Chapter 7 of Laozi's Tao Te Ching explains the source of the eternal vitality of Heaven and Earth (nature) and presents the paradoxical wisdom of how the Sage (聖人), by emulating this principle, preserves their own being. It is a chapter that discusses the Taoist philosophy of 'selflessness' (無私), where one’s own existence is paradoxically preserved by not putting oneself forward and being free from personal gain.
📜 Original Text (原文)
天長地久
天地所以能長且久者
以其不自生
故能長生
是以聖人
後其身而身先
外其身而身存
非以其無私邪
故能成其私
📃 Meaning of the Original Text
Heaven is eternal and Earth is everlasting.
The reason Heaven and Earth can be eternal and everlasting is
Because they do not live for themselves.
Therefore, they can live forever.
This is why the Sage
Puts himself last, yet finds himself first.
Stands apart from himself, yet finds himself preserved.
Is it not because he is without self-interest?
Therefore, he can fulfill his own self-interest.
🌲 Line-by-Line Translation
天長地久 (tiān cháng dì jiǔ)
Heaven is eternal and Earth is everlasting.
天地所以能長且久者 (tiāndì suǒyǐ néng cháng qiě jiǔ zhě)
The reason Heaven and Earth can be eternal and everlasting is
以其不自生 (yǐ qí bù zì shēng)
Because they do not live for themselves.
故能長生 (gù néng cháng shēng)
Therefore, they can live forever.
是以聖人 (shìyǐ shèngrén)
This is why the Sage
後其身而身先 (hòu qí shēn ér shēn xiān)
Puts himself last, yet finds himself first.
外其身而身存 (wài qí shēn ér shēn cún)
Stands apart from himself, yet finds himself preserved.
非以其無私邪 (fēi yǐ qí wú sī yé)
Is it not because he is without self-interest?
故能成其私 (gù néng chéng qí sī)
Therefore, he can fulfill his own self-interest.
💧 Verse-by-Verse Commentary and Interpretation
1. 天長地久 (tiān cháng dì jiǔ)
o Literal Meaning: Heaven is long, Earth is lasting.
o Commentary: '天長地久' (tiān cháng dì jiǔ) is a common idiom expressing the eternity of the natural universe. '天' (tiān) is heaven, '長' (cháng) is long or eternal. '地' (dì) is earth, '久' (jiǔ) is long-lasting or enduring.
o Interpretation: This verse opens by declaring the eternal nature of the universe, setting the stage to explore the principle behind this permanence. The unchanging presence of nature symbolizes the immutability of the Tao.
2. 天地所以能長且久者 (tiāndì suǒyǐ néng cháng qiě jiǔ zhě)
o Literal Meaning: The reason why Heaven and Earth can be long and lasting is,
o Commentary: The structure '所以能...者' (suǒyǐ néng...zhě) means 'the reason why... is.' This verse transitions from a statement to an inquiry, asking for the fundamental reason for nature's eternity.
o Interpretation: Having established the eternity of Heaven and Earth, the text poses a question: What is the source of this permanence? Why can nature endure without change for so long?
3. 以其不自生 (yǐ qí bù zì shēng)
o Literal Meaning: Because they do not live for themselves.
o Commentary: '以其' (yǐ qí) means 'because of...' '不自生' (bù zì shēng) literally means 'not self-producing' or 'not self-living.' In the Taoist context, it means 'not striving for its own existence' or 'not living for its own sake.'
o Interpretation: Nature is eternal because it does not exist for itself or artificially strive to sustain its own life. It simply is, without intention or selfishness, serving the cycle of all things. This attitude of 'selflessness' (無私) is the paradoxical key to its longevity.
4. 故能長生 (gù néng cháng shēng)
o Literal Meaning: Therefore, they can live forever.
o Commentary: '故' (gù) means 'therefore.' '能長生' (néng cháng shēng) means 'can live long' or 'can exist eternally.'
o Interpretation: This verse confirms that the attitude of 'not living for oneself' leads directly to the result of 'eternal life.' While artificial efforts at self-preservation have limits, true eternity is achieved by letting go of the self and yielding to the flow of the Tao, just as nature does.
5. 是以聖人 (shìyǐ shèngrén)
o Literal Meaning: This is why the Sage,
o Interpretation: '是以' (shìyǐ) means 'for this reason.' This is a transition that applies the principle observed in nature to the actions of the '聖人' (shèngrén), the ideal enlightened person or leader. The Sage understands and applies this principle to their own life.
6. 後其身而身先 (hòu qí shēn ér shēn xiān)
o Literal Meaning: Puts himself last, yet finds himself first.
o Interpretation: The Sage does not seek to be first or prioritize their own interests; they place themselves behind others. Paradoxically, in doing so, they naturally come to be respected and placed first by others. This demonstrates the paradoxical effect of Wu Wei: one achieves leadership by not seeking it.
7. 外其身而身存 (wài qí shēn ér shēn cún)
o Literal Meaning: Stands apart from himself, yet finds himself preserved.
o Interpretation: The Sage does not cling to their body, life, or well-being with obsessive concern. They treat the self as if it were external. Paradoxically, by doing so, their body and being are preserved and kept safe from harm. This illustrates the principle of selflessness: what you grasp at, you lose; what you let go of, you keep.
8. 非以其無私邪 (fēi yǐ qí wú sī yé)
o Literal Meaning: Is it not because he is without self-interest?
o Interpretation: This is a rhetorical question explaining the cause of the Sage's paradoxical success. The reason the Sage comes first and is preserved is precisely because they are '無私' (wú sī)—free from private desire, egoism, and attachment to self.
9. 故能成其私 (gù néng chéng qí sī)
o Literal Meaning: Therefore, he can fulfill his own self-interest.
o Interpretation: This is the final paradox. Because the Sage acts without selfishness (無私), they are paradoxically able to achieve their true 'private interest' (成其私). Here, 'private interest' does not mean selfish gain but rather true self-preservation, well-being, and fulfillment. By abandoning the ego-driven self, the true, enduring self is realized. This is a core insight of Taoist philosophy.
🌳 Overall Interpretation
The seventh chapter teaches us the wisdom of life through observing nature.
Heaven and Earth exist, unchanging, for a very long time. So, what is the reason they can last forever? It is because they do not strive to live, saying, "I must survive," nor do they exist only for their own sake. Because they do not live for themselves, they are able to exist eternally.
Following this principle of nature, the enlightened Sage acts differently. The Sage does not push himself forward or consider himself important, but places himself last. Yet miraculously, in doing so, he naturally comes to be first among people. Furthermore, the Sage does not cling to his body or life with excessive worry, but lets go as if it were outside of him. Yet in doing so, his body is preserved and kept safe.
What is the reason the Sage can achieve such paradoxical results? Is it not because he is free from selfish desires and attachment to himself? Because he has abandoned self-interest, he is paradoxically able to achieve his true 'private interest'—his own well-being and preservation.
🌟 The Meaning and Importance of Chapter 7
o The Principle of Nature's Eternity: Heaven and Earth are eternal because they do not artificially assert or cling to their own existence ('not living for themselves'). This reflects the eternity and non-assertiveness of the Tao, the source of all things.
o The Practice of Selflessness (無私) by the Sage: Emulating this principle of nature, the Sage who follows the Tao adopts an attitude of 'selflessness' by not putting himself forward (後其身) and not clinging to himself (外其身).
o The Paradoxical Results of Selflessness: By not asserting himself and letting go, the Sage paradoxically comes to be first among others (身先) and is kept safe and preserved (身存).
o The Path to True Self-Preservation: The chapter emphasizes that 'being without self-interest' (無私) is the fundamental reason for these paradoxical results, and that this selflessness is the only way to achieve true self-preservation and well-being ('成其私'). It shows the Taoist insight that selfish attachment is ultimately self-destructive.
Chapter 7 highlights the importance of the core Taoist concept of 'selflessness' and its practice. It contains the profound wisdom that the attitude of 'non-action' (Wu Wei) and 'selflessness' (無私)—emptying the self, being humble, and letting go of attachment—paradoxically guarantees personal well-being and longevity.
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