him to Tao, the devotees of Tao are in accord; so also are the devotees of Teh¹, yea, even they who fail in seeking those are in accord².
3.	So then his brothers in the Tao are joyful, attaining it; and his brothers in the Teh are joyful, attaining it; and they who fail in seeking these are joyful, partaking of it. But if he himself realize not the Tao with calm of confidence, then they also appear lacking in confidence³.

S. Mitchell Translation

Express yourself completely,
then keep quiet.
Be like the forces of nature:
when it blows, there is only wind;
when it rains, there is only rain;
when the clouds pass, the sun shines through.

If you open yourself to the Tao,
you are at one with the Tao
and you can embody it completely.
If you open yourself to insight,
you are at one with insight
and you can use it completely.
If you open yourself to loss,
you are at one with loss
and you can accept it completely.

Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place.

James Legge Translation
1.	Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature. A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day. To whom is it that these (two) things are owing? To Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth cannot make such (spasmodic) actings last long, how much less can man!
2.	Therefore when one is making the Tao his business, those who are also pursuing it, agree with him in it, and those who are making the manifestation of its course their object agree with him in that; while even those who are failing in both these things agree with him where they fail.
3.	Hence, those with whom he agrees as to the Tao have the happiness of attaining to it; those with whom he agrees as to its manifestation have the happiness of attaining to it; and those with whom he agrees in their failure have also the happiness of attaining (to the Tao). (But) when there is not faith sufficient (on his part), a want of faith (in him) ensues (on the part of the others).

GNL not Lao Interpolation

Words

Nature says only a few words:
High wind does not last long,
Nor does heavy rain.
If nature's words do not last
Why should those of man?

Who accepts harmony, becomes harmonious.
Who accepts loss, becomes lost.
For who accepts harmony, the Way harmonizes with him,
And who accepts loss, the Way cannot find.

Tao Teh King
Main Page

Ko Yuen Commentary
1.	Because Teh is part of Tao. Return to text
2.	because to him who has Tao all things are realized as harmonious. Return to text
3.	He who has Tao all things rightly disposed; his own failure creates the illusion of general failure. Return to text

Tao Teh King
Main Page

Chapter XXIII(Chapter 23)

Ko Yuen Translation

The Void of Naught

S. Mitchell Translation

James Legge Translation

GNL not Lao Interpolation

Words

Ko Yuen Commentary

Chapter XXIII
(Chapter 23)