Chapter 12 of Laozi's Tao Te Ching is a chapter that warns how the excessive pursuit of splendor, complexity, and rarity that stimulate the human senses actually numbs our original perception and confuses the mind. It presents the attitude of the sage, who focuses on simple, fundamental inner needs instead of these external stimuli, thereby emphasizing the importance of a simple and natural life.
📜 Original Text (原文)
五色令人目盲
五音令人耳聾
五味令人口爽
馳騁畋獵 令人心發狂
難得之貨 令人行妨
是以聖人 為腹不為目
故去彼取此
📃 Meaning of the Original Text
The five colors blind the eye.
The five sounds deafen the ear.
The five flavors numb the palate.
Racing and hunting madden the mind,
And precious goods hinder one's conduct.
Therefore, the sage is for the belly, not for the eye.
So he rejects that and chooses this.
🌲 Line-by-Line Translation
五色令人目盲 (wǔ sè lìng rén mù máng)
The five colors blind the eye.
五音令人耳聾 (wǔ yīn lìng rén ěr lóng)
The five sounds deafen the ear.
五味令人口爽 (wǔ wèi lìng rén kǒu shuǎng)
The five flavors numb the palate.
馳騁畋獵 令人心發狂 (chí chěng tián liè, lìng rén xīn fā kuáng)
Racing and hunting madden the mind,
難得之貨 令人行妨 (nán dé zhī huò, lìng rén xíng fáng)
And precious goods hinder one's conduct.
是以聖人 為腹不為目 (shì yǐ shèng rén, wèi fù bù wèi mù)
Therefore, the sage is for the belly, not for the eye.
故去彼取此 (gù qù bǐ qǔ cǐ)
So he rejects that and chooses this.
💧 Verse-by-Verse Commentary and Interpretation (逐句解說與解釋)
1. 五色令人目盲 (wǔ sè lìng rén mù máng)
o Literal Meaning: The five colors make a person's eyes blind.
o Commentary: '五色' (wǔ sè) traditionally refers to the five basic colors (blue, yellow, red, white, black), but here it symbolizes all dazzling, complex, and excessive visual stimuli. '令人' (lìng rén) is a causative structure meaning 'to make someone do something.' '目盲' (mù máng) means 'eyes blind.' This is not about physical loss of sight but is a metaphor for a mental and perceptual paralysis where one, engrossed in overly splendid and stimulating visual experiences, can no longer see the essence, simplicity, or truth of things.
o Interpretation: Exposure to too many, overly brilliant colors or images leads to losing the ability to see the true nature of things. It warns that being overwhelmed by intense external visual stimuli clouds one's inner vision.
2. 五音令人耳聾 (wǔ yīn lìng rén ěr lóng)
o Literal Meaning: The five sounds make a person's ears deaf.
o Commentary: '五音' (wǔ yīn) refers to the five notes of the traditional musical scale, but here it symbolizes all loud, complex, and excessive auditory stimuli, such as noise and elaborate music. '令人耳聾' (lìng rén ěr lóng) means 'to make the ears deaf.' This is not about physical hearing loss but is a metaphor for a mental and auditory paralysis where, buried in excessive noise or complex sounds, one can no longer hear the sounds of nature, one's inner voice, or simple, important messages.
o Interpretation: Being surrounded by excessively loud and complex sounds or music prevents one from hearing quiet sounds or the inner voice. It warns that intense external auditory stimuli disturb inner peace and perception.
3. 五味令人口爽 (wǔ wèi lìng rén kǒu shuǎng)
o Literal Meaning: The five flavors make a person's mouth numb/spoiled.
o Commentary: '五味' (wǔ wèi) refers to the five basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty), but here it symbolizes all excessively strong, complex, and luxurious culinary stimuli, such as delicacies or pungent foods. In '令人口爽' (lìng rén kǒu shuǎng), '爽' (shuǎng) can have a positive meaning like 'refreshing,' but in this context, it is interpreted negatively as 'to spoil,' 'to damage,' 'to dull,' or 'to lose one's palate.'
o Interpretation: Becoming accustomed to overly stimulating or complex flavors makes one unable to appreciate the taste of simple, natural foods. It warns that excessive indulgence of the palate dulls the original sense and harms healthy eating habits.
4. 馳騁畋獵 令人心發狂 (chí chěng tián liè, lìng rén xīn fā kuáng)
o Literal Meaning: Racing and hunting make a person's mind maddened.
o Commentary: '馳騁' (chí chěng) means to gallop a horse, to race. '畋獵' (tián liè) means to hunt. This symbolizes thrilling, competitive, and risky activities, excessive entertainment, or the pursuit of sensory pleasure. In '令人心發狂' (lìng rén xīn fā kuáng), '心' (xīn) means the mind or spirit, and '發狂' (fā kuáng) means to go mad, to become frantic, to lose one's senses, or to be extremely agitated.
o Interpretation: Excessive indulgence in thrilling entertainment or competitive activities makes the mind unsettled, agitated, or frantic, causing it to lose its natural tranquility. It warns that the pursuit of external, stimulating pleasures destroys inner peace.
5. 難得之貨 令人行妨 (nán dé zhī huò, lìng rén xíng fáng)
o Literal Meaning: Goods that are hard to get make a person's conduct hindered.
o Commentary: '難得之貨' (nán dé zhī huò) means 'goods (貨) that are hard to obtain (難得),' referring to rare items, treasures, or luxury goods. In '令人行妨' (lìng rén xíng fáng), '行' (xíng) means action, conduct, or moral practice. '妨' (fáng) means to hinder, to harm, to damage, or to cause to go astray.
o Interpretation: The desire for precious and hard-to-get items hinders or derails people from the right path of conduct. To obtain them, people may resort to theft (see Chapter 3), lies, or other immoral acts, thereby harming their moral life. It warns that excessive desire for material things becomes an obstacle to proper action.
6. 是以聖人 為腹不為目 (shì yǐ shèng rén, wèi fù bù wèi mù)
o Literal Meaning: Therefore, the sage is for the belly, not for the eye.
o Commentary: '是以' (shì yǐ) means 'for this reason' or 'therefore,' explaining the sage's attitude based on the previously mentioned harms of sensory indulgence. '聖人' (shèng rén) is the ideal person who follows the Tao. '為腹' (wèi fù) means 'to be for the belly.' Here, '腹' (fù, belly) symbolizes more than just the physical stomach; it represents basic livelihood, inner fulfillment, simplicity, and essential needs. '不為目' (bù wèi mù) means 'not to be for the eye.' Here, '目' (mù, eye) symbolizes more than just the physical eye; it represents external splendor, sensory pleasure, superficial desires, and the five senses directed toward the external world.
o Interpretation: Because the sage understands the harms of sensory indulgence and desire, he focuses on satisfying his simple, fundamental inner needs (the belly) rather than chasing sensory desires aimed at the external world (the eye). This shows an attitude that pursues true fulfillment over superficial pleasure and substance over splendid appearance.
7. 故去彼取此 (gù qù bǐ qǔ cǐ)
o Literal Meaning: Therefore, he rejects that and chooses this.
o Commentary: '故' (gù) means 'therefore,' concluding the sage's choice. In '去彼' (qù bǐ), '去' (qù) means to discard, to leave, or to distance oneself from. '彼' (bǐ) is the pronoun 'that,' referring to the external, stimulating things warned against—sensory indulgence, pleasure-seeking, and desire for rare goods (symbolized by the 'eye'). In '取此' (qǔ cǐ), '取' (qǔ) means to take, to choose, or to accept. '此' (cǐ) is the pronoun 'this,' referring to the simple life that satisfies inner, simple fulfillment (symbolized by the 'belly').
o Interpretation: Knowing the dangers of sensory indulgence and external stimuli, the sage deliberately distances himself from and rejects them. Instead, he chooses and accepts a simple life that provides inner peace and fulfills basic needs. The chapter concludes by showing the sage's decisive attitude of rejecting the superficial and choosing the essential.
🌳 Overall Interpretation
The twelfth chapter warns against the dangers of things we commonly pursue and points the way to a truly valuable life.
When your eyes are stimulated by too many, overly brilliant colors, you become blind to the true appearance of things. Similarly, when your ears are stimulated by excessively complex and loud sounds, you become deaf to quiet sounds and the voice of nature. And when your palate becomes accustomed to intense and pungent flavors, you lose the ability to taste simple, natural food.
Engaging excessively in thrilling and exciting activities, like racing horses and hunting, causes our minds to become unstable and frantic. And desiring rare and precious goods can lead us to do wrong and stray from the right path, distorting our lives.
Knowing these dangers, the sage who has realized the Tao lives differently. The sage does not cater to the 'eye,' which chases after splendid appearances and sensory stimuli, but instead caters to the 'belly,' which seeks to fulfill basic needs and find inner peace.
Therefore, the sage firmly rejects 'those' external, dazzling, and stimulating things and chooses 'this'—the simple, essential, and internal way of life.
🌟 The Meaning and Importance of Chapter 12
Chapter 12 presents the following core ideas:
- The Harm of Sensory Indulgence: It warns that excessive visual, auditory, and gustatory stimulation, thrill-seeking, and material desire dull a person's natural senses, confuse the mind, and lead to improper conduct.
- 'For the belly, not for the eye' (為腹不為目): This is a key practical principle in Taoist thought. It symbolizes an attitude that focuses on fundamental, simple inner needs (the belly) instead of superficial, external ones (the eye). It is a critique of materialism and sensualism, emphasizing the importance of inner substance.
- 'Rejecting that and choosing this' (去彼取此): This shows the decisive attitude of the sage. He deliberately distances himself from dangerous and harmful external stimuli ('that') and chooses the simple and plain things ('this') that bring peace and enable an essential life.
- The Value of Simplicity and Plainness: The warning against sensory indulgence and the focus on the inner self ultimately lead to a simple and plain life. The Tao Te Ching suggests that such a life is what brings peace of mind and true fulfillment.
Chapter 12 delivers a powerful message that is still valid in modern society. To modern people who are losing their essence amidst a constant flood of sensory stimuli and material abundance, this chapter serves as a crucial warning, emphasizing the value of a life that pursues simplicity, plainness, and inner peace.
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