Chapter 36 of Laozi's Tao Te Ching presents the paradoxical principles for controlling and transforming things or situations. Through the profound wisdom that to shrink, weaken, or take something away, one must first perform the opposite action, it explains a core principle of the Tao: that the soft and the weak ultimately overcome the hard and the strong. This provides important guidance on the conduct of a sage and the attitude of a leader.
📖 Table of Contents
- ✨ Introduction
- 📜 Original Text (原文)
- 📃 Meaning of the Original Text
- 🌲 Line-by-Line Translation
- 💧 Verse-by-Verse Commentary and Interpretation
- 將欲歙之 必固張之 (jiāng yù shè zhī, bì gù zhāng zhī)
- 將欲弱之 必固強之 (jiāng yù ruò zhī, bì gù qiáng zhī)
- 將欲廢之 必固興之 (jiāng yù fèi zhī, bì gù xīng zhī)
- 將欲奪之 必固予之 (jiāng yù duó zhī, bì gù yǔ zhī)
- 是謂微明 (shì wèi wēi míng)
- 柔弱勝剛強 (róu ruò shèng gāng qiáng)
- 魚不可脫於淵 (yú bù kě tuō yú yuān)
- 國家利器 不可以示人 (guó jiā lì qì, bù kě yǐ shì rén)
- 🌳 Overall Interpretation
- 🌟 The Meaning and Importance of Chapter 36
📜 Original Text (原文)
將欲歙之 必固張之
將欲弱之 必固強之
將欲廢之 必固興之
將欲奪之 必固予之
是謂微明
柔弱勝剛強
魚不可脫於淵
國家利器 不可以示人
📃 Meaning of the Original Text
If you wish to shrink something, you must first deliberately let it expand.
If you wish to weaken something, you must first deliberately let it become strong.
If you wish to abolish something, you must first deliberately let it flourish.
If you wish to take something, you must first deliberately give it.
This is called subtle illumination.
The soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong.
A fish cannot leave the deep pool.
The sharp instruments of the state should not be shown to the people.
🌲 Line-by-Line Translation
將欲歙之 必固張之 (jiāng yù shè zhī, bì gù zhāng zhī)
If you wish to shrink something, you must first deliberately let it expand.
將欲弱之 必固強之 (jiāng yù ruò zhī, bì gù qiáng zhī)
If you wish to weaken something, you must first deliberately let it become strong.
將欲廢之 必固興之 (jiāng yù fèi zhī, bì gù xīng zhī)
If you wish to abolish something, you must first deliberately let it flourish.
將欲奪之 必固予之 (jiāng yù duó zhī, bì gù yǔ zhī)
If you wish to take something, you must first deliberately give it.
是謂微明 (shì wèi wēi míng)
This is called subtle illumination.
柔弱勝剛強 (róu ruò shèng gāng qiáng)
The soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong.
魚不可脫於淵 (yú bù kě tuō yú yuān)
A fish cannot leave the deep pool.
國家利器 不可以示人 (guó jiā lì qì, bù kě yǐ shì rén)
The sharp instruments of the state should not be shown to the people.
💧 Verse-by-Verse Commentary and Interpretation (逐句解說與解釋)
1. 將欲歙之 必固張之 (jiāng yù shè zhī, bì gù zhāng zhī)
o Literal Meaning: If one is about to shrink it, one must first deliberately expand it.
o Commentary: '將欲' (jiāng yù) indicates the intention 'is about to' or 'wishes to.' '歙之' (shè zhī) means 'to shrink/contract it (之).' In '必固張之' (bì gù zhāng zhī), '必固' (bì gù) means 'must deliberately' or 'intentionally.' '張之' (zhāng zhī) means 'to expand/stretch it (之).'
o Interpretation: This means that to make something shrink or contract, one must paradoxically first allow it to expand. Rather than suppressing it directly, it is a strategy of letting it express itself fully, waiting for its power to be naturally exhausted or reach its inherent limit.
2. 將欲弱之 必固強之 (jiāng yù ruò zhī, bì gù qiáng zhī)
o Literal Meaning: If one is about to weaken it, one must first deliberately strengthen it.
o Commentary: '弱之' (ruò zhī) means 'to weaken it (之).' '強之' (qiáng zhī) means 'to strengthen it (之).'
o Interpretation: To weaken an object or a force, one should not try to subdue it forcefully but rather allow or even help it to become strong first. This could be a strategy to utilize the principle that things naturally decline after reaching their peak (物壯則老, see Chapter 30), or to induce an opponent to reveal a weakness through their own arrogance.
3. 將欲廢之 必固興之 (jiāng yù fèi zhī, bì gù xīng zhī)
o Literal Meaning: If one is about to abolish it, one must first deliberately raise it up.
o Commentary: '廢之' (fèi zhī) means 'to abolish/weaken it (之).' '興之' (xīng zhī) means 'to raise/promote it (之).'
o Interpretation: To eliminate a system or weaken a power, one should first allow or help it to develop and flourish. This is an analogy for a strategy that follows the natural cycle of decline after reaching a peak, or induces something to collapse by revealing its own problems amidst its prosperity.
4. 將欲奪之 必固予之 (jiāng yù duó zhī, bì gù yǔ zhī)
o Literal Meaning: If one is about to take it, one must first deliberately give it.
o Commentary: '奪之' (duó zhī) means 'to take it (之) by force.' '予之' (yǔ zhī) means 'to give it (之).'
o Interpretation: When one desires to possess or take something, instead of taking it by artificial force, one should approach it by willingly giving it away or sharing it. This could refer to the paradoxical wisdom of gaining by letting go (see Chapters 2, 7), or it could be a strategy to make an opponent complacent or dependent, thereby eventually gaining control.
5. 是謂微明 (shì wèi wēi míng)
o Literal Meaning: This is called subtle illumination.
o Commentary: '是謂' (shì wèi) means 'this is called.' '微明' (wēi míng) means 'subtle (微) illumination (明),' 'deeply hidden wisdom,' or 'faintly revealed insight' (see Chapter 14's '明').
o Interpretation: The paradoxical principles described above ('將欲... 必固...') may be difficult to understand on the surface, but from the perspective of the Tao, they represent the 'subtle and profound wisdom' for controlling and changing things, and the 'illumination' that truly penetrates the way of the world.
6. 柔弱勝剛強 (róu ruò shèng gāng qiáng)
o Literal Meaning: The soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong.
o Commentary: '柔弱' (róu ruò) is softness and weakness (e.g., water, a newborn). '勝' (shèng) means to win or overcome. '剛強' (gāng qiáng) is hardness and strength (e.g., rock, something rigid). This is one of the core paradoxes and fundamental working principles of Taoist thought (see Chapter 8 '上善若水', Chapters 43, 78).
o Interpretation: Hard and rigid strength is prone to breaking or hitting a limit, whereas soft and flexible weakness can adapt to any form and permeate anything, eventually eroding and overcoming the strong. Just as water carves through rock, this emphasizes that true vitality and enduring power lie in weakness.
7. 魚不可脫於淵 (yú bù kě tuō yú yuān)
o Literal Meaning: A fish cannot leave the deep pool.
o Commentary: '魚' (yú) is a fish. In '不可脫於淵' (bù kě tuō yú yuān), '不可脫於~' (bù kě tuō yú) means 'cannot leave/escape from~.' '淵' (yuān) is a deep pool or abyss, and serves as a metaphor for the Tao, the source of all things, or the fundamental ground where a sage must remain (see Chapter 4).
o Interpretation: Just as a fish cannot survive out of water (the deep pool), a person following the Tao (or a ruler) cannot exist or succeed if they depart from the fundamental principles of the Tao or their own foundation. It emphasizes the need to protect one's foundation and be based in the Tao, implying that failure to do so leads to peril.
8. 國家利器 不可以示人 (guó jiā lì qì, bù kě yǐ shì rén)
o Literal Meaning: The sharp instruments of the state should not be shown to the people.
o Commentary: In '國家利器' (guó jiā lì qì), '國家' (guó jiā) is the state or ruling system. '利器' (lì qì), beyond its literal meaning of 'sharp (利) tool/weapon (器),' is interpreted in context as 'the power of the state,' 'strong military force,' or 'the state's important secrets/means.' Given that Chapters 30 and 31 refer to weapons as 'inauspicious instruments' (不祥之器), '利器' here could ironically refer to 'sharp weapons,' i.e., strong military might, or the 'crucial means/power' for maintaining the state. '不可以示人' (bù kě yǐ shì rén) means 'should not (不可) be shown (示) to the people (人).'
o Interpretation: This is a warning that the great power of the state (military force or authority) should not be carelessly displayed or flaunted. Flaunting power can provoke opposition or invite danger. True power, according to Taoist wisdom, is exercised when it is concealed and not shown off.
🌳 Overall Interpretation
The thirty-sixth chapter speaks of the paradoxical methods for governing the world or solving problems.
If you wish to shrink or contract something, you must paradoxically first allow it to fully expand. If you wish to weaken an object or a force, you should not suppress it but rather allow or even help it to become strong first. If you wish to abolish a system or weaken a power, you should first allow or help it to develop and flourish. And if you wish to possess or take something, you should not use artificial force, but rather approach it by willingly giving it away or sharing it.
These paradoxical principles are called 'subtle illumination'—a deeply hidden, true wisdom. The core of this wisdom is that the soft and the weak ultimately overcome the hard and the strong, just as water carves through rock.
Remember: just as a fish cannot survive out of water (the deep pool), a person (or a leader) who follows the Tao cannot exist or succeed if they abandon the fundamental principles of the Tao or their own foundation.
Furthermore, the state's powerful instruments (military might or authority) should not be carelessly displayed or flaunted.
🌟 The Meaning and Importance of Chapter 36
Chapter 36 presents the following core ideas:
- The Paradoxical Principle of Control: It presents a paradoxical strategy for changing something in the opposite direction: instead of using direct force, one should first allow or induce the opposite process ('將欲... 必固...').
- Subtle Illumination (微明): It emphasizes that these paradoxical principles, though not obvious on the surface, represent the deep and subtle wisdom that brings about fundamental change.
- The Victory of the Soft and the Weak (柔弱勝剛強): One of the most famous and important principles of Taoist thought, it presents the paradox that the soft, flexible, and weak overcomes the hard and strong, emphasizing that true strength lies in weakness.
- Connection to one's Foundation (魚不可脫於淵): It uses an analogy to stress that a follower of the Tao or a leader must not abandon their foundation—the fundamental principles of the Tao or the people.
- Caution in Using Power (國家利器 不可以示人): It warns that the state's powerful instruments or crucial means must be used with caution and not be carelessly displayed or flaunted, suggesting that the display of power itself can invite danger.
Chapter 36 is a crucial chapter that intensively showcases the paradoxical thinking and practical strategies of Taoist philosophy. Instead of direct and coercive methods, it profoundly suggests that one can control the world and solve problems through soft, flexible, and paradoxical means, and that true power lies in concealing it and remaining true to one's foundation.
댓글