Soft Overcomes Hard, Explanation of a Paradox, A Secret Explained, Strengthen Then Weaken, Minimizing the Light, 微明
"When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a previous
expiration.
When he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him.
When he is going to overthrow another, he will first have raised him up.
When he he is going to despoil another, he will first have made gifts to him.
This is called 'hiding the light' of his procedure.
The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.
Fishes should not be taken from the deep.
The instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people."
- Translated by
James Legge, 1891,
Chapter 36
"When one feels a desire to concentrate it in one's own heart, it is
imperatively necessary to display it openly.
When one feels a desire to cultivate it in its pliant phase, it is imperatively
necessary to fortify and strengthen one's own powers. When one feels a
desire to abandon or neglect it, it is imperatively necessary to stir up one's
mind afresh in its pursuit.
If anyone feels a desire to obtain it, it is imperatively necessary that it
should be imparted to him.
By this means, the hidden phases of Tao will become clear.
The weak and pliable overcomes the strong and hard.
A fish cannot leave the depths.
The treasures of a State should not be employed to influence the people."
- Translated by
Henry Balfour,
1884, Chapter 36
By Alexander Simkins. 
By Derek Lin.
By Ming-Dao Deng.
By Benjamin Hoff.
By Ming-Dao Deng.
Translated by Thomas Cleary.
"That which is about to contract has surely been expanded.
That which is about to weaken has surely been strengthened.
That which is about to fall has surely been raised.
That which is about to be despoiled has surely been endowed.
This is an explanation of the secret that the tender and the weak conquer the
hard and the strong.
As the fish should not escape from the deep, so with the country's sharp tools
the people should not become acquainted."
- Translated by
Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki and
Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 36
Translated by Eva Wong 
Translated by Philip Ivahoe
By James Miller
Translated by Stephen Bokencamp
By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins
Translated by Thomas Cleary
By Livia Kohn
"Whatever is gathered in
Must first be stretched out;
Whatever is weakened
Must first be made strong;
Whatever is abandoned
Must first be joined;
Whatever is taken away
Must first be given.
This is what is called the subtle within what is evident.
The soft and weak vanquish the hard and strong.
Fishes should not relinquish the depths.
The sharpest instruments of state should not be revealed to others."
- Translated by
Roger T. Ames and
Donald L. Hall, 2003, Chapter 36
Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni.
Translated by Brian Walker. 
Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles.
By Eva Wong.
"When you wish to contract something,
You must momentarily expand it;
When you wish to weaken something,
You must momentarily strengthen it;
When you wish to reject something,
You must momentarily join with it;
When you wish to seize something,
You must momentarily give it up.
This is called "subtle insight."
The soft and weak conquer the strong.
Fish cannot be removed from the watery depths;
The profitable instruments of state cannot be shown to the people."
- Translated by
Victor H. Mair,
1990, Chapter 36
By Hu Xuzehi
Annotated translation by Victor Mair 
By Ha Poong Kim
By Hans-Georg Moeller 
By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall
By Wes Burgess
By Arthur Waley
"What's in the end to be shrunk can first be stretched.
The one who is to be made to dwindle in power can first be caused to expand; and
then it's necessary
first to expand.
Whatever is to be weakened must begin by being made strong.
He who is to be laid low can first be exalted to power.
So: first promote, next destroy. Or: To destroy, first promote.
What's to be overthrown must begin by being set up.
He who would be a taker must begin as a giver.
And this is the fine art of dimming one's light.
According to this the soft overcomes the hard; and the weak, the strong.
Fish should be left in the deep pool, not taken away from water.
Sharp weapons of the state should not be displayed, but left where nobody can
see them."
- Translated by
T. Byrn, 1997,
Chapter 36
Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching
Translated by Livia Kohn
Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way
"The Way of Subtle Light ...
What is to be shrunken
Is first stretched out;
What is to be weakened
Is first made strong;
What will be thrown over
Is first raised up;
What will be withdrawn
Is first bestowed.
This indeed is
Subtle Light;
The gentle way
Will overcome
The hard and strong.
As fish should not
Get out of pools,
The realm's edged tools
Should not be shown
To anybody."
- Translated by
Raymond Blackney, Chapter 36
Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching
The Tao of Zen
Tao Te Ching: Zen Teachings on the Taoist Classic
Buddhism and Taoism Face to Face: Scripture, Ritual, and Iconographic Exchange in Medieval China
"If you desire to breathe deeply, you must first empty the lungs.
If you desire to be strong, you must first learn to be weak.
If you desire to be in a lofty position, you must first learn to take a lowly position.
If you desire to be enriched by gifts, you must first give away all that you have.
This is called concealment and enlightenment.
The soft overcomes the hard.
The weak overcomes the strong.
Fish cannot swim safely in shallow waters.
The secrets of government of a kingdom should not be revealed to the people."
- Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 36
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Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 36
Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition
By Jonathan Star. Translation, commentary and research tools. New York, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Penguin, 2001. Concordance, tables, appendices, 349 pages. A
new rendition of the Tao Te Ching is provided, then a verbatim translation with
extensive notes. Detailed tables for each verse provide line number, all
the Chinese characters, Wade-Giles romanization, and a list of meanings for
each character. An excellent reference tool!
Yellow Bridge
Dao De Jing Comparison Table, Chapter 36 Provides side by side comparisons of translations of the Tao Te
Ching by James Legge,
D. T. Suzuki, and Dwight Goddard. Chinese characters for each paragraph in
the Chapter are on the left; place your cursor over the Chinese characters to
see the Pinyin romanization of the Chinese character and a list of meanings.
The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching
Tao Te Ching Commentaries - Google Search
Translators'
Index, Tao Te Ching Translators Sorted Alphabetically by Translator, Links
to Books and Online Versions
Tao Te Ching: A
Bibliography and Index of Translations on the Web
Chapter 36 in the
Rambling
Taoist Commentaries by Trey Smith. The
Rambling Taoists are Trey Smith and Scott Bradley.
By Hu Xuzehi. Seven Star Communications, 2006, 240 pages.
The Philosophy of the Daodejing
Valley Spirit, Gu Shen,
Concept
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
The largest collection of very nicely formatted complete versions of the Tao
Te Ching. The
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Tao Te Ching available at this website. A variety of search methods and comparision methods are provided, as well a a detailed
index.
Offline as of 5/11/2013.
Tao Te Ching
English Translations from Terebess Asia Online.
Over 30 translations.
Lao-tzu's Taoteching
Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation
Thematic Index to the
81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui
Texts (Classics of Ancient China)
Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching
Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Grove, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California
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Ripening Peaches: Daoist Studies and Practices
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Index to Translators of the Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) circa 500 BCE
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