The Value of Empty Space, Empty Cup, Uses for the Non-Existent, 無用
"The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space for
the axle, that the use of the wheel depends.
Clay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness, that their
use depends.
The door and windows are cut out from the walls to form an apartment; but it is
on the empty space within, that its use depends.
Therefore, what has a positive existence serves for profitable adaptation, and
what has not that for actual usefulness."
- Translated by
James Legge, 1891,
Chapter 11
"Thirty spokes unite in one nave and on that which is non-existent on the
hole in the nave depends the wheel's utility.
Clay is moulded into a vessel and on that which is non-existent on its
hollowness depends the vessel's utility.
By cutting out doors and windows we build a house and on that which is
non-existent on the empty space within depends the house's utility.
Therefore, existence renders actual but non-existence renders useful."
- Translated by
D. T. Suzuki and Paul
Carus, 1913,
Chapter 11
By Alexander Simkins
By Derek Lin
By Ming-Dao Deng.
By Benjamin Hoff.
By Ming-Dao Deng
Translated by Thomas Cleary
"Thirty spokes share the wheel's hub;
It is the center hole that makes it useful.
Shape clay into a vessel;
It is the space within that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows for a room;
It is the holes which make it useful.
Therefore benefit comes from what is there;
Usefulness from what is not there."
- Translated by
Gia-fu Feng and Jane
English, 1989, Chapter 11
Chapter 11 of the Dao De Jing by Laozi
Comments, Related Thoughts, Reflections
"Experiencing the present purely is being
empty and hollow; you catch grace as a man fills his cup under a waterfall."
- Annie Dillard
By Hu Xuzehi
Annotated translation by Victor Mair 
By Ha Poong Kim
By Hans-Georg Moeller 
By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall
By Wes Burgess
By Arthur Waley
"We put thirty spokes together and call it a wheel;
But it is on the space where there is nothing
That the usefulness of the wheel depends.
We turn clay to make a vessel;
But it is on the space where there is nothing
That the usefulness of the vessel depends.
We pierce doors and windows to make a house;
And it is on these spaces where there is nothing
That the usefulness of the house depends.
Therefore just as we take advantage of what is,
We should recognize the usefulness of what is not."
- Translated by
Arthur Waley, 1934, Chapter 11
Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni
Translated by Brian Walker
Translated by Arthur Waley
Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles
By Eva Wong
"Thirty
spokes unite around the nave;
From their not-being (loss of their individuality)
Arises the utility of the wheel.
Mold clay into a vessel;
From its not-being (in the vessel's hollow)
Arises the utility of the vessel.
Cut out doors and windows in the house (-wall),
From their not-being (empty space) arises the utility of the
house.
Therefore by the existence of things we profit.
And by the non-existence of things we are served."
- Translated by
Lin Yutang, 1955, Chapter 11
Translated by Eva Wong 
Translated by Philip Ivahoe
By James Miller
Translated by Stephen Bokencamp
By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins
Translated by Thomas Cleary
By Livia Kohn
"Though thirty spokes may be joined in one hub, the utility of the carriage lies in what is not there.
Though clay may be moulded into a vase, the utility of the vase lies in what is not there
Though doors and windows may be cut to make a house, the utility of the house lies in what is not there.
Therefore, taking advantage of what is, we recognize the utility of what is not."
- Translated by
Jan J. L. Duyvendak, 1954, Chapter 11
Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching
Translated by Livia Kohn
Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way
"Thirty spokes will converge
In the hub of a wheel;
But the use of the cart
Will depend on the part
Of the hub that is void.
With a wall all around
A clay bowl is molded;
But the use of the bowl
Will depend on the part
Of the bowl that is void.
Cut out windows and doors
In the house as you build;
But the use of the house
Will depend on the space
In the walls that is void.
So advantage is had
From whatever is there;
But usefulness rises
From whatever is not."
- Translated by
Raymond Blackney, 1955, Chapter 11
Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching
The Tao of Zen
Tao Te Ching: Zen Teachings on the Taoist Classic
Buddhism and Taoism Face to Face: Scripture, Ritual, and
Iconographic Exchange in Medieval China
"Although the wheel has thirty spokes its utility lies
in the emptiness of the hub.
The jar is made by kneading clay, but its usefulness consists in its capacity.
A room is made by cutting out windows and doors through the walls, but the space
the walls contain measures the room's value.
In the same way matter is necessary to form, but the value of reality lies in
its immateriality.
Or thus: a material body is necessary to existence, but the value of a life is
measured by its immaterial soul."
- Translated by
Dwight Goddard and Henri Borel, 1919, Chapter 11
Next Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #12
Previous Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #10
Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 11
Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition
By Jonathan Star. Translation, commentary and research tools. New York, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Penguin, 2001. Concordance, tables, appendices, 349 pages. A
new rendition of the Tao Te Ching is provided, then a verbatim translation with
extensive notes. Detailed tables for each verse provide line number, all
the Chinese characters, Wade-Giles romanization, and a list of meanings for
each character. An excellent reference tool!
Yellow Bridge
Dao De Jing Comparison Table, Chapter 11 Provides side by side comparisons of translations of the Tao Te
Ching by James Legge,
D. T. Suzuki, and Dwight Goddard. Chinese characters for each paragraph in
the Chapter are on the left; place your cursor over the Chinese characters to
see the Pinyin romanization of the Chinese character and a list of meanings.
The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching
Tao Te Ching Commentaries - Google Search
Translators'
Index, Tao Te Ching Translators Sorted Alphabetically by Translator, Links
to Books and Online Versions
Tao Te Ching: A
Bibliography and Index of Translations on the Web
Chapter 11 in the
Rambling
Taoist Commentaries by Trey Smith. The
Rambling Taoists are Trey Smith and Scott Bradley.
By Hu Xuzehi. Seven Star Communications, 2006, 240 pages.
The Philosophy of the Daodejing
Valley Spirit, Gu Shen,
Concept, Chapter 6
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
The largest collection of very nicely formatted complete versions of the Tao
Te Ching. The
collection includes 209 complete versions in 27 languages,
plus 28 Chinese versions. There are 112 English language
versions of the
Tao Te Ching available at this website. A variety of search methods and comparision methods are provided, as well a a detailed
index.
Offline on 5/11/2013.
Tao Te Ching
English Translations from Terebess Asia Online.
Over 30 translations.
Lao-tzu's Taoteching
Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation
Thematic Index to the
81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui
Texts (Classics of Ancient China)
Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching
Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Grove, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California
This webpage was last modified or updated on May
11, 2013.
This webpage was first distributed online on February 7, 2011
Brief Biography of Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.
Valley Spirit Grove, Red Bluff, California
Ripening Peaches: Daoist Studies and Practices
One Old Druid's Final Journey: Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove
The Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) circa 500 BCE
Vacation and Learn in Beautiful Red Bluff, California
Beginning T'ai Chi Ch'uan Options: Yang 24, Chen 18, Sun 24, Cane 18
Beginning Chi Kung Options: Eight Brocades, Magic Pearl, Dragon Rain
Lectures, Private Lessons,
Classes, Consulting, Questions and Answers
Reasonable Hourly Rates
Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.
Excellent Recreational Opportunities
for Persons of All Ages in the North Sacramento Valley
The Perfect Weekend Getaway for You, Friends and Family
Beautiful Scenery, Pleasant Weather, and Clear Skies for the Outdoor Enthusiast
Activities:
Sight Seeing, Reading, Relaxing, Walking, Shopping, Spas, Antiques
The Valley Spirit Center includes extensive gardens
for Tai Chi practice and a Sacred
Circle
A Full Array of Services and Excellent Accommodations in
Redding or
Red Bluff
Contact Mike: Email or Phone 530-200-3546
My Daily Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung Training Program
