Chapter 32

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing)
Classic of the Way and Virtue



By Lao Tzu (Laozi)

 


 

Compiled and Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.

Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington

Chapter 31     Chapter 33     Index to All 81 Chapters     Daoism     Concordance     Cloud Hands Blog     Commentary

English     Chinese     Spanish

 

 

 

Chapter 32

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu

Classic Book (Ching) about the Tao (Way, Nature, Patterns, Processes) and Te (Virtue, Potency, Power, Integrity, Wise Person, Sage)

 

Concordance: Indexing, Search Terms, Topics, Themes, Keys, Subjects


English and Chinese (Wade-Giles) Terms, Chapter #32:  Abide or Anchor (chih), Can or Able (nêng), Danger or Trouble (tai), Dao, Dew, Drip or Fall (chiang), Earth (ti), Earth, Effortlessly, Equality, Eternal or Everlasting ch'ang), Free, Future (chiang), Guidance, Harmony or Peace (chün), Heaven (t'ien), Hold or Keep (shou), Honor or Homage (pin), Indestructible, Ineffable, Join or Combine (ho), King (wang), King, Know or Realize (chih), Law and Order (ling), Mutual (hsiang), Name (ming), Nameless, People (min), Picture or Illustrate (p'i), Prince or Baron (hou), Pure or Simple (p'u), Rain (lu), Rest, Rivers (ch'uan) that Run to the Sea (hai), Rivers, Rule or Master (ch'ên), Rules and Regulations (chih), Seas, Shapes, Stopping, Streams, Subtle or Small (hsiao), Sweet (kan), Tao with No Name, Tao, Ten Thousand Things (wang wu), The Virtue of Holiness, Unfathomable, Valley Streams;  聖德  Mysterious, Ocean, Language, Small, Settle, Peaceful, Ignorant, Stop, Don’t Force, Sage, Harmony, Earthly, Common Sense, Restraint. 
Chapter #32  Tao Te Ching  2/10i/2021

Términos en Español, Capítulo #32Personas, Dulce, Ley, Orden, Normas, Reglamentos, Darse, Cuenta, Permaneced, Ancla, Peligro, Problemas, Sin Nombre, Inefabel, Mares, Ríos , Cielo, Tierra, Eterno, Rey, Gratuito, Orientación, Arroyos, Rocío, Parar, Armonía, Formas, Igualdad, Lluvia, Sencillez, Indestructible, Insondable, Valle, Arroyos, Puro, Simple, Sutil, Pequeño, Cielo, Capaz, Regla, Maestro, Príncipe, Rey, Espera, Mantenga, Homenaje, Tierra, Mutuo, Únete, Goteo, Otoño, Ilustrar, Mar; Misterioso, Océano, Lenguaje, Pequeño, Asentamiento, Pacífico, Ignorante, Detener, No Forzar, Sabio, Armonía, Tierra, Sentido Común, Restricción. 
Capítulo #32 Daodejing  2/10i/2021
 


Electronic Concordance for all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

 

English Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

 

"The Tao, considered as unchanging, has no name. 
Though in its primordial simplicity it may be small, the whole world dares not deal with one embodying it as a minister.
If a feudal prince or the king could guard and hold it, all would spontaneously submit themselves to him. 
Heaven and Earth under its guidance unite together and send down the sweet dew,
which, without the directions of men, reaches equally everywhere as of its own accord. 
As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a name.
When it once has that name, men can know to rest in it.
When they know to rest in it, they can be free from all risk of failure and error. 
The relation of the Tao to all the world is like that of the great rivers and seas to the streams from the valleys."
-  Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 32   

 

 

"The eternity of Dao has no name:
Even though Pure Matter is infinitely small, its function is so superior that it is next to none,
If rulers can follow the model of nature, everything under the heaven will render homage to them,
Then the people would automatically be equally sufficient without being directed.
It was named after the initiation of regulations, when names were given,
Then one will know how to rest.
To know how to stop will not reach a perilous end.
The application of Dao to the world is like the relation of oceans to rivers."
-  Translated by Zi-Chang Tang, Chapter 32 

 

 

"The Tao, eternally nameless
Its simplicity, although imperceptible
Cannot be treated by the world as subservient
If the sovereign can hold on to it
All will follow by themselves
Heaven and Earth, together in harmony
Will rain sweet dew
People will not need to force it; it will adjust by itself
In the beginning, there were names
Names came to exist everywhere
One should know when to stop
Knowing when to stop, thus avoiding danger
The existence of the Tao in the world
Is like streams in the valley into rivers and the ocean."
-  Translation by Derek Lin, 2006, Chapter 32 

 

 

"The eternal Way has no name.
The earliest simplicity has no significance,
But its function is supreme.
If kings and officials can keep the Way,
The whole world will become their guest.
Harmony between heaven and earth creates rains and dews,
Which all share equally without laws or rules.
With the growth of the earliest system,
There appeared names, which are therefore conventional.
Knowing what is conventional,
One can also understand where and when to stop.
Knowing where and when to stop,
One will never meet with countering forces.
The Way is to the world what rivers are to the ocean."
-  Translated by Liu Qixuan, Chapter 32

 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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

 

 

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 - The Way  Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles.  
Taoism: An Essential Guide  By Eva Wong. 

 

                                 

 

 

 

"Tao is absolute and has no name.
Though the uncarved wood is small,
It cannot be employed (used as vessel) by anyone.
If kings and barons can keep (this unspoiled nature),
The whole world shall yield them lordship of their own accord.
The Heaven and Earth join,
And the sweet rain falls,
Beyond the command of men,
Yet evenly upon all.
Then human civilization arose and there were names.
Since there were names,
It were well one knew where to stop.
He who knows where to stop
May be exempt from danger.
Tao in the world
May be compared to rivers that run into the sea."
-  Translated by Lin Yutang, 1948, Chapter 32   

 

 

Cloud Hands Blog

 

 

"The eternal Tao is nameless; though it be

Too insignificant a name to have,

In its primordial simplicity

The whole world dare not make of it a slave.

If prince or king could keep it, everything

Would homage pay to him spontaneously,

And Heaven and Earth, combined, sweet dews would bring,

And people know no rule but harmony.

But when it takes control, it has a name,

And, knowing when to stop, men rest at ease,

For to the Tao the whole world is the same

s river streams compared with mighty seas."
-  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 32

 

 

 

 

 

"Tao is forever of no name.
Small as it may be,
Tao as the uncarved block cannot be used by anyone in the universe.
If kings and lords could follow it well,
Ten Thousand Things will spontaneously obey them.
Heaven and earth would make love to each other,
Sweet dew will thereby fall gently.
With no decrees, people will be naturally ruled.
When the whole uncarved block is divided,
The pieces become instruments and in need of their names.
When there are already many names,
It is also necessary to know their limitations.
When their limitations are known,
There are no things in danger.
Tao is manifest in the universe,
Like the water flows from the rivers and the valleys into Yan Ze River and ocean."
-  Translated by Eichi Shimomisse, 1998, Chapter 32  

 

 

 

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

 

                             

 

 

 

"Tao remains ever nameless.
However insignificant may be the simplicity of those who cultivate it
The Empire does not presume to claim their services as Ministers. 
If Princes and Monarchs could but preserve this simplicity,
Every creature in the world would submit itself to them;
Heaven and Earth would be in mutual accord,
And shower down sweet dew;
The people would need no laws, but live in harmony of themselves. 
It was in the beginning that a name was fabricated for the Tao. 
This name once existing, Heaven, also, may be known;
And such knowledge ensures the indestructibility of the doctrine. 
The presence of Tao in the world may be compared to streams which ever flow,
And mountain-gorges which are indestructible,
In their union with rivers and seas which are unfathomable."
-   Translated by Frederic H. Balfour, 1884, Chapter 32   

 

 

 

A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 32 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

道常無名. 
樸雖小, 天下莫能臣也. 
侯王若能守之, 萬物將自賓. 
天地相合, 以降甘露, 民莫之令而自均. 
始制有名.
名亦既有.
夫亦將知止.
知止所以不殆. 
譬道之在天下.
猶川谷之與江海. 
-  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 32

 

 

tao ch'ang wu ming.
p'u sui hsiao, t'ien hsia mo nêng ch'ên yeh.
hou wang jo nêng shou chih, wan wu chiang tzu pin.
t'ien ti hsiang ho, yi chiang kan lu, min mo chih ling erh tzu chün.
shih chih yu ming.
ming yi chi yu.
fu yi chiang chih chih.
chih chih so k'o pu tai.
p'i tao chih tsai t'ien hsia.
yu ch'uan ku chih yü chiang hai.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 32 

 

 

Audio Version in Chinese of Chapter 32 of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

dao chang wu ming.
pu sui xiao, tian xia mo neng chen ye.
hou wang ruo neng shou zhi, wan wu jiang zi bin.
tian di xiang he, yi jiang gan lu, min mo zhi ling er zi jun.
shi zhi you ming.
ming yi ji you.
fu yi jiang zhi zhi.
zhi zhi ke yi bu dai.
pi dao zhi zai tian xia.
you chuan gu zhi yu jiang hai.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 32
 
 
 

 

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. 

 

 

"Tao is always without a name,
Simple and small.
Beneath-heaven dares no subject it.
If kings and barons can hold to it,
The ten thousand things will pay homage.
Heaven and earth will mutually join
And sweet dew will fall.
Not by law but of themselves
The people will stay in balance.
When law and order arose,
Names appeared.
Aren’t there enough already?
Is it not time to stop?
To know when to stop
Is to be free from danger.
Tao is to all beneath heaven
As rivers and seas are to rivulets and streams."
-  Translated by Herrymoon Maurer, 1985, Chapter 32 

 

 

 

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

 

                                       

 

 

 

"Reason, in its eternal aspect, is unnamable. 
Although its simplicity seems insignificant, the whole world does not dare to suppress it.
If princes and kings could keep it, the ten thousand things would of themselves pay homage.
Heaven and earth would unite in dripping sweet dew, and the people with no one to command them would of themselves be righteous.  
As soon as Reason creates order, it becomes namable.
Whenever the namable in its turn acquires existence, one learns to know when to stop.
By knowing when to stop, one avoids danger. 
To illustrate Reason's relation to the world we compare it to streams and creeks in their course towards rivers and the ocean."
-  Translated by Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 32   

 

 

"Tao is forever undefined.
Like uncarved wood, it seems insignificant; yet no one can command it.
If rulers could abide with it, they would rule everything.
The universe would unify and rain the dew of peace,
beyond anyone's command, evenly on all.
When the uncarved wood is cut up, the parts need names.
One must know when to stop cutting.
All things flow to Tao, like rivers flowing to the sea."
-  Translated by Ned Ludd, Chapter 32  

 

How to Live a Good Life:  Advice from Wise Person

 

 

"Existence is infinite, not to be defined;
And, though it seem but a bit of wood in your hand, to carve as you please,
It is not to be lightly played with and laid down.
When rulers adhered to the way of life,
They were upheld by natural loyalty:
Heaven and earth were joined and made fertile,
Life was a freshness of rain,
Subject to none,
Free to all.
But men of culture came, with their grades and their distinctions;
And as soon as such differences had been devised
No one knew where to end them,
Though the one who does know the end of all such differences
Is the sound man:
Existence
Might be likened to the course
Of many rivers reaching the one sea."
-  Translated by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 32

 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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

 

 

Tao Te Ching  Translated by Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo  

Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching  Translated by John C. Wu

Lao-Tzu and the Tao-Te-Ching  Translated by Livia Kohn

Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way Translated by Moss Roberts

 

                             

 

 

 

"The Tao can't be perceived.
Smaller than an electron,
it contains uncountable galaxies.
If powerful men and women
could remain centered in the Tao,
all things would be in harmony.
The world would become a paradise.
All people would be at peace,
and the law would be written in their hearts.
When you have names and forms,
know that they are provisional.
When you have institutions,
know where their functions should end.
Knowing when to stop,
you can avoid any danger.
All things end in the Tao
as rivers flow into the sea."
-   Translated by Stephen Mitchell, 1988, Chapter 32 

 

 

"Tao has always been nameless;
an Uncarved Block, simple and small, but subject to none under Heaven.

All things will obey the Monarch who defends it.

Heaven uniting with Earth, as sweet dew falling.
People not commanded, but true to themselves.

First there were names, then more names.
It is time to stop.
Knowing when to stop avoids exhaustion.

Tao flows from Heaven, as Rivers flow into the Sea."
-  Translated by Karl Kromal, 2002, Chapter 32  

 

 

"Tao is always nameless.
Small as it is in its Primal Simplicity,
It is inferior to nothing in the world.
If only a ruler could cling to it,
Everything will render homage to him.
Heaven and Earth will be harmonized
And send down sweet dew.
Peace and order will reign among the people
Without any command from above.

When once the Primal Simplicity diversified,
Different names appeared.
Are there not enough names now?

Is this not the time to stop?
To know when to stop is to preserve ourselves from danger.
The Tao is to the world what a great river or an ocean
 is to the streams and brooks."
-  Translated by John C. H. Wu, 1961, Chapter 32

 

 

"The Tao is nameless and unchanging.
Although it appears insignificant,
nothing in the world can contain it.

If a ruler abides by its principles,
then her people will willingly follow.
Heaven would then reign on earth,
like sweet rain falling on paradise.
People would have no need for laws,
because the law would be written on their hearts.

Naming is a necessity for order,
but naming can not order all things.
Naming often makes things impersonal,
so we should know when naming should end.
Knowing when to stop naming,
you can avoid the pitfall it brings.

All things end in the Tao
just as the small streams and the largest rivers
flow through valleys to the sea."
-  Translated by John H. McDonald, 1996, Chapter 32     

 

 

 

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. 

 

                             

 

 

 

"The Way eternal has no name.
A block of wood untooled, though small,
May still excel in the world.
And if the king and nobles could
Retain its potency for good,
Then everything would freely give
Allegiance to their rule.
The earth and sky would then conspire
To bring the sweet dew down;
And evenly it would be given
To folk without constraining power. 
Creatures came to be with order's birth,
And once they had appeared,
Came also knowledge of repose,
And with that was security. 
In this world,
Compare those of the Way
To torrents that flow
Into river and sea."
-   Translated by Raymond B. Blakney, 1955, Chapter 32   

 

 

"The Tao remains eternally unnamable.
As undivided simplicity,
If it resides in an ordinary person,
nobody in the world can subjugate him;
If an influential person abides by it,
everybody in the world will be drawn to him.
When heaven and earth come together in harmony,
Showering the world equally with the sweet rain of undivided simplicity,
People cooperate voluntarily without any governing rules.
When simplicity is divided, names come into existence.
When names are already there, the process of further division should stop,
For to know when to stop
is to avoid the danger of complexity.
The Tao is to the world
what the ocean is to the rivers of the earth."
-  Translated by Yasuhiko Genku Kimura, Chapter 32  

 

 

"Tao, the Eternally Nameless.
Though primordial simplicity is infinitesimal, none dare make it a public servant.
Were princes and monarchs able to maintain it, all creation would spontaneously submit.
Heaven and earth harmonized, there would be an abundance of nourishing agencies; the people unbidden, would cooperate of their own accord.
Names arose when differentiation commenced; once there were names it became important to know where to stop.
This being known, danger ceased.
The Tao spread throughout the world, may be compared to mountain rivulets and streams flowing toward the sea."
-  Translated by C. Spurgeon Medhurst, 1905, Chapter 32 

 

 

 

Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-Depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic  By Hu Xuzehi
Tao Te Ching  Annotated translation by Victor Mair  
Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation  By Ha Poong Kim
The Philosophy of the Daodejing  By Hans-Georg Moeller  

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation  By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall
Tao Te Ching on The Art of Harmony   By Chad Hansen. 
The Way and Its Power: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought   By Arthur Waley

 

                             

 

 

 

"The Way has no true shape,
And therefore none can control it.
If a ruler could control the Way
All things would follow
In harmony with his desire,
And sweet rain would fall,
Effortlessly slaking every thirst.

The Way is shaped by use,
But then the shape is lost.
Do not hold fast to shapes
But let sensation flow into the world
As a river courses down to the sea."
-  Translated by Peter Merel, Chapter 32

 

How to Live a Good Life:  Advice from Wise Persons

 

"The Way has no name.
The un-carved block is small
But no one dares to claim it.
If the rulers could accept this
The myriad creatures would submit of themselves,
Heaven and earth would unite
And the sweet dew would fall.
The people could be dealt with
Without the making of laws.
When it is carved there are names.
When there are names it is time to stop.
Knowing when to stop
Keeps one from danger.
The world’s relation to the Way
Is like rills and streams
To the River and Sea."
-  Translated by A. S. Kline, 2003, Chapter 32  

 

 

"The Never-changing Tao has no name.
It may appear, so simple is it, of small account,
Yet the whole world would not venture to subdue it.
If kings and princes were possessed of it,
Homage would be gladly paid to them by all the people in the world.
Heaven-and-Earth would sweeten them with the gentle dew.
The people, unconstrained by commands, would live in harmony.
That which functions, however, is named.
When naming starts, see that you know where to stop.
If you know where to stop, danger cannot touch you.
As the brooks and the streams flow into and become the rivers and seas,
So everything in the world flows into and is made one with the Tao."
-  Translated by Herman Ould, 1946, Chapter 32

 

 

 

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  

 

                                     

 

 

 

"The Name of Inner Life is Everlasting Tao.
If only he is pure, though he may be small,
The Servant of Tao dares to stand against the world.
Tao is able to maintain the unity of prince and people;
It subdues and binds all beings with each other;
It united Heaven and Earth harmoniously to produce sweet dew;
It gathers the people in the bonds of time and individuality.
The Name produces, divides, and brings to life;
Things produced ever return into the name.
The Master also shall know how to rest in it.
Knowing how to rest in it means that he never will decay.
On the earth everywhere Tao exists,
As the waters are collected in the valleys
And return into the rivers and the seas."
-  Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 32

 

 

"Tao endures without a name.
Though simple and slight,
No one under heaven can master it.
If kings and lords could posses it,
All beings would become their guests.
Heaven and earth together
Would drip sweet dew
Equally on all people
Without regulation.
Begin to make order and names arise.
Names lead to more names -
And to knowing when to stop.
Tao's presence in this world Is like valley streams
Flowing into rivers and seas."
-  Translated by Stephen Addis, 1993, Chapter 32 

 

 

"Tao is real, yet unnameable.
It is original non-differentiation and invisible.
Nevertheless, nothing in the universe can dominate it.
If rulers and lords were able to abide with it, all things in the universe would yield to them naturally.
Heaven and earth are unified and rain the dew of peace.
Without being ordered to do so, people become harmonious by themselves.
When discrimination begins, names arise.
After names arise, one should know where to abide.
When one knows where to abide, one is never exhausted.
To abide with Tao in the world is to be the same as mountain streams flowing to the rivers and to the sea."
-  Translated by Chang Chung-Yuan, Chapter 32

 

 

 

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

The Inner Chapters of Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi)   Translated by A. C. Graham

 

                                  

 

 

 

"Tao was always nameless.
When for the first time applied to function, it was named.
Inasmuch as names are given, one should also know when to stop.
Knowing where to stop one can become imperishable."
-  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 32

 

 

 

Tao Te Ching
 Chapter Number Index


Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Daodejing
Chapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in 246 CE
Chart by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index
 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81                  

 

 

 

 

 

"The Way is eternally nameless,
Though simplicity is small, the world cannot subordinate it.
If lords and monarchs can keep to it, all beings will naturally resort to them.
Heaven and earth combine, thus showering sweet dew.
No humans command it; it is even by nature.
The Way is to the world as rivers and oceans to valley streams."
-  Translated by Thomas Cleary, 1991, Chapter 32

 

 

"Der Sinn als Ewiger ist namenlose Einfalt.
Obwohl klein,
wagt die Welt ihn nicht zum Diener zu machen.
Wenn Fürsten und Könige ihn so wahren könnten,
so würden alle Dinge sich als Gäste einstellen.
Himmel und Erde würden sich vereinen,
um süßen Tau zu träufeln.
Das Volk würde ohne Befehle
von selbst ins Gleichgewicht kommen.
Wenn die Gestaltung beginnt,
dann erst gibt es Namen.
Die Namen erreichen auch das Sein,
und man weiß auch noch, wo haltzumachen ist.
Weiß man, wo haltzumachen ist,
so kommt man nicht in Gefahr.
Man kann das Verhältnis des Sinns zur Welt vergleichen
mit den Bergbächen und Talwassern,
die sich in Ströme und Meere ergießen."
-  Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 32 

 

 

"The Tao of the Absolute has no name.
Although infinitesimal in its Simplicity,
The world cannot master it.

If leaders would hold on to it,
All Things would naturally follow.
Heaven and Earth would unite to rain Sweet Dew,
And people would naturally cooperate without commands.

Names emerge when institutions begin.
When names emerge, know likewise to stop.
To know when to stop is to be free of danger.

The presence of the Tao in the world
Is like the valley stream joining the rivers and seas."
-  Translated by R. L. Wing, 1986, Chapter 32

 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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

Tao Te Ching   Translated by David Hinton

The Book of Tao: Tao Te Ching - The Tao and Its Characteristics   Translated by James Legge

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: Growth of a Religion   By Isabelle Robinet

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tsu), Daoist Scripture: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Quotations, Notes

Zhuangzi: Basic Writings   Translated by Burton Watson

Zhuangzi Speaks: The Music of Nature   An illustrated comic by Chih-chung Ts'ai

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons

 

                                              

 

 

 

"Tao the absolute has no name.
But although insignificant in its original simplicity, the world does not presume to demean it.
If a king could lay hold on it, the world would of itself submit to him.
Heaven and Earth would conspire to nourish him.
The people without pressure would peacefully fall into their own places.
If he should dispose them by titles and names, he would be making a name for himself.
Yet he would wisely stop short of the name, and thus avoid the evil of distinctions.
Tao is to the world what the streams and valleys are to the great rivers and seas."
-  Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 32

 

 

"Tao the One has no name.
Onefold He is the One in all cause of all motion and manifoldness of the All.
When the leaders are one with Him the people trust and follow them heaven and earth
visibly bless their acts and without creating Right they are making men righteous.
When the Onefold unfolds He can be named.
Name, however, is a thing and a limitation and holds the unfolding back.
Yet one who pauses holding on to the One in his heart finds his was to the Absolute
to the One in all to the Tao like brooks and rivers to the sea of completion."
-  Translated by K. O. Schmidt, 1975, Chapter 32

 

 

"Tao is eternal, but has no fame (name);
The Uncarved Block, though seemingly of small account,
Is greater than anything that is under heaven.
If kings and barons would but possess themselves of it,
The ten thousand creatures would flock to do them homage;
Heaven-and-earth would conspire
To send Sweet Dew,
Without law or compulsion, men would dwell in harmony.
Once the block is carved, there will be names,
And so soon as there are names,
Know that it is time to stop.
Only by knowing when it is time to stop can danger be avoided.
To Tao all under heaven will come
As streams and torrents flow into a great river or sea."
-  Translated by Arthur Waley, 1934, Chapter 32

 

 

"Le Tao est éternel et n'a pas de nom.
Quoiqu'il soit petit de sa nature, le monde entier ne pourrait le subjuguer.
Si les vassaux et les rois peuvent le conserver, tous les êtres viendront spontanément se soumettre à eux.
Le ciel et la terre s'uniront ensemble pour faire descendre une douce rosée,
et les peuples se pacifieront d'eux-mêmes sans que personne le leur ordonne.
Dès que le Tao se fut divisé, il eut un nom.
Ce nom une fois établi, il faut savoir se retenir.
Celui qui sait se retenir ne périclite jamais.
Le Tao est répandu dans l'univers.
Tous les êtres retournent à lui comme les rivières et les ruisseaux des montagnes retournent aux fleuves et aux mers."
-  Translated by Stanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 32 

 

 

 

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

Traducciones al español del Tao Te Ching
 

 

 

"El Tao es eterno.
El Tao no tiene nombre.
Pequeño es en su perfecta simplicidad primera.
Pequeño como es, el mundo entero es incapaz de aprehenderlo.
Si sólo príncipes y reyes pudieran aprehenderlo tendrían el mundo en la palma de la mano.
La tierra y el cielo estando unidos harían caer la lluvia como un suave rocío.
La paz y el orden reinarían espontáneamente entre los hombres sin necesidad de estar sometidos a un mando.
Cuando la perfecta simplicidad primero se diversificó, aparecieron los nombres.
Apareciendo los nombres, el Tao no se quedó en ellos.
El saber detenerse es estar sin peligros.
Compara El Tao con la existencia universal.
El Tao es como un riachuelo y un valle frente al gran río y al mar."
Translation from Logia Medio Dia, 2015, Capítulo 32 

 

 

"El Tao no tiene una auténtica definición.
Como la madera antes de ser cortada, no puede ser usado;
Si un gobernante comprende esto
Todo su país será floreciente
Y la gente obedecerá en armonía con él mismo,
Tal y como cae una lluvia suave.
Sin necesidad de dar órdenes para que se comporten con equidad.

Cuando al Tao se le dá forma para su uso,
La forma recibe un nombre en el Mundo;
No deberían de tenerse demasiados nombres
para contener a las formas;
En lugar de esto, dejad al Tao fluir hacia si mismo en el Mundo
Como el agua fluye en el lecho del río hacia el mar."
-  Translated by Antonio Rivas Gonzálvez, 1998,
Capítulo 32 

 

 

"El Tao, en su eternidad, carece de nombre.
Aunque mínimo en su unidad,
nada en el mundo puede subyugarle.
Si los príncipes y los reyes
se tornaran al Tao
los diez mil seres serían agasajados
como huéspedes de honor.
El cielo y la tierra
se unirían para llover dulce rocío.
El pueblo, sin gobierno
por sí mismo se ordenaría con equidad.
Cuando en el principio se dividió, dió formas a las diez mil cosas,
y a estas cosas se les dió nombres.
Demasiados nombres ahora hay, llegando así la hora de detenerse
para resguardarse del peligro.
El Tao en el universo
es comparable
al torrente de un valle que fluye
hacia el rio y el mar."
-  Translation from Wikisource, 2013,
Capítulo 32 

 

 

"El Tao siempre no tiene nombre.
Aunque el Bloque Sin Tallar es pequeño,
no es inferior a nada bajo el cielo.
Si los líderes pudieran mantenerse en su control,
las diez mil cosas se someterían a ellos libremente.
El cielo y la tierra se unirían y el dulce rocío caería.
La gente viviría en armonía
sin ninguna ley o decreto.
Sólo cuando el bloque está tallado hay nombres.
Tan pronto como haya nombres
es timc parar.
Saber cuándo parar previene problemas.
Todo bajo el cielo regresará al Tao
como arroyos y arroyos fluyen a casa al mar."
-  Translated into English by Tolbert McCarroll, 1982, Chapter 32. 
   Spanish version from Michael P. Garofalo

 

 

"El Tao es por siempre indefinido.
Pequeño –en estado sin forma- no puede ser asido.
Si reyes y señores pueden colocarse las guarniciones
las diez mil cosas habrían naturalmente obedecido.
El cielo y la tierra se hubieran unido y
gentilmente la lluvia caería.
Los hombres no hubieran necesitado más instrucción y
Todas las cosas seguirían su curso.

Una vez que el Tao esté dividido, las partes necesitan nombres.
Ya existen suficientes nombres.
Uno debe saber cuándo detenerse.
Saber cuando detenerse detiene las preocupaciones.
El Tao en el mundo es cual un río que fluye hacia el mar."
-  Translated by Cristina Bosch, 2002, Capítulo 32

 

 

"El dao, permanente, no tiene nombre.
Es un leño que, aunque pequeño, nadie en el mundo osaavasallar;
si los señores y reyes pudieran conservarlo,
todos los seres se les someterían.
El cielo y la tierra se armonizarían,
y llovería dulce rocío.
El pueblo, sin obedecer orden alguna, se igualaría por símismo.
Desde el momento en que se dividió aparecieron los nombres;
al aparecer los nombres,
deberíase saber que es tiempo de detenerse;
sabiendo que es tiempo de detenerse se evita todo peligro.
Seguir el dao en el mundo,
es como hacerse el valle de todas las aguas."
-  Translated by Juan Ignacio Preciado, 1978, Capítulo 32

 

 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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 32 of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

 

Lao Tzu, Lao Zi

 

 

Next Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #33

Previous Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #31

Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching 

 



 

 

Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 32

 

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. 


The Philosophy of the Daodejing  By Hans-Georg Moeller.  Columbia University Press, 2006, 176 pages.  


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.

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Laozi, Dao De Jing

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching

 

Research and Indexing by
Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks,
Red Bluff, California, 2011-2017; Vancouver, Washington, 2017-2021

Indexed and Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo
 

This webpage was last edited, changed, reformatted, improved, modified or updated on February 26, 2021. 

This webpage was first distributed online on March 23, 2011. 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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


 

Michael P. Garofalo's E-mail

Brief Biography of Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.

 

 

 


 

Ripening Peaches: Daoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: Resources and Guides


Cloud Hands Blog


Valley Spirit Qigong

Ways of Walking

The Spirit of Gardening

Months: Cycles of the Seasons

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu, Zhuang Zhou, Master Chuang)  369—286 BCE

Chan (Zen) and Taoist Poetry

Green Way Research

Yang Style Taijiquan

Chen Style Taijiquan

Taoist Perspectives: My Reading List

Meditation

 

How to Live a Good Life:  Advice from Wise Persons

 

Bodymind Theory and Practices, Somaesthetics

The Five Senses

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Pleasures, Satisfaction, Desires

Grandmaster Chang San Feng

Virtues and a Good Life

Epicureanism

Qigong (Chi Kung) Health Practices

Valley Spirit Center

One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey: Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove

Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Index to Cloud Hands and Valley Spirit Websites

 

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching 

Introduction

Bibliography  

Alphabetical Subject Index (English, Spanish, Wade-Giles) for Chapters 1-25

Index to English Language Translators of the Tao Te Ching

Thematic Index 1-81  

Chapter Index 1-81    

Concordance to the Daodejing

Recurring Themes (Terms, Concepts, Leimotifs) in the Tao Te Ching

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

Resources

The Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) circa 500 BCE

 

 

 

Cloud Hands Blog

 

 

 

Tao Te Ching
 Chapter Number Index


Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Daodejing
Chapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in 246 CE
Chart by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index
 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81                  

 

 

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How to Live a Good Life:  Advice from Wise Persons