Chapter 35 of Laozi's Tao Te Ching explains the powerful yet peaceful force of the Tao, the source of all things, and its essence, which appears simple and plain but is inexhaustible in its function. The Tao guides all people and brings them peace, yet it possesses a quality of 'tastelessness' (無味) that is difficult to grasp with the human senses. It contrasts the subtlety of the Tao with its endless power, emphasizing its transcendent value.
📜 Original Text (原文)
執大象天下往
往而不害 安平太
樂與餌 過客止
道之出口 淡乎其無味
視之不足見 聽之不足聞
用之不可既
📃 Meaning of the Original Text
Hold fast to the great image (the Tao), and the whole world will come to you.
They come and are not harmed, for they find peace, tranquility, and security.
Music and fine food may make the passing traveler stop,
but the Tao, when it comes from the mouth, is bland and without flavor.
Looked at, it is not enough to be seen; listened to, it is not enough to be heard.
Yet, when used, it is inexhaustible.
🌲 Line-by-Line Translation
執大象天下往 (zhí dà xiàng, tiān xià wǎng)
Hold fast to the great image (the Tao), and the whole world will come to you.
往而不害 安平太 (wǎng ér bù hài, ān píng tài)
They come and are not harmed, for they find peace, tranquility, and security.
樂與餌 過客止 (yuè yǔ ěr, guò kè zhǐ)
Music and fine food may make the passing traveler stop,
道之出口 淡乎其無味 (dào zhī chū kǒu, dàn hū qí wú wèi)
but the Tao, when it comes from the mouth, is bland and without flavor.
視之不足見 聽之不足聞 (shì zhī bù zú jiàn, tīng zhī bù zú wén)
Looked at, it is not enough to be seen; listened to, it is not enough to be heard.
用之不可既 (yòng zhī bù kě jì)
Yet, when used, it is inexhaustible.
💧 Verse-by-Verse Commentary and Interpretation (逐句解說與解釋)
1. 執大象天下往 (zhí dà xiàng, tiān xià wǎng)
o Literal Meaning: Grasp the great image, and the world will go to it.
o Commentary: In '執大象' (zhí dà xiàng), '執' (zhí) means to hold, to grasp, or to follow. '大象' (dà xiàng), the 'great image,' symbolizes the grand archetype of the Tao, the source of all things, or its unchanging principle itself, connecting to the 'Image' (象) in Chapter 14. '天下往' (tiān xià wǎng) means 'the world (天下) goes (往) to it,' signifying that the people will naturally follow or submit.
o Interpretation: This means that if one firmly holds to and follows the great principle of the Tao (大象), the source of all things, then all the people of the world will naturally follow without any need for artificial force or coercion. It shows the fundamental attraction and influence of the Tao.
2. 往而不害 安平太 (wǎng ér bù hài, ān píng tài)
o Literal Meaning: They go and are not harmed; there is peace, tranquility, and security.
o Commentary: '往而不害' (wǎng ér bù hài) means 'they go (往) but (而) are not harmed (不害).' Here, '害' (hài) means to harm, damage, or endanger. It signifies that the process of following the Tao, or the function of the Tao itself, does not bring harm to anything. '安平太' (ān píng tài) means 'peace (安), tranquility (平), and greatness/security (太),' describing the ideal state brought about by the Tao's function. '太' (tài) means great or supreme.
o Interpretation: Even as people submit to a ruler who follows the principle of the Tao, neither the process nor the outcome brings them any harm. Instead, it leads everyone to a state of comfort and supreme peace. This emphasizes the benefit and stability that governance or a life in accordance with the Tao provides.
3. 樂與餌 過客止 (yuè yǔ ěr, guò kè zhǐ)
o Literal Meaning: Music and food may make the passing traveler stop,
o Commentary: '樂與餌' (yuè yǔ ěr) means 'music (樂) and (與) food/bait (餌).' '樂' (yuè) symbolizes sounds that please the ears, and '餌' (ěr) represents food that pleases the mouth, together serving as a metaphor for worldly pleasures and temptations that satisfy the five senses. '過客止' (guò kè zhǐ) means 'it makes the passing traveler (過客) stop (止).'
o Interpretation: Worldly pleasures like pleasant music or delicious food have a strong allure, enough to stop even a passing traveler in their tracks. This is an analogy that shows the superficial attraction of worldly pleasures, in contrast to the subtle and non-sensory nature of the Tao.
4. 道之出口 淡乎其無味 (dào zhī chū kǒu, dàn hū qí wú wèi)
o Literal Meaning: The Tao, when it comes from the mouth, is bland and without flavor.
o Commentary: '道之出口' (dào zhī chū kǒu) means 'the Tao coming out of the mouth,' which can signify expressing the essence or principle of the Tao in words, or the subtle signs of the Tao as it manifests in the world. In '淡乎其無味' (dàn hū qí wú wèi), '淡乎' (dàn hū) means 'bland, insipid, without any taste.' '其無味' (qí wú wèi) means 'it (其) has no taste (無味).' '乎' (hū) is a particle.
o Interpretation: The essence of the Tao is bland like water and has no particular 'flavor' that can be perceived by the human tongue. This means the Tao is not a sensory being that can be directly perceived by the five senses, and it lacks artificial stimuli or special allure. This is in stark contrast to the intense flavors of worldly music and food.
5. 視之不足見 聽之不足聞 (shì zhī bù zú jiàn, tīng zhī bù zú wén)
o Literal Meaning: Looked at, it is not enough to be seen; listened to, it is not enough to be heard.
o Commentary: This repeats the description of the Tao's invisibility, inaudibility, and intangibility from Chapter 14. '視之不足見' (shì zhī bù zú jiàn) means 'looking at it (the Tao), it is not enough to be seen.' '聽之不足聞' (tīng zhī bù zú wén) means 'listening to it (the Tao), it is not enough to be heard.' This describes the formlessness and subtlety of the Tao, making it difficult to grasp with sight or hearing.
o Interpretation: If you try to see the Tao, its true form is not clearly visible. If you try to hear it, its sound is too faint or nonexistent. This once again emphasizes the non-phenomenal nature of the Tao, which is difficult to perceive with the five senses.
6. 用之不可既 (yòng zhī bù kě jì)
o Literal Meaning: Yet, when used, it is inexhaustible.
o Commentary: '用之' (yòng zhī) means 'to use/utilize it (之, the Tao).' '不可既' (bù kě jì) means 'cannot (不可) be exhausted/depleted/finished (既).' This is in the same vein as Chapter 4, which states, 'The Tao is empty, yet when used, it is never filled' (道沖而用之或不盈).
o Interpretation: Although the Tao appears bland, invisible, and inaudible—a subtle presence—its power and potential are never depleted, no matter how much it is used to create and transform all things and operate the universe. This emphasizes the infinite function and immortality of the Tao.
🌳 Overall Interpretation
The thirty-fifth chapter speaks of how powerful yet subtle a being the Tao, the source of all things, is.
If you firmly hold to the principle of the 'great image (the Tao),' the source of all things, all the people of the world will naturally follow without any need for artificial force or coercion. As people follow a ruler who abides by the principle of the Tao, the process and outcome will bring them no harm; on the contrary, everyone will reach a state of comfort and supreme peace.
Worldly pleasures like pleasant music or delicious food have a strong allure, enough to stop even a passing traveler in their tracks. **But expressing the essence or principle of the Tao in words (道之出口)** is like water—it is 'bland and has no flavor.' Furthermore, if you try to see it, its true form is not clearly visible, and if you try to hear it, its sound is faint or inaudible.
But this is where the true power of the Tao lies. Although the Tao appears bland, invisible, and inaudible—a subtle presence—no matter how much it is 'used' to create and transform all things and operate the universe, 'its power and potential are never depleted.'
🌟 The Meaning and Importance of Chapter 35
Chapter 35 presents the following core ideas:
- The Powerful Influence of the Tao: Following the principle of the Tao ('大象') naturally brings the world to follow (天下往) without artificial force, bringing peace and stability without causing harm (往而不害, 安平太). This shows the fundamental attraction and influence of the Tao.
- The 'Tasteless' (無味) Essence of the Tao: Unlike worldly pleasures that are perceived by the five senses (樂與餌), the Tao possesses a subtle nature that is bland and tasteless (淡乎其無味), invisible, and inaudible (視之不足見 聽之不足聞). This emphasizes the transcendence and non-phenomenal nature of the Tao.
- Inexhaustible Function: Despite its subtle appearance, the Tao has infinite power and potential that is never depleted, no matter how much it is used (用之不可既), and it constantly works within all things.
- The Contrast Between Essence and Superficiality: By contrasting the temporary pleasure of worldly enjoyments (樂與餌) with the eternal and inexhaustible power of the Tao (道), it suggests that one should pursue the essential rather than the superficial.
Chapter 35 is a chapter that emphasizes the great value of the Tao by contrasting its mysterious power with its subtle essence. It shows that the Tao does not lead people with worldly allure or artificial force, but rather influences all things with its own fundamental nature, manifesting infinite possibilities and bringing peace and stability.
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