Chapter XXV
(Chapter 25)
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Ko Yuen TranslationImages of the Mystery |
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| 1. | Without Limit and Perfect, there is a Becoming, beyond Heaven and Earth. It hath nor motion nor Form; it is alone, it changeth not1; it extendeth all ways; it hath no Adversary. It is like the All-Mother. |
| 2. | I know not its Name, but I call it the Tao. Moreover, I exert myself, and call it Vastness. |
| 3. | Vastness, the Becoming! Becoming, it flieth afar. Afar, it draweth near. Vast is this Tao; Heaven also is Vast; Earth is vast; and the Holy King is vast also2. In the Universe are Four Vastnesses, and of these is the Holy King. |
| 4. | Man followeth the formula of Earth3; Earth followeth that of Heaven, and Heaven that of the Tao. The formula of the Tao is its own Nature. |
S. Mitchell Translation |
| There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born. It is serene. Empty. Solitary. Unchanging. Infinite. Eternally present. It is the mother of the universe. For lack of a better name, I call it the Tao. It flows through all things, The Tao is great. Man follows the earth. |
James Legge Translation |
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| 1. | There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless, standing alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and in no danger (of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the Mother of all things. |
| 2. | I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Tao (the Way or Course). Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call it The Great. |
| 3. | Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes remote. Having become remote, it returns. Therefore the Tao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also great. In the universe there are four that are great, and the (sage) king is one of them. |
| 4. | Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is. |
GNL not Lao InterpolationBeneath Abstraction |
| There is a mystery, Beneath abstraction, Silent, depthless, Alone, unchanging, Ubiquitous and liquid, The mother of nature. It has no name, but I call it "the Way"; It has no limit, but I call it "limitless". Being limitless, it flows away forever; The Way is limitless, For I am abstracted from the world, |
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Ko Yuen Commentary |
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| 1. | because it comprehendeth Change. |
| 2. | for they conform to the Tao. |
| 3. | magick |
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