Tao Te Ching vs. I Ching: Comparing the Foundations of Chinese Philosophy

Taoist Wisdom and I Ching Connections in the Digital Age

01

The Dao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Dao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name. (Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things. Always without desire we must be found, if its deep mystery we would sound; but if desire always within us be, its outer fringe is all that we shall see. Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development takes place, it receives the different names. Together we call them the Mystery. Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.

The beginning of all things, the gate to all mysteries. Discusses the origin of the universe and the logic of transformation between 'Being' and 'Non-being'.

No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.25 Hexagram: 无妄 No.29 Hexagram: 坎
02

All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what is ugliness; they all know the skill of the skillful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what is the want of skill. So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to the other; that difficulty and ease produce the one the other; that length and shortness fashion out the one the figure of the other; that height and lowness exhibit the one the want of the other; that notes and tones afford the one the concept of the other; and that before and after give the one the order of the other. Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech. All things spring up, and there is not one which declines to show itself; they grow, but there is no claim made for their ownership; they go through their processes, but there is no expectation of a reward for the results. The work is accomplished, but there is no resting in it.

Abiding in non-action and practicing the wordless teaching. Emphasizes the unity of opposites and the dialectic of withdrawing after success.

No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.38 Hexagram: 睽 No.63 Hexagram: 既济 No.64 Hexagram: 未济 No.22 Hexagram: 贲
03

Not to value and employ men of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves; not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves; not to show them what is likely to excite their desires is the way to keep their minds from disorder. Therefore the sage, in the exercise of his government, empties their minds, fills their bellies, weakens their wills, and strengthens their bones. He constantly (tries to) keep them without knowledge and without desire, and where there are those who have knowledge, to keep them from presuming to act (on it). When there is this abstinence from action, good order is universal.

Emptying the mind and filling the belly. Advocates for governance through non-action and reducing desires to return to simplicity.

No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.27 Hexagram: 颐 No.20 Hexagram: 观 No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.4 Hexagram: 蒙
04

The Dao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel; and in our employment of it we must be on our guard against all fullness. How deep and unfathomable it is, as if it were the Honoured Ancestor of all things! We should blunt our sharp points, and unravel the complications of things; we should attemper our brightness, and bring ourselves into agreement with the obscurity of others. How pure and still the Dao is, as if it would ever so continue! I do not know whose son it is. It might appear to have been before God.

The Dao is empty, yet in use it seems inexhaustible. Describes the infinite void of the Dao and its ability to harmonize all things.

No.16 Hexagram: 豫 No.40 Hexagram: 解 No.48 Hexagram: 井 No.59 Hexagram: 涣 No.30 Hexagram: 离
05

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 such impulse); they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with. May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows? 'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power; 'tis moved, and sends forth air the more. Much speech to swift exhaustion leads we see; your inner being guard, and keep it free.

Heaven and Earth are not 'humane'; guarding the center is best. Emphasizes the impartiality of nature and maintaining inner tranquility.

No.5 Hexagram: 需 No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.31 Hexagram: 咸 No.50 Hexagram: 鼎 No.42 Hexagram: 益
06

The valley spirit dies not, aye the same; the female mystery thus do we name. Its gate, from which at first they issued forth, is called the root from which grew heaven and earth. Long and unbroken does its power remain, used gently, and without the slightest strain.

The spirit of the valley never dies; it is called the Mysterious Female. Emphasizes that the source of life is the 'void' and 'continuousness'.

No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.48 Hexagram: 井 No.3 Hexagram: 屯 No.57 Hexagram: 巽
07

Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves. This is how they can long endure. Therefore the sage puts his own person last, and yet it is found in the foremost place; he treats his person as if it were foreign to him, and yet that person is preserved. Is it not because he has no personal and private ends, that therefore such ends are realized?

Heaven and Earth endure because they do not live for themselves. Advocates for putting oneself last to come first.

No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.13 Hexagram: 同人 No.33 Hexagram: 遁 No.42 Hexagram: 益
08

The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Dao. The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place; that of the mind is in abyssal stillness; that of the association is in (their) being with the virtuous; that of government is in (its) being according to rule; that of business is in (its) efficiency; that of movement is in (its) timeliness. And when there is no striving, there will be no reproach.

The highest good is like water, avoiding the high and trending low. Emphasizes the virtue of non-contention and adapting to nature.

No.29 Hexagram: 坎 No.48 Hexagram: 井 No.8 Hexagram: 比 No.60 Hexagram: 节 No.39 Hexagram: 蹇
09

It is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full. If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the edge cannot long last. When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe. When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself. When the work is done, and one's name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven.

Filling a cup to the brim is not as good as stopping in time. Warns that one should withdraw after fame and success.

No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.28 Hexagram: 大过 No.63 Hexagram: 既济 No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.33 Hexagram: 遁
10

When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating. When one gives undivided attention to the (vital) breath, and brings it to the utmost degree of pliancy, he can become as a tender babe. When he has cleansed away the most mysterious sights (of his imagination), he can become without a flaw. In loving the people and ruling the state, can he proceed without any (purpose of) action? In the opening and shutting of his gates of heaven, can he be like a female bird? While his intelligence reaches in every direction and penetrates of every corner, can he be without (any use of) knowledge? It (the Dao) produces (all things) and nourishes them; it produces them and does not claim them as its own; it does all, and yet does not boast of it; it presides over all, and yet does not control them. This is what is called 'The Mysterious Virtue'.

Carrying the soul and embracing the One. Emphasizes the unity of body and spirit, and the 'Mysterious Virtue' of producing without possessing.

No.2 Hexagram: 坤 No.3 Hexagram: 屯 No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.20 Hexagram: 观 No.14 Hexagram: 大有