A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 30 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching

以道佐人主者, 不以兵強天下.
其事好還. 
師之所處, 荊棘生焉. 
大軍之後, 必有凶年. 
善有果而已.
不敢以取強. 
果而勿矜.
果而勿伐.
果而勿驕. 
果而不得已.
果而勿強. 
物壯則老.
是謂不道.
不道早已.
-  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 30

yi tao tso jên chu chê, pu yi ping ch'iang t'ien hsia.  
ch'i shih hao huan.
shih chih so ch'u, ching chi shêng yen.
ta chün chih hou, pi yu hsiung nien
shan chê kuo erh yi.
pu kan yi ch'ü ch'iang. 
kuo erh wu ching.
kuo erh wu fa.
kuo erh wu chiao.
kuo erh pu tê yi. 
kuo erh wu ch'iang.
wu chuang tsê lao.
shih wei pu tao.
pu tao tsao yi.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 30

Audio Version in Chinese of Chapter 30 of the Tao Te Ching

yi dao zuo ren zhu zhe, bu yi bing qiang tian xia.
qi shi hao huan.
shi zhi suo chu, jing ji sheng yan.
da jun zhi hou, bi you xiong nian.
shan you guo er yi.
Sbu gan yi qu qiang.
guo er wu jin,
guo er wu fa,
guo er wu jiao.
guo er bu de yi.
guo er wu qiang.
wu zhuang ze lao.  
shi wei bu dao.  
bu dao zao yi.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 30  

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English (includes a word by word key) from YellowBridge

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 

Laozi Daodejing: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English. 

Chinese and English Dictionary, MDGB

Chinese Character Dictionary

Dao De Jing Wade-Giles Concordance by Nina, Dao is Open

Dao De Jing English and Wade-Giles Concordance by Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization with Chinese characters, WuWei Foundation

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English

Tao Te Ching: English translation, Word by Word Chinese and English, and Commentary, Center Tao by Carl Abbott

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, English, Word by word analysis, Zhongwen

Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition  Chinese characters, Wade-Giles Romanization, and a list of meanings for each character by Jonathan Star 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters: Big 5 Traditional and GB Simplified

Convert from Pinyin to Wade Giles to Yale Romanizations of Words and Terms: A Translation Tool from Qi Journal

Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanizations, and 16 English Translations for Each Chapter of the Daodejing by Mike Garofalo. 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin and Wade Giles Romanization spellings, English; a word for word translation of the Guodian Laozi Dao De Jing Version. 

Lao Zi's Dao De Jing: A Matrix Translation with Chinese Text by Bradford Hatcher. 

"Those who rule in accordance with Tao
    do not use force against the world
For that which is forced is likely to return―
Where armies settle
    Nature offers nothing but briars and thorns
After a great battle has been fought
    the land is cursed, the crops fail,
    the Earth lies stripped of its motherhood

A knower of the Truth does what is called for
    then stops
He uses his strength but does not force things
In the same way
    complete your task
    seek no reward
    make no claims
Without faltering
    fully choose to do what you must do
This is to live without forcing
    to overcome without conquering

Things that gain a place by force
    will flourish for a time
    but then fade away
They are not in keeping with Tao
Whatever is not in keeping with Tao
    will come to an early end."
-  Translated by Jonathan Star, 2001, Chapter 30 

Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living  Translated by Eva Wong

The Daodejing of Laozi   Translated by Philip Ivahoe 

Daoism: A Beginner's Guide   By James Miller

Early Daoist Scriptures  Translated by Stephen Bokencamp

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons

Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance  By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins

Practical Taoism  Translated by Thomas Cleary

Daoism and Chinese Culture  By Livia Kohn

"Whoever advises a leader according to the Way
opposes conquest by force of arms.
The use of force tends to rebound.
Where armies march, thorns and brambles grow.
Whenever a great army is formed, scarcity and famine follow.
The skillful achieve their purposes and stop.
They dare not rely on force.
They achieve their purposes, but do not glory in them.
They achieve their purposes, but do not celebrate them.
They achieve their purposes, but do not take pride in them.
They achieve their purposes, but without violence.
Things reach their prime and then decline.
Violence is contrary to the Way.
Whatever is contrary to the Way will soon perish."
-  Translated by S. Beck, 1996, Chapter 30  

"He who by dao purposes to help a ruler of men, will oppose most conquest by force of arms:
such things are wont to rebound.
Where armies are, thorns and brambles can grow.
The raising of a great host could be followed by a year of dearth.
Therefore a good general effects his purpose and next stops; for he dares not 
rely upon the strength of arms, he doesn't take further advantage of a victory. 
He fulfils his purpose and does hardly glory in things he has done; effects his 
purpose and doesn't boast of a thing he accomplished.
Fulfils an ignoble purpose, but takes no pride in something he did well.
Fulfils his purpose as some perhaps regrettable necessity - does it as a step that could 
hardly be averted and avoided. 
So he effects his purpose, but hardly loves violence. Why?

Things age after reaching their prime. 
What has a time of vigor and conquest also has its time of decay. 
After things reach their prime, they begin to grow old, which means being contrary to Dao. 
Furthermore, morbid violence and violence in excess could be against Dao. 
He who is against the Dao perishes young. 
Whatever is contrary to Dao will soon perish. 
What's against Dao will hardly survive."
-  Interpolated by Tormod Byrn, 1997, Chapter 30 

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

"Those who use the Dao to aid the masters of men do not employ weapons to take the world by force.
That tactic is good at recoiling upon its origin:
Where armies have trodden thorns and brambles spring up.
After the great armies there must follow bad years.
In the case of the good use of armies, they are employed only until results are obtained and nobody dares use them to grab power.
When results are obtained they dare not brag.
When results are obtained they dare not boast.
When results are obtained they dare not be arrogant.
When results are obtained it is solely because there was no other way out.
When results are obtained they do not try to dominate.
When creatures come to their prime they begin to age.
That is spoken of as the Dao of retrograde action.
What is on the retrograde Dao is soon finished."
-  Translated by Patrick E. Moran, Chapter 30

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2011-2021 CCA 4.0

Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance  By Alexander Simkins. 

The Tao of Daily Life: The Mysteries of the Orient Revealed  By Derek Lin. 

Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony   By Ming-Dao Deng. 

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

The Tao of Pooh   By Benjamin Hoff. 

Scholar Warrior: An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life  By Ming-Dao Deng. 

Vitality, Energy, Spirit: A Taoist Sourcebook  Translated by Thomas Cleary. 

"When leading by the way of the Tao,
abominate the use of force, 
for it causes resistance, and loss of strength,
showing the Tao has not been followed well. 
Achieve results but not through violence, 
for it is against the natural way, 
and damages both others' and one's own true self. 
The harvest is destroyed in the wake of a great war, 
and weeds grow in the fields in the wake of the army. 
The wise leader achieves results, 
but does not glory in them;
is not proud of his victories, 
and does not boast of them.
He knows that boasting is not the natural way, 
and that he who goes against that way,
will fail in his endeavours."
-  Translated by Stan Rosenthal, 1984, Chapter 30 

"If you would assist leaders of people
by way of the Tao,
you will oppose the use of armed force to overpower
the world.

Those who use weapons will be harmed by them.
Where troops have camped only thorn bushes grow.
Bad harvests follow in the wake of a great army.

The skillful person strikes the blow and stops,
without taking advantage of victory.
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be vain.
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be boastful.
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be arrogant.
Bring it to a conclusion but only when there is no choice.
Bring it to a conclusion but without violence.

When force is rlsed, youthful strength decays.
This is not the way of Tao.
And that which goes against the Tao
will quickly pass away."
-  Translated by Tolbert McCarroll, 1982, Chapter 30 

"There is an ancient way to lead
That just allows and does not force
For what goes out will come around
And violence will lead to wars

The one who sees completes a task
And stops when it is done
Seeing all is on its own
And not controlled by anyone

The seer sees that all is well
And does not need to please
Just gives acceptance everywhere
Puts everyone at ease"
-  Interpolated by Jim Clatfelder, 2000, Chapter 30 

The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching   Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni

The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu   Translated by Brian Walker

Tao Te Ching  Translated by Arthur Waley

Tao - The Way   Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles

Taoism: An Essential Guide   By Eva Wong

"Those who use Tao in assisting their Sovereign do not employ soldiers to force the Empire.
The methods of government they adopt are such as have a tendency to react upon themselves.
Where garrisons are quartered, briars and thorns spring up, and the the land is deserted by the people.
Disastrous years inevitably follow in the wake of great armies. 
Wise rulers act with decision, and nothing more.
They do not venture to use overbearing measures.
They are decided without self-conceit, or boasting, or pride.
They are decided in spite of themselves, and without presuming on brute force.
After a man has arrived at the prime of his strength, he begins to age.
This is attributable to his not possessing the Tao. 
Those who do not possess Tao die before their time."
-  Translated by Frederic H. Balfour, 1884, Chapter 30

"One who would assist the ruler of men in accordance with the Dao does not use
military force to gain power over all under Heaven.
As for such matters, he is wont to let them revert.
Where armies deploy, there thistles and thorns grow.
The aftermath of great military operations is surely a year of famine.
One good at this desists when result is had and dares not use the
opportunity to seize military supremacy.
Have result but do not take credit for it;
have result but do not boast about it;
have result but do not take pride in it;
have result but only when there is no choice;
have result but do not try to gain military supremacy.
Once a thing reaches its prime, it grows old.
We say it goes against the Dao, and what is against the Dao comes to an early end."
-  Translated by Richard John Lynn, Chapter 30 

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

"When one who is an advisor to a person who wields power expresses Dao,
he will recommend no need to use offensive weapons forcefully in the world.
That method shows that if you are endearing to others, they will treat you the same way.
Where an army finds a place to encamp, thistles and thorns are all that will grow there.

One who is kind will get results and then stop.
He doesn’t try to grab it all forcefully.
Getting results, and yet he won’t destroy anything in the process.
Getting results, and yet he won’t become arrogant.
Getting results, and yet he won’t lord it over others.
Getting results, and yet he won’t stop and bask in the glory of it.
This is correctly described as getting results without using force.
That method shows that if you are endearing to others, everyone will be increased.

A living thing may pretend to be stronger than they actually are, then they will age quickly.
This is correctly refered to as not being like Dao.
What is not like Dao will soon cease."
-  Translated by Nina Correa, 2005, Chapter 30 

Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching by Robert Meikyo Rosenbaum

The Tao of Zen by Ray Grigg

Tao Te Ching: Zen Teachings on the Taoist Classic by Takuan Soho 

Buddhism and Taoism Face to Face: Scripture, Ritual, and Iconographic Exchange in Medieval China by Christine Mollier  

"He who would help a Ruler of men by Tao
Does not take soldiers to give strength to the kingdom.
His service is well rewarded.
Where troops dwell, there grow thorns and briers.
After great wars, there follow bad years.
He who loves, bears fruit unceasingly,
He does not dare to conquer by strength.
He bears fruit, but not with assertiveness,
He bears fruit, but not with boastfulness,
He bears fruit, but not with meanness,
He bears fruit, but not to obtain it for himself,
He bears fruit, but not to shew his strength.
Man is great and strong, then he is old,
In this he is not of Tao.
If he is not of Tao
He will quickly perish."
-  Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 30 

"Those rulers who use the Tao to assist mankind
Do not use soldiers to force the world.
Those doings can be paid back to them.

The place of the army’s encampment—
Thorns and brambles grow there.
In the wake of the military
There indeed exists a famine-year.

The good have success and stop
Not daring thereby to grab for power.
They succeed but never boast.
Succeed but never strike down.
Succeed but never arrogantly.
Succeed but do not gain thereafter.
Succeed but never force.

A strong thing ruling over what is Old—
This is called “non-Tao.”
The non-Tao soon ends."
-  Translated by Aalar Fex, 2006, Chapter 30 

"He who uses Tao to guide rulers
Does not force beneath-heaven with arms.
Such things recoil on their users.
Where armies are
Briars and brambles grow.
Bad harvests follow big wars.
Be firm and that is all:
Dare not rely on force
Be firm but not haughty,
Firm but not boastful,
Firm but not proud:
Firm when necessary,
Firm but non-violent.
Things that flourish
Fall into decay.
This is not-Tao,
And what is not-Tao soon ends."
-  Translated by Herrymoon Maurer, 1985, Chapter 30 

Further Teachings of Lao-Tzu: Understanding the Mysteries (Wen Tzu)   By Thomas Cleary

The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons   By Deng Ming-Dao

Awakening to the Tao   By Lui I-Ming (1780) and translated by Thomas Cleary

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo

Zhuangzi: The Essential Writings with Selections from Traditional Commentaries   Translation and commentary by Brook Ziporyn

"When one uses the Tao in assisting his sovereign, he will not employ arms to coerce the state.
Such methods easily react.
When military camps are established.
Briers and thorns flourish.
When great armies have moved through the land calamities are sure to follow.
The capable are determined, but no more.
They will not venture to compel; determined, but not conceited;
determined, but not boastful; determined, but not arrogant;
determined because it cannot be helped; determined, but not forceful.
When things reach their prime, they begin to age.
This cannot be said to be the Tao.
What is Not the Tao soon ends."
-  Translated by Spurgeon C. Medhurst, 1905, Chapter 30 

"Wer im rechten Sinn einem Menschenherrscher hilft,
vergewaltigt nicht durch Waffen die Welt,
denn die Handlungen kommen auf das eigene Haupt zurück.
Wo die Heere geweilt haben, wachsen Disteln und Dornen.
Hinter den Kämpfen her kommen immer Hungerjahre.
Darum sucht der Tüchtige nur Entscheidung, nichts weiter;
er wagt nicht, durch Gewalt zu erobern.
Entscheidung, ohne sich zu brüsten,
Entscheidung, ohne sich zu rühmen,
Entscheidung, ohne stolz zu sein,
Entscheidung, weil's nicht anders geht,
Entscheidung, ferne von Gewalt."
-  Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 30 

"Gewaltlosigkeit Voraussetzung jeder Friedenspolitik

Der Herrscher, der den Ordnungsgesetzen des Alls folgt,
sucht nicht die Welt mit Gewalt zu beherrschen;
denn er weiß, es fällt alles auf einen selbst zurück.

Schlachtfelder erzeugen nur Dornen und Disteln;
Kriege bringen nur Elend und Not.

Darum steht der Weyse zwar in steter Bereitschaft,
aber er erzwingt nichts mit Gewalt.
Er kennt nicht Ehrsucht noch Ruhm,
masst sich nichts an, strebt nicht nach Macht.
Er tut das Notwendige, das Not wendet.
Alle seine Entscheidungen sind fern von Gewalt.

Er weiß um den Rhythmus des Werdens,
weiß, daß alles,
was den Gesetzen innersten Lebens widerspricht,
zerbricht, daß alles Wesenlose rasch zerfällt."
-  Translated by Rudolf Backofen, 1949, Chapter 30

"If you would assist leaders of people
by way of the Tao,
you will oppose the use of armed force to overpower
the world.

Those who use weapons will be harmed by them.
Where troops have camped only thorn bushes grow.
Bad harvests follow in the wake of a great army.

The skillful person strikes the blow and stops,
without taking advantage of victory.
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be vain.
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be boastful.
Bring it to a conclusion but do not be arrogant.
Bring it to a conclusion but only when there is no choice.
Bring it to a conclusion but without violence.

When force is rlsed, youthful strength decays.
This is not the way of Tao.
And that which goes against the Tao
will quickly pass away."
-  Translated by Tolbert McCarroll, 1982, Chapter 30

"Leaders, rulers, governors of the people:
The Cosmos offers you helping Presences,
Whose essence dwells in harmony,
And not in the use of force or weaponry.

Natural law decrees that violence backfires
Upon all who resort to its means.

Armed forces camp and crawl
Amid thorns and brambles,
Which grow like cancer and close like traps.

Wherever group violence is done,
Desolation walks in its wake.
Truly, the harvest of violence is misery.

The best leader is himself led-
He builds consensus, achieves his aim,
And then departs.
Force and intimidation
Are neither his means nor his end.

He is inwardly firm, without display.
He is inwardly firm, without arrogance.
He is inwardly firm, without contempt.
He is inwardly firm, without demand.
He is inwardly firm, without violence.

Aggrandize yourself or your group,
And you have chosen the path of decadence.
This is called separation from the Source."
-  Translated by Brian Donohue, 2005, Chapter 30  

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2011-2021 CCA 4.0

Tao Te Ching: An Illustrated Journey   Translated by Stephen Mitchell

"He who relied on the Tao to aid a ruler of men
Would not seek to conquer with weapons.
The man of Tao holds back from such instruments of recoiling violence.
For where armies have camped there spring up thistles and thorns;
And in the wake of marching armies follow years of drought.
Having achieved his aim, the good commander stops;
He does not venture to follow up his advantages with greater force.
He achieves his aim, but does not plume himself.
He achieves his aim, but is not boastful.
He achieves his aim but is not proud of what he has done.
He achieves his aim by means which could not be avoided.
He achieves his aim without violence.
For it is when creatures reach the climax of their strength that they start to grow old;
Thus violence runs counter to the Tao,
And what runs counter to the Tao is soon spent."
-  Translated by Herman Old, 1946, Chapter 30 

"Using the Tao as the rule for governing the people,
Do not employ the army as the power of the world.
For this is likely to backfire.
Where the army has marched, thorns and briars grow.
Being good has its own consequence,
Which cannot be seized by power.
Achieving without arrogance,
Achieving without bragging,
Achieving without damage,
Achieving without taking ownership.
This is called achieving without force.
Matter becomes strong, then old.
This is called "Not-Tao."
Dying young is "Not-Tao.""
-  Translated by Tao Huang, Chapter 30

"A ruler faithful to Tao will not send the army to a foreign country.
This would incur calamity onto him, first of all.

The land where an army passed becomes desolated.
After war, lean years come.

A wise commander is never bellicose.
A wise warrior never gets angry.
He who can defeat the enemy does not attack.
He who achieved victory stops and does not do violence to the defeated enemies.
The victorious does not praise himself.
He wins, but does not feel proud.
He does not like to wage wars.
He wins because he is forced to fight.
Though he wins, he is not bellicose.

If man in the prime of life begins to weaken and gets ill?
This happens only because he has lived not in the harmony with Tao.
The life of such a person ends before a due time."
-  Translated by Mikhail Nikolenko, Chapter 30 

"Celui qui aide le maître des hommes par le Tao ne doit pas subjuguer l'empire par les armes.
Qui qu'on fasse aux hommes, ils rendent la pareille.
Partout où séjournent les troupes, on voit naître les épines et les ronces.
À la suite des grandes guerres, il y a nécessairement des années de disette.
L'homme vertueux frappe un coup décisif et s'arrête.
Il n'ose subjuguer l'empire par la force des armes.
Il frappe un coup décisif et ne se vante point.
Il frappe un coup décisif et ne se glorifie point.
Il frappe un coup décisif et ne s'enorgueillit point.
Il frappe un coup décisif et ne combat que par nécessité.
Il frappe un coup décisif et ne veut point paraître fort.
Quand les êtres sont arrivés à la plénitude de leur force, ils vieillissent.
Cela s'appelle ne pas imiter le Tao.
Celui qui n'imite pas le Tao ne tarde pas à périr."
-  Translated by Stanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 30 

Spanish Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing)
Tao Te Ching en Español

Lao Tsé Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Anton Teplyy

Tao Te Ching   Traducido por Stephen Mitchell, versión española  

Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por el Padre Carmelo Elorduy

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons   Consejos de Estilo de Vida de Sabios

Tao Te Ching en Español

Lao Tzu-The Eternal Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Yuanxiang Xu y Yongjian Yin 

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo    Maduración Duraznos: Estudios y Prácticas Taoístas por Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching - Wikisource

Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por William Scott Wilson. 

Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Javier Cruz

Tao te king   Translated by John C. H. Wu, , versión española  

Daodejing   Español, Inglés, y Chino Versiones Lingüísticas de la Daodejing

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

"Quien sabe guiar al gobernante en el sendero del Tao no intenta dominar el mundo mediante la fuerza de las armas.
Está en la naturaleza de las armas militares volverse contra quienes las manejan. 
Donde acampan ejércitos, crecen zarzas y espinos. 
A una gran guerra, invariablemente suceden malos años.
Lo que quieres es proteger eficazmente tu propio estado, pero no pretender tu propia expansión. 
Cuando has alcanzado tu propósito, no debes exhibir tu trifuno, ni jactarte de tu capacidad, ni sentirte orgulloso;
     más bien debes lamentar no haber sido capaz de impedir la guerra.
No debes pensar nunca en conquistar a los demás por la fuerza. 
Pues expandirse excessivamente es precipitar el decaimiento, y esto es contrario al Tao, y lo que es contrario al Tao
    pronto dejará de existir."
-  Translation from Chinese to English by John C. H. Wu, translated into Spanish by Alfonso Colodrón, Capítulo 30 

"Quien gobierna ateniéndose al Tao
no intenta dominar el mundo mediante la fuerza de las armas.
Está en la naturaleza de las armas militares volverse
contra los propios hombres que las crearon.
Donde se estacionan los ejércitos, sólo crecen después zarzas y espinos.
Durísimos años de hambruna de seguro seguirán a una gran guerra.
Así, el sabio busca el progreso de su pueblo,
y no el dominio de los pueblos vecinos.
Por eso no intenta conquistar por la fuerza.
Sin jactancia,
Sin obstinación,
Sin enriquecerse,
Ese es el método del sabio,
Porque expandirse excesivamente es precipitar el decaimiento,
y esto es contrario al Tao, y lo que es contrario al Tao
generará su propia destrucción."
-  Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 30 

"Los hombres poderosos no deben usar la violencia,
Pues la violencia tiene la costumbre de retornar;
Las zarzas crecen donde quiera que vaya un ejército,
Y años de hambre siguen a una guerra.

Un general está bien advertido:
De que ha de hacer nada más que lo que indican sus órdenes,
No importa cuan fuerte sea su ejército;
De que ha de conseguir cumplir sus órdenes,
Pero no la gloria o el sentirse orgulloso;
De hacer lo que dicta la necesidad,
Pero no la sed de sangre;
Pues, incluso la más poderosa fuerza decaerá con el tiempo,
Y la violencia volverá en contra, y le destruirá."
-  Translated by Antonio Rivas Gonzálvez, 1998, Capítulo 30

"Si guías a tu nación mediante el uso del Tao,
No lo gobernarás usando armas militares.
Para incluso una agresión bien intencionada
Tiene una forma de volver a uno mismo.
Las espinas y las zarzas crecen gruesamente donde un ejército ha acampado.
Y los años de indigencia son probablemente después de una gran guerra.
Cuando sea necesario; el hábil líder dará un golpe decisivo y logrará una victoria duradera.
Protegerá contra pensamientos vanidosos, jactanciosos o arrogantes después de la destrucción.
Sólo logrará la matanza y destrucción que sea necesaria, y no lo más mínimo.
Las cosas florecen, y luego declinan,
Este es el camino del Tao".
-  Translated into English by Rivenrock, Capítulo 30. 
   Spanish version from Michael P. Garofalo. 

"Los que con el Tao asisten al Soberano, no deben violentar el mundocon las armas.
Éstas son cosas que fácilmente se vuelvenal revés.
Donde acamparon los ejércitos, nacen las zarzasy, tras las tropas, vienen inevitablemente los años malos.
Así, al hombre bueno le basta el fruto [que espontáneamentele ofrecen].
No osa violentar nada para coger más.
El fruto sinmás urgir, el fruto sin empeñarse más, el fruto sinmás pretensiones,
el fruto sin querer adquirir demasiado, el frutosin forzar más.
Porque, tras la robustez, viene la vejez.
Ésta es falta deTao.
Sin Tao pronto se acaba todo."
-  Translated by Carmelo Elorduy, 2006, Capítulo 30 

"Se debe persuadir con el dao a los señores de hombres,
y no imponerse al mundo con la fuerza de las armas.
Las acciones violentas provocan resultados negativos;
donde acampan los ejércitos,
todo se cubre de maleza.
EI hombre de bien se conforma con los resultados obtenidos,
no se vale de ellos para imponerse por la fuerza.
De sus resultados no se enorgullece,
de sus resultados no se jacta,
por sus resultados no se muestra altivo,
por sus resultados no se muestra altanero.
Eso es obtener resultados y ser fuerte.
Cuando las cosas se hacen vigorosas envejecen,
es la ausencia del dao;
cuando falta el dao pronto llega el fin."
-  Translated by Juan Ignacio Preciado, 1978, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 30

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2011-2021 CCA 4.0

Commentary

Coming Later ... 2022

I welcome email with commentary on this topic of Chapter 30 of the Tao Te Ching. 

Next Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #31

Previous Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #29

Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching 

Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 30

Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse.  Complete versions of all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching by many different translators in many languages: 124 English, 24 German, 14 Russian, 7 Spanish, 5 French and many other languages.  Links are organized first by languages, and then alphabetically by translators.  Formatting varies somewhat.  The original website at Onekellotus went offline in 2012; but, the extensive collection of these Tao Te Ching versions was saved for posterity by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and available as of 9/9/2015.  This is an outstanding original collection of versions of the Daodejing─ the Best on the Internet.  Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website. 

Tao Te Ching, Translations into English: Terebess Asia Online (TAO).  124 nicely formatted complete English language translations, on separate webpages, of the Daodejing.  Alphabetical index by translators.  Each webpage has all 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching translated into English.  A useful collection!  Many reformatted and colored versions from the original collection at Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse.  Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website. 

Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts (Classics of Ancient China) Translated with and introduction and detailed exposition and commentary by Professor Robert G. Henricks.  New York, Ballantine Books, 1992.  Includes Chinese characters for each chapter.  Bibliography, detailed notes, 282 pages. 

Daodejing by Laozi: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English.  This is an outstanding resource for serious students of the Tao Te Ching. 

Tao Te Ching: A New Translation and Commentary.  By Ellen Chen.  Paragon House, 1998.  Detailed glossary, index, bibliography, notes, 274 pages. 

The Tao and Method: A Reasoned Approach to the Tao Te Ching.  By Michael Lafargue.  New York, SUNY Press, 1994.  640 pages.  Detailed index, bibliography, notes, and tables.  An essential research tool. 

Two Visions of the Way: A Study of the Wang Pi and the Ho-Shang Kung Commentaries on the Lao-Tzu.  By Professor by Alan Kam-Leung Chan.   SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture.  State University of New York Press, 1991.  Index, bibliography, glossary, notes, 314 pages.  ISBN: 0791404560.     

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 print reference tool! 

Chinese Reading of the Daodejing  Wang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi with Critical Text and Translation.  By Professor Rudolf G. Wagner.  A SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture.  English and Mandarin Chinese Edition.  State University of New York Press; Bilingual edition (October 2003).  540 pages.  ISBN: 978-0791451823.  Wang Bi (Wang Pi, Fusi), 226-249 CE, Commentary on the Tao Te Ching.

Tao Te Ching  Translated by D. C. Lau.  Addison Wesley, Reprint Edition, 2000.  192 pages.  ISBN: 978-0140441314. 

The Taoism Reader  By Thomas Cleary.  Shambhala, 2012.  192 pages.

Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao  By Wayne W. Dyer.  Hay House, Reprint Edition, 2009.  416 pages. 

The Tao of Being: A Think and Do Workbook  By Ray Grigg.  Green Dragon Pub., 1988. 204 pages.

The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons.  By Deng Ming-Dao.  New York, Harper Collins, 2013.  429 pages.  

The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi.  Translated by Richard John Lynn.  Translations from the Asian Classics Series.  New York, Columbia University Press, 1999.  Extensive index, glossaries, notes, 244 pages. 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 

Stoicism and Hellenistic Philosophy  

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons 

One Old Philosopher's Notebooks  Research, Reading, and Reflections by Mike Garofalo.

Virtues and a Good Life

Yellow Bridge Dao De Jing Comparison Table   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. 

Translators Index, Tao Te Ching Versions in English, Translators Sorted Alphabetically by Translator, Links to Books and Online Versions of the Chapters 

Taoism and the Tao Te Ching: Bibliography, Resources, Links

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching, Daodejing en Español, Translators Index 

Concordance to the Daodejing

The Tao of Zen.  By Ray Grigg.  Tuttle, 2012, 256 pages.  Argues for the view that Zen is best characterized as a version of philosophical Taoism (i.e., Laozi and Zhuangzi) and not Mahayana Buddhism. 

Chapter 41 in the Rambling Taoist Commentaries by Trey Smith.  The Rambling Taoists are Trey Smith and Scott Bradley. 

Valley Spirit, Gu Shen, Concept, Chapter 6   Valley Spirit Center in Red Bluff, California.   Sacred Circle in the Gushen Grove. 

Lao-tzu's Taoteching  Translated by Red Pine (Bill Porter).  Includes many brief selected commentaries for each Chapter draw from commentaries in the past 2,000 years.  Provides a verbatim translation and shows the text in Chinese characters.  San Francisco, Mercury House, 1996, Second Edition, 184 pages.  An invaluable resource for commentaries.   

Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation  By Ha Poong Kim.  Xlibris, 2003, 198 pages. 

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation  By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall.  Ballantine, 2003, 256 pages. 

Thematic Index to the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching

Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living.  Translated by Eva Wong.  Lieh-Tzu was writing around 450 BCE.  Boston, Shambhala, 2001.  Introduction, 246 pages. 

Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic.  By Hu Huezhi.  Edited by Jesse Lee Parker.  Seven Star Communications, 2006.  240 pages. 

Cloud Hands Blog   Mike Garofalo writes about Mind-Body Arts, Philosophy, Taoism, Gardening, Taijiquan, Walking, Mysticism, Qigong, and the Eight Ways.

The Whole Heart of Tao: The Complete Teachings From the Oral Tradition of Lao Tzu. By John Bright-Fey.  Crane Hill Publishers, 2006.  376 pages.

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching

Research and Indexing by
Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington
Green Way Research, 2011-2021. 
Red Bluff, California (2000-2017); Vancouver, Washington (2017-2021)
Indexed and Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo
 

This webpage was last revised, edited, improved, modified or updated on February 9, 2021. 
 
This webpage was first distributed online on March 12, 2011. 

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2011-2021 CCA 4.0