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

71

To know that you do not know is the highest attainment. To not know and yet think you know is a disease. Only by recognizing the disease as a disease can one be free from it. The Sage is not diseased because he recognizes the disease as a disease; therefore, he is not diseased.

To know that you do not know is best; to not know yet think you know is a disease. The Sage is free from disease because he treats the disease as a disease.

No.4 Hexagram: 蒙 No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.20 Hexagram: 观 No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.30 Hexagram: 离

72

When people do not fear might, great might will descend. Do not restrict where they live; do not oppress how they make a living. It is precisely because the Sage does not weary them that they do not weary of him. Therefore, the Sage knows himself but does not show himself; he loves himself but does not exalt himself. He discards the former and chooses the latter.

When the people do not fear authority, then great authority arrives. Do not intrude into their dwellings; do not weary them of their lives.

No.51 Hexagram: 震 No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.30 Hexagram: 离 No.5 Hexagram: 需 No.32 Hexagram: 恒

73

One who is brave in daring will be killed; one who is brave in not daring will survive. Of these two, one is profitable and the other is harmful. Who knows the reason for what Heaven hates? Even the Sage finds this difficult. The Way of Heaven wins well without competing, responds well without speaking, comes at its own accord without being summoned, and plans well while remaining relaxed. The net of Heaven is vast; though its mesh is wide, nothing slips through.

Courage in daring leads to death; courage in not daring leads to life. The Way of Heaven wins easily without striving.

No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.25 Hexagram: 无妄 No.20 Hexagram: 观 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.6 Hexagram: 讼

74

If the people do not fear death, how can death be used to frighten them? If the people are made to fear death, and there are those who act perversely, and we capture and execute them, who would dare to do so? There is always a Master Executioner who kills. To kill in the place of the Master Executioner is like trying to hew wood in the place of a master carpenter. Few who try to hew wood like a master carpenter escape without injuring their own hands.

If the people do not fear death, why try to frighten them with death? If we could keep the people in constant fear of death, and we could catch and kill those who act out, who would dare?

No.21 Hexagram: 噬嗑 No.36 Hexagram: 明夷 No.12 Hexagram: 否 No.10 Hexagram: 履 No.50 Hexagram: 鼎

75

The people are hungry because those above them eat too much in taxes; this is why they are hungry. The people are difficult to govern because those above them are too intrusive; this is why they are difficult to govern. The people treat death lightly because those above them are too obsessed with the richness of life; this is why they treat death lightly. Only those who do not value life for their own ends are truly wiser than those who value life too highly.

The people starve because their superiors consume too much in taxes. The people treat death lightly because their superiors demand too much of life.

No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.42 Hexagram: 益 No.27 Hexagram: 颐 No.12 Hexagram: 否 No.11 Hexagram: 泰

76

When humans are born, they are soft and weak; when they die, they are stiff and hard. All things, such as grass and trees, are soft and fragile when they live, but dry and withered when they die. Therefore, the hard and rigid are companions of death, while the soft and weak are companions of life. Thus, a strong army will be destroyed, and a rigid tree will be broken. The strong and great take the lower position; the soft and weak take the higher position.

When a man is born, he is supple and weak; when he dies, he is hard and rigid. The flexible are disciples of life; the rigid are disciples of death.

No.28 Hexagram: 大过 No.3 Hexagram: 屯 No.57 Hexagram: 巽 No.34 Hexagram: 大壮 No.58 Hexagram: 兑

77

Is not the Way of Heaven like the stretching of a bow? The high is pressed down, the low is raised up; the surplus is reduced, and the deficient is supplemented. The Way of Heaven takes from the surplus to give to the deficient. The way of man is different: it takes from the deficient to serve the surplus. Who can take their surplus and offer it to the world? Only those who possess the Tao.

The Way of Heaven is like the drawing of a bow. It reduces the excessive and supplements the deficient. The way of man is not so.

No.41 Hexagram: 损 No.42 Hexagram: 益 No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.12 Hexagram: 否

78

In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water, yet for attacking that which is hard and strong, nothing can surpass it. This is because nothing can alter its nature. That the weak overcomes the strong and the soft overcomes the hard—everyone knows this, but no one can practice it. Therefore the Sage says: He who bears the disgrace of the state is called the Lord of the Altars; he who bears the misfortunes of the state is called the King of the World. True words seem paradoxical.

Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water, yet nothing is better at attacking the hard and strong. Truth often sounds like its opposite.

No.29 Hexagram: 坎 No.48 Hexagram: 井 No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.24 Hexagram: 复 No.6 Hexagram: 讼

79

When a great resentment is reconciled, some resentment will surely remain; how can this be considered good? Therefore, the Sage holds the left tally (the debtor's contract) but does not demand payment from others. The virtuous attend to their obligations; those without virtue attend to their claims. The Way of Heaven has no partiality; it always stays with the good person.

After a great resentment is settled, some resentment will surely remain. How can this be called good? The Way of Heaven has no favorites; it is always on the side of the good.

No.61 Hexagram: 中孚 No.1 Hexagram: 乾 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.13 Hexagram: 同人 No.10 Hexagram: 履

80

Let the state be small and the population sparse. Even if there are labor-saving tools, let them not be used. Let the people value death and not travel far. Though there are boats and carriages, let there be no occasion to ride them; though there are armor and weapons, let there be no occasion to display them. Let the people return to the use of knotted cords. Let them find their food savory, their clothing beautiful, their homes comfortable, and their customs joyful. Though neighboring states are within sight, the people may grow old and die without ever having gone from one to the other.

A small country with few people. Though neighbor states are within sight and the sounds of their dogs and chickens are heard, the people grow old and die without ever visiting one another.

No.25 Hexagram: 无妄 No.52 Hexagram: 艮 No.15 Hexagram: 谦 No.11 Hexagram: 泰 No.2 Hexagram: 坤