Chapter 34

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 33     Chapter 35     Index to All the Chapters     Daoism     Concordance     Cloud Hands Blog     Commentary

English     Chinese     Spanish

 

 

 

Chapter 34

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 #34:  Act or Make (wei),  Clothe (yi), Creative, Creatures, Dao,  Desires or Wants (yu), Eternal or Forever (ch'ang), Expansive or Flooding or Overflowing (fan), Finish or Complete (ch'êng), Giving, Great (ta), Greatness, He or She or It (ch'i), Hiding One's Virtues, Humility, Last or End (chung), Left (tso), Life or Born (shêng), Love, Merit or Success (kung), Modesty, Nameless (pu ming), Nourish or Feed (yang), Nourishing, Origin, Perfection of Trust, Productivity, Reject or Refuse (tz'u), Rely or Trust (shih), Return or Revert (kuei), Returning to One's Root, Returning, Right (yu), River, Root, Ruler or Lord (chu), Sage, Self or Personal (tzu), Small (hsiao), Source, Success or Accomplish (ch'êng), Tao is All Pervading, Tao, Task of Achievement, Ten Thousand Things (wan wu), Way or Universe or Nature or Reality (Tao), 任成  .  Chapter #34 Tao Te Ching  2/9k/2021


Términos en Español, Capítulo #34 Tao es Omnipresente, Confianza, Modestia, Grandeza, Río, Devolución, Criaturas, Pequeñez, Humildad, Productividad, Raíz, Sabio, Izquierda, Derecha, Sin Nombre, Fuente, Origen, Amor, Dar, Virtudes, Camino, Naturaleza, Derramar, Expansivo, Izquierda, Derecha, Cosas, Confiar, Confianza, Vida, Rechazar, Negarse, Mérito, Éxito, Ella, Finalizar, Completa, sin Nombre, Vestir, Alimentar, Alimentación, Regla, Señor, Eterno, para Siempre, Deseos, Necesidades, Pequeño, Retorno, Fin, Ser, Éxito, Logre.  Capítulo #34 Daodejing  2/9k/2021

Electronic Concordance for all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

 

English Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

 

How great the Way, like a flooding river flowing left and right!
Holding nothing back, it gives to all in need and makes no claim upon them.
All creatures return to it, yet it rules none: how small it seems.
It rules none, yet all creatures return to it: how great it seems. 
By never seeking greatness, greatness comes."
-  Translated by Douglas Allchin, 2002, Chapter 34

 

 

"All-pervading is the Great Tao!
It may be found on the left hand and on the right.
All things depend on it for their production, which it gives to them, not one refusing obedience to it.
When its work is accomplished, it does not claim the name of having done it. 
It clothes all things as with a garment, and makes no assumption of being their lord.  
It may be named in the smallest things.
All things return to their root and disappear, and do not know that it is it which presides over their doing so.
It may be named in the greatest things.
Hence the sage is able to accomplish his great achievements.
It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them."
-  Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 34   

 

 

"The great way flows, such as it may left and right.
All things on earth depend on it for existence, and it never declines,
Meritorious accomplishments yet anonymous.
Clothes and supports all things on earth yet doesn't master.
Always without desire befits the name small.
All things on earth return here, Why?
Not being their master befits the name great.
Because of its ultimate non-self, it becomes great.
Hence it can accomplish its greatness."
-  Translated by Carl Abbott, 2012, Chapter 34 

 

 

"Nourishment: All life is cared for by the Tao

The Great Way is boundless! It flows in every direction.
All things depend upon it for life, and it does not fail them.
It works in our favor, yet claims no credit.

The Tao clothes and cares for all things, without being their master.
We can say it is small,
yet it is a refuge for all things, without controlling any thing.
We can say it is great,
but the Tao does not make a big thing of itself,
and so is able to achieve great things."
-  Translated by Roderic and Amy Sorrell, 2003, Chapter 34

 

 

"The great Tao flows everywhere.
All things are born from it,
yet it doesn't create them.
It pours itself into its work,
yet it makes no claim.
It nourishes infinite worlds,
yet it doesn't hold on to them.
Since it is merged with all things
and hidden in their hearts,
it can be called humble.
Since all things vanish into it
and it alone endures,
it can be called great.
It isn't aware of its greatness;
thus it is truly great."
-  Translated by Edwin Shaw, 1996, Chapter 34 

 

 

"The Method of Attainment 

The Tao is immanent; it extendeth to the right hand as to the left.

All things derive from it their being; it createth them, and all comply with it.
Its work is done, and it proclaimeth it not.
It is the ornament of all things, yet it claimeth not fief of them;
there is nothing so small that it inhabiteth not, and informeth it.
All things return without knowledge of the Cause thereof;
there is nothing so great that it inhabiteth not, and informeth it.

In this manner also may the Sage perform his Works.
It is by not thrusting himself forward that he winneth to his success."
-  Translated by Aleister Crowley, 1918, Chapter 34  


 

 

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

 

 

 

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. 

 

                             

 

 

 

"How all-pervading is the great Reason!
It can be on the left and it can be on the right. 
The ten thousand things depend upon it for their life, and it refuses them not.
When its merit is accomplished it assumes not the name.
Lovingly it nourishes the ten thousand things and plays not the lord.
Ever desireless it can be classed with the small.   
The ten thousand things return home to it.
It plays not the lord.
It can be classed with the great.  
The holy man unto death does not make himself great and can thus accomplish his greatness."
-  Translated by Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 34 

 

 

Cloud Hands Blog

 

 

"The Great Tao is all-pervasive; it may be seen on the right and on the left.
All things depend upon it, and are produced; it denies itself to none. 
It achieves its works of merit, but has no name or reputation among men.
With tenderness it nourishes all things, yet claims no lordship over them. 
It is ever passionless, and may be named among the smallest things.
All things submit to it, yet it claims no lordship over them; it may be called great. 
Thus the Sage to the end of his life never exalts himself; and thus he is able to achieve great things."
-  Translated by Henry H. Balfour, Chapter 34

 

 

"Great Tao drifts─ it can go right or go left.
The thousands of things depend on it for life, it rejects nothing.
It achieves successes, but does not hold tight to the fame.
It clothes and feeds the thousands of things but does not act the ruler.
Always:
Desiring nothing, it can be called 'of no account.'
The thousands of things turn back to it but it does not act the ruler─ it can be called 'Great.'
Because in the end
it does not insist on its own greatness,
yes, it is able to achieve its full greatness."
-  Translated by Michael LaFargue, 1994, Chapter 34 

 

 

"The Tao flows all around like a great river,
To the left and to the right it surrounds all.
It gives rise to all, and nourishes and clothes them, but lays no intention on control.
It is merged in all things, and hidden in their inner being;
Thus it may be termed small.
All things return to it at the end of life;
Thus it is called great.
The sage models himself after the Tao,
Unburdened, not striving, content with what is."
-  Translated by Rivenrock, Chapter 34   

 

 

 

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 great Tao is everywhere, on all sides.
Everything derives from it;
nothing is rejected by it.
Through Tao everything exists
yet it does not take possession.
It provides for everything
yet it does not lay claim.
Without motive it seems small.
Being the source of everything it is great.
Because it never claims greatness,
its greatness shines brightly."
-  Translated by C. Ganson, Chapter 34 

 

 

 

A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 34 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

大道汎兮其可左右. 
萬物恃之而生而不辭. 
功成不名有. 
衣養萬物而不為主.
常無欲, 可名於小.  
萬物歸焉而不為主, 可名為大. 
以其終不自為大.
故能成其大. 
-  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 34

 

 

ta tao fan hsi ch'i k'o tso yu.
wan wu shih chih erh shêng erh pu tz'u.
kung ch'êng pu ming yu.
yi yang wan wu erh pu wei chu.
ch'ang wu yü, k'o ming yü hsiao.
wan wu kuei yen erh pu wei chu, k'o ming wei ta.
yi ch'i chung pu tzu wei ta.
ku nêng ch'êng ch'i ta.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 34
 


Audio Version in Chinese of Chapter 34 of the Tao Te Ching

 


da dao fan xi qi ke zuo you.
wan wu shi zhi yi sheng er bu ci. 
gong cheng bu ming you.
yi yang wan wu er bu wei zhu. 
chang wu yu, ke ming yu xiao.
wan wu gui yan er bu wei zhu, ke ming wei da.
yi qi zhong bu zi wei da. 
gu neng cheng qi da.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 34

 
 
 

 

 

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. 

 

 

"The Tao is like an overflowing river.
It rises to the left and to the right.
The ten thousand things arise from it, but do not depart from it.
The Tao acts, but cannot be defined.
It clothes and nourishes all beings, but does not rule over them.
It endures without desire and without seeming "big."
The ten thousand things find their home in it, and yet it does not exercise lordship over them.
The Tao is very great, but it does not show its greatness.
Therefore, it is truly great."
-  Translated by George Cronk, 1999, Chapter 34 

 

 
 
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

 

                                       

 

 

 

"Tao contains the whole Universe.
All things come out of Tao.
It doesn't reject anybody or anything.
He who is on the Tao Way is a creator,
But doesn't take possession of the creation.
He is generous, but doesn't look for gratitude of people.
Without own desires, he isn't easily noticed.
He does good things without taking merits.
Not displaying his greatness, the Wise Person is great indeed."
-  Translated by Octavian Sarbatorare, 2002, Chapter 34 

 

 

"The Tao floats and drifts whichever way it likes
It does what it wants, without proclaiming itself
All things depend on it, but it is not their master
It has no desire, and thus is small
Yet since all things depend on it, and it does not rule them
It is magnificent

So the Taoist attempts great works with no thought of being great
And thus accomplishes his ends"
-  Translated by Ted Wrigley, Chapter 34  

 

 

"Great Tao is like a boat that drifts;
It can go this way; it can go that.
The ten thousand creatures owe their existence to it and it does not disown them;
Yet having produced them, it does not take possession of them.
Makes no claim to be master over them,
(And asks for nothing from them.)
Therefore it may be called the Lowly.
The ten thousand creatures obey it,
Though they know not that they have a master;
Therefore it is called the Great.
So too the Sage just because he never at any time makes a show of greatness
In fact achieves greatness."
-  Translated by Arthur Waley, 1934, Chapter 34 


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 Te Ching  Translated by Arthur Waley
Tao - The Way   Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles
Taoism: An Essential Guide   By Eva Wong

 

                             

 

 

 

"The Great Tao (the Laws of the Universe) is universal like a flood.
How can it be turned to the right or to the left?
All creatures depend on it, and it denies nothing to anyone.
It does its work,
But it makes no claims for itself.
It clothes and feeds all,
But it does not rule them
Thus, it may be called "the Little."
All things return to it as to their home,
But it does not rule them 
It may be called "the Great."
It is just because it does not wish to be great
That its greatness is fully realized.
The Complete Thinker would not control the world;
They are in harmony with the world."
-  Translated by John Louis Albert Trottier, 1994, Chapter 34  

 

 

"The great Dao flows everywhere.
It goes to the right and it goes to the left.
Myriad beings depend on it to survive,
But it does not interfere with them.
It facilitates but does not gloat.
It nourishes everything, but does not exert control.
Dao has no goal and appears to be insignificant.
Nevertheless, everything relies on it for sustenance, but it exerts no control.
Such action seems to be magnificently great.
Dao has no intention to be great, yet it attains greatness."
-  Translated by Han Hiong Tan, Chapter 34

 

 

"The great Tao pervades everywhere, both on the left and on the right.
By it all things came in to being, and it does not reject them.
Merits accomplished, it does not possess them.
It loves and nourishes all things but does not dominate over them.
It is always non-existent; therefore it can be named as small.
All things return home to it, and it does not claim mastery over them;
therefore it can be named as great.
Because it never assumes greatness, therefore it can accomplish greatness."
-  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 34

 

 

 

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 drifts it can go left or right
everything lives by its grace but it doesn't speak when its work succeeds it makes no claim it has no desires
shall we call it small
everything turns to it but it wields no control shall we call it great
therefore the sage never acts great thus he can do great things"
-  Translated by Red Pine, Chapter 34  

 

 

"Natural Perfection
Ren Ch'eng


The Great Tao is all pervasive;
It could be on your right or on your left.
The ten thousand things depend on it for growth,
And it never lets them down.
It achieves success but is not possessive.
It enfolds and nourishes the ten thousand things,
Yet it does not claim ownership.
Always desireless and covetous of nothing,
It could be termed small.
But as the ten thousand things return to it,
And it does not care to be their lord,
It could be termed great.
Thus the Sage never in life tries to be great,
And for this very reason becomes truly great."
-  Translated by Henry Wei, 1982, Chapter 34  

 

 

"The Tao is immanent; it extendeth to the right hand as to the left.
All things derive from it their being; it createth them, and all comply
with it.
Its work is done, and it proclaimeth it not.
It is the ornament of all things, yet it claimeth not fief of them; there is
nothing so small that it inhabiteth not, and informeth it.
All things return without knowledge of the Cause thereof; there is
nothing so great that it inhabiteth not, and informeth it.
In this manner also may the Sage perform his Works.
It is by not thrusting himself forward that he winneth to his success."
-  Translated by Aleister Crowley, 1918, Chapter 34

 

 

 

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  

 

                                     

 

 

 

"Great Tao flows everywhere,
It extends to the left and to the right.
All beings receive It in order to live and be free.
It works out perfectness in them although It possesses not a Name.
It protects them with love and sustains them, but does not claim to be Ruler of their actions.
Always seeking the innermost, you may say that Its Name is in the Small.
All beings return again into It, yet It does not claim to be Ruler of their actions.
You may say that Its Name is in the Great.
That is why, to the end of his life, the self-controlled man is not great in action,
Thus he is able to perfect his greatness."
-  Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 34

 

 

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

 

 

"The big Dao is like a flood, going everywhere.
Everything depends on it to grow, but it never refuses to help.
When things are accomplished, it never claims credit.
It nurtures everything, but never tries to control them.
It never has desires, so it can be called 'the small.'
Everything depends on it, but it never tries to be their master, so it can be called 'the big.'
Only because it never wants to be 'the big,' so it becomes 'the big'."
-  Translated by Xiaolin Yang, Chapter 34

 

 

"The great Tao flows unobstructed in every direction.
All things rely on it to conceive and be born,
and it does not deny even the smallest of creation.
When it has accomplished great wonders,
it does not claim them for itself.
It nourishes infinite worlds,
yet it doesn't seek to master the smallest creature.
Since it is without wants and desires,
it can be considered humble.
All of creation seeks it for refuge
yet it does not seek to master or control.
Because it does not seek greatness;
it is able to accomplish truly great things."
-  Translated by John H. McDonald, 1996, Chapter 34 

 

 

 

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

 

                                  

 

 

 

"Great Tao is all-pervading,

At once on left and right

It may be found, and all things wait

On it for life and light.

 

No one is refused the gift,

And when the work is done

It does not take the name of it,

Nor claim the merit won.

 

All things it loves and nurses,

But does not strive to own,

Has no desires, and can be named

With the tiniest ever known.

 

All things return home to it,

But it does not strive to own,

And can be named with the mightiest,

For it is the Tao alone.

 

And thus the sage is able

To accomplish his great deeds,

To the end he claims no greatness,

And his great work thus succeeds."
-  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 34

 

 

 

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                  

 

 

 

 

 

"Dao drifts about aimlessly!
It willingly goes to the left or to the right.
It is fully satisfied with a successful event, but isn’t willing to have a title.

All living things depend on it, but it’s not willing to act as their master.
Consequently, it is always without desires.
It is only willing to accept a title that is insignificant.

All living things depend on it, but it’s not willing to act as their master.
It is only willing to accept destiny as greatness.

It’s natural for a wise person to have the ability to accomplish great success.
Simply because she doesn’t act in a grand manner.
Therefore, she has the ability to achieve great success."
-  Translated by Nina Correa, 2005, Chapter 34  
 

 

 

 

 

"Der große Sinn ist überströmend;
er kam zur Rechten sein und zur Linken.
Alle Dinge verdanken ihm ihr Dasein,
und er verweigert sich ihnen nicht.
Ist das Werk vollbracht,
so heißt er es nicht seinen Besitz.
Er kleidet und nährt alle Dinge
und spielt nicht ihren Herrn.
Sofern er ewig nicht begehrend ist,
kann man ihn als klein bezeichnen.
Sofern alle Dinge von ihm abhängen,
ohne ihn als Herrn zu kennen,
kann man ihn als groß bezeichnen.
Also auch der Berufene:
Niemals macht es sich groß;
darum bringt er sein Großes Werk zustande."
-  Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 34

 

 

 

 

 

"Wahre Größe offenbart sich imDienen

O du überströmendes, alles überflutendes Wesen!
Durch Dich ist das All.
In Dir leben alle Wesen.
Du versagst Dich keinem.
Du alles wirkende, alles fördernde,
alles ernährende Weltenmutter,
Du ewige Dienerin des Lebens!
Nie strebst Du nach Ruhm.
Klein erscheinst Du denen,
die Dein anspruchsloses Dienen nicht erfassen.
Groß aber bist Du, wenn alle Dinge in Dich zurückkehren!
Und dennoch gebärdest Du Dich nicht als Herrin.
So dient auch der Weyse Seyn Leben lang,
nie nach Größe fragend, doch Großes wirkend."
-  Translated by Rudolf Backofen, 1949, Chapter


 

 

 

 

"The great Tao flows everywhere
It fills everything to the left and to the right
All things owe their existence to it and it cannot deny any one of them
Tao is eternal
It does not favour one over the other
It brings all things to completion without their even knowing it
Tao nourishes and protects all creatures yet does not claim lordship over them
So we class it with the most humble
Tao is the home to which all things return yet it wants nothing in return
So we call it he Greatest
The Sage is the same way ?
He does not claim greatness over anything
He not eve aware of his own greatness
Tell me, what could be greater than this?"
-  Translated by Jonathan Star, 2001, Chapter 34 

 

 

 

"Tao is everywhere.
It can be guidance.
Everything lives depending on it without exception,
With such accomplishment, it claims none.
Providing clothing and food to everything, it does not govern them: this is called lowliness.
Guiding everything, it does not master, this can be called greatness.
Because it does not proclaim to be great, it can actually be great."
-  Translated by Thomas Zhang, Chapter 34  

 

 

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

 

                                              

 

 

 

"The great Tao is the cycle of life!
It can move to the left and to the right.
Ten-thousand things rely upon it and it gives birth and does not refuse.
It deserves praise for the whole which cannot be named.
It clothes and nourishes ten-thousand things and does not act like a ruler.
It is always without deep seated desires.
Its name is associated with everything including the small.
Ten-thousand things revert to their original state, and from that place do not act as rulers.
The Name becomes great because until the end, it is not great and does not act great.
Thus it can succeed in its greatness."
-  Translated by Alan Sheets and Barbara Tovey, Chapter 34 

 

 

"Great tao flowing everywhere
    It can be left or right
    All things depend on it yet exist yet without being denied.

Outstanding service is performed without the presence of names
    It clothes and cultivates the 10000 things
    Yet without acting as lord.

With entireness absent of desire
    One can name in relation to smallness
    The 10000 things merge and blend
    Yet without action as lord one can name great actions.

What is entirely without a self to act great happens
So it is able to perfect what is great."
-  Translated by David Lindauer, Chapter 34  

 

 

"How all-pervading the superior Dao is!
It could be on the left, it could be on the right.
Upon it the life of all things depends and it does not deny anyone.
It accomplishes merits but it does not possess fame.
It shields and nourishes All Things but it does not lord over them.
It may be called the Superior.
Hence, a Sage ruler never wishes to be superior.
Therefore he eventually became superior."
-  Translated by Tang Zi-Chang, Chapter 34 

 

 

"Le Tao s'étend partout; il peut aller à gauche comme à droite.
Tous les êtres comptent sur lui pour naître, et il ne les repousse point.
Quand ses mérites sont accomplis, il ne se les attribue point.
Il aime et nourrit tous les êtres, et ne se regarde pas comme leur maître.
Il est constamment sans désirs: on peut l'appeler petit.
Tous les êtres se soumettent à lui, et il ne se regarde pas comme leur maître: on peut l'appeler grand.
De là vient que, jusqu'à la fin de sa vie, le saint homme ne s'estime pas grand.
C'est pourquoi il peut accomplir de grandes choses."
-  Translated by Stanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 34

 

 

"The Perfection of Trust  

Great Tao is all pervading!
It can be on both the right hand and the left.
Everything relies upon it for their existence, and it does not fail them.
It acquires merit but covets not the title.
It lovingly nourishes everything, but does not claim the rights of ownership.
It has no desires, it can be classed with the small.
Everything returns to it, yet it does not claim the right of ownership.
It can be classed with the great.

Therefore the wise man to the end will not pose as a great man,
     and by so doing will express his true greatness."
-  Translated by Dwight Goddard and Henri Borel, 1919, Chapter 34  

 

 

 

 

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

 

"El gran, Tao fluye por todos partes, hacia la izquierda y hacia la derecha.
Todas las cosas existen por mediación suya, ye él no las rechaza.
Al dar es espléndido, no exige retribucción. 
Ama y nutre todas las cosas, pero no domina sobre ellas.
Es siempre no-existente, por lo que puede ser llamado pequeño.
Todas las cosas regresan a él, pero él no las reclama como su dueño; por esto puede ser llamado grande.
Porque nunca asume su grandeza, la grandeza está con él."
-  Translated from Chinese into English by Ch'u Ta-Kao, Translated from English into Spanish by Caridad Diaz Faes, Capítulo 34  

 

 

"El Gran Tao es universal como una corriente.
¿Cómo puede ser desviado a la derecha o a la izquierda?
Todas las criaturas dependen de él, y no niega nada a nadie.
Lleva a cabo su labor, pero no se la atribuye.
Todo lo viste y alimenta, pero no se enseñorea sobre nada:
Así, puede ser llamado "lo Grande".
Precisamente porque no desea ser grande, su grandeza se realiza plenamente."
-  Translated into Spanish by Alfonso Colodrón from the English translation by John C. H. Wu, 1993, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo # 34

 

 

"El gran Tao inunda a la izquierda, a la derecha.
Los diez mil seres confían viviendo en él
y él no los rechaza.
El trabajo se completa
pero él no se apodera de éste.
Viste y nutre a los diez mil seres
pero no los domina.

Eternamente sin deseo,
quizá su nombre sea “pequeño”.

Los diez mil seres retornan a él;
sin embargo, él no los domina.

Quizá su nombre sea “grande”.
Porque nunca se considera a sí mismo grande,
es posible entonces llamarlo así."
-  Translated by Álex Ferrara, 2003, Capítulo # 34

 

 

"El principio único se puede encontrar en todas partes, todo el tiempo.
Todo funciona según él.
Cada vida se desarrolla de acuerdo con ella.
El principio único no dice sí a esto y no a eso.
A pesar de que Tao es la fuente de todo crecimiento y desarrollo, nada beneficia a Tao.
Tao se beneficia de todos sin retorno y sin prejuicios.
Tampoco la propiedad privada de principio único.

No puedes poseerlo.
No te pertenece.
Su grandeza reside en su universalidad.
Es todo incluido.

El líder sabio sigue este principio y no actúa egoístamente.
El líder no acepta a una persona y se niega a trabajar con otra.
El líder no posee personas ni controla sus vidas.
El liderazgo no es una cuestión de ganar.
El trabajo realizado con el fin de arrojar la luz de la concienciación sobre
lo que está sucediendo: también, servicio desinteresado, sin prejuicios, al conexo para todos."
-  Translated into English by John Heider, 1985, Chapter 34. 
   Spanish version from Michael P. Garofalo.  

 

 

"El Gran Tao es como un río que fluye en todas las direcciones.
Los diez mil seres y las diez mil cosas le deben la existencia
y él a ninguno se la niega.
El Tao cumple su propósito sin apropiarse de nada.
Cuida y alimenta a los diez mil seres
sin adueñarse de ellos.
Carece de ambiciones,
por eso puede ser llamado pequeño.
Los diez mil seres retornan a él sin que los reclame,
y por eso puede ser llamado grande.
De la misma forma, el sabio nunca se considera grande,
y así, perpetúa su grandeza."
-  Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Capítulo 34

 

 

"El Tao Eterno penetra todo. 
Está presente a la izquierda y al la derecha.
Y gracias a Tao, todas las almas aparecen, siguen viviendo y siguen desarrolándose.
Aungue Tao es tan grandioso y realiza actos tan grandes, no desea la gloria para para Sí.
Tao educa con amor a todos los seres, no ejerce violencia sobre ellos
     y no insiste en que las personas cumplan Sus deseos.
Tao es Grande, aunque no insiste en esto.
Las personas razonables anhelan alcanzar a Tao, al Grande."
-  Translated by Anton Teplyy, 2008, Capítulo 34

 

 

 

 

Commentary

 

Coming Later ... 2022

I welcome email with commentary on this topic of Chapter 34 of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #35

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Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching 

 

 

 

 

Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 34

 

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 M.S.
 

This webpage was last edited, improved, reformatted, corrected, modified or updated on February 8, 2021.   

This webpage was first distributed online on April 4, 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.

Valley Spirit Center, Red Bluff, California 

Study Chi Kung or Tai Chi with Mike Garofalo 

 

 

 


 

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

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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