Chapter 71 of Laozi's Tao Te Ching presents the unique perspective of Taoist thought on 'knowing (知)' and 'not knowing (不知).' It states that truly 'knowing what one does not know' is the highest form of wisdom and the supreme state, while conversely, 'not knowing, yet thinking one knows,' is compared to a sickness (病). It paradoxically explains that by 'recognizing this sickness as a sickness,' one can overcome it and advance on the path of the Tao. This is an important chapter that emphasizes the virtues of true knowledge and humility.
📜 Original Text (原文)
知不知上
不知知病
夫唯病病
是以不病
聖人不病 以其病病
夫唯病病
是以不病
📃 Meaning of the Original Text
To know that you do not know is best.
Not to know, yet to think you know, is a sickness.
Only by recognizing this sickness as a sickness,
Can one be free from sickness.
The sage is not sick. It is because he recognizes this sickness as a sickness.
Only by recognizing this sickness as a sickness,
Can one truly be in a state free from sickness.
🌲 Line-by-Line Translation
知不知上 (zhī bù zhī, shàng)
To know that you do not know is best.
不知知病 (bù zhī zhī, bìng)
Not to know, yet to think you know, is a sickness.
夫唯病病 是以不病 (fū wéi bìng bìng, shì yǐ bù bìng)
Only when one recognizes this sickness as a sickness, can one be free from sickness.
聖人不病 以其病病 (shèng rén bù bìng, yǐ qí bìng bìng)
The sage is not sick. It is because he recognizes this sickness as a sickness.
夫唯病病 是以不病 (fū wéi bìng bìng, shì yǐ bù bìng)
Only when one recognizes this sickness as a sickness, can one truly be in a state free from sickness.
💧 Verse-by-Verse Commentary and Interpretation (逐句解說與解釋)
1. 知不知上 (zhī bù zhī, shàng)
o Literal Meaning: To know that you do not know is best.
o Commentary: The phrase '知不知上' (zhī bù zhī, shàng) can be interpreted in several ways.
- Interpretation 1: The humility of treating what is known as unknown. The first '知' is 'to know,' and '不知' is 'not to know.' To regard a state of 'knowing' (知) as 'not knowing' (不知) is 'best' (上). This is an attitude of not making definitive claims about what one knows or pretending to know, but humbly saying 'I do not know.' (Connects to Chapter 56, 'Those who know do not speak').
- Interpretation 2: To properly know what one does not know. The first '知' is 'to know,' and '不知' is 'not knowing.' To 'know' (知) the state of 'not knowing' (不知) is 'best' (上). This means that accurately recognizing one's own ignorance is the highest form of knowledge.
- Interpretation 3: To maintain what one knows in a state of not knowing. The first '知' is 'knowledge,' and '不知' is 'a state of not knowing.' To keep 'knowledge' (知) in a state of 'not knowing' (不知) is 'best' (上). This means that not clinging to artificial knowledge but keeping the mind empty and in a pure, natural state of 'no-knowledge' (無知) is supreme. (Connects to Chapter 3 and 65).
- All three interpretations are consistent with Taoist thought and contain layered meanings. The second interpretation (knowing what one does not know) connects most directly with the following verse.
o Interpretation: Not clinging to artificial knowledge, accurately recognizing one's own ignorance, and adopting a humble attitude toward knowledge—this is the highest form of wisdom and the supreme state from the perspective of the Tao.
2. 不知知病 (bù zhī zhī, bìng)
o Literal Meaning: Not to know, yet to think you know, is a sickness.
o Commentary: '不知' (bù zhī) is the state of 'not knowing.' '知' (zhī) here means 'to think one knows' or 'to pretend to know.' '病' (bìng) means sickness, a problem, or a flawed state.
o Interpretation: To be ignorant in reality, yet to delude oneself into thinking one knows or to pretend to know, is like a 'sickness' from the Taoist perspective. It critiques the state of being unable to see the truth and making flawed judgments due to attachment to artificial knowledge, arrogance, and pretense.
3. 夫唯病病 是以不病 (fū wéi bìng bìng, shì yǐ bù bìng)
o Literal Meaning: Only when one recognizes this sickness as a sickness, can one be free from sickness.
o Commentary: '夫唯' (fū wéi) is an emphatic phrase. In '病病' (bìng bìng), the first '病' is a noun for 'sickness,' and the second '病' is a verb meaning 'to regard as a sickness' or 'to recognize as a sickness.' Thus, it means 'recognizing the sickness as a sickness.' '是以' (shì yǐ) means 'for this reason.' '不病' (bù bìng) means 'to not be sick,' 'to be cured,' or 'to be in a correct state.'
o Interpretation: Only by accurately recognizing and admitting one's problem (the sickness of thinking one knows when one does not) as a problem can one be free from that problem and achieve a correct state of not being 'sick.' It emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and problem recognition.
4. 聖人不病 以其病病 (shèng rén bù bìng, yǐ qí bìng bìng)
o Literal Meaning: The sage is not sick. It is because he recognizes this sickness as a sickness.
o Commentary: '聖人' (shèng rén) is the ideal person who has realized the Tao. '不病' (bù bìng) means being in a state free from sickness, i.e., maintaining a correct and healthy state of mind. '以其病病' (yǐ qí bìng bìng) means 'because (以) he (其) recognizes the sickness as a sickness (病病).' It explains how the preceding principle applies to the sage.
o Interpretation: The reason a sage who has realized the Tao maintains a correct and healthy state is that he always guards against and accurately recognizes the 'sickness' of arrogance, such as thinking he knows when he does not. The sage approaches the truth through the humility of admitting his own shortcomings.
5. 夫唯病病 是以不病 (fū wéi bìng bìng, shì yǐ bù bìng)
o Literal Meaning: Only when one recognizes this sickness as a sickness, can one truly be in a state free from sickness.
o Commentary: The repetition of the same sentence as before emphasizes the core message of this chapter.
o Interpretation: The chapter concludes by strongly re-emphasizing that accurately recognizing one's own problems—especially the 'sickness of thinking one knows when one does not'—is the only way to be free from that sickness and advance on the path of the Tao.
🌳 Overall Interpretation
Chapter seventy-one offers wisdom that makes us rethink what it means 'to know.'
"Truly, the most excellent 'knowledge' is 'to know precisely what you do not know'." Or, "The humble attitude of 'regarding what you know as not knowing' is most excellent."
On the other hand, "to not know in reality, yet to 'delude oneself into thinking one knows or to pretend to know,' is like a 'sickness'." This is a state of being trapped in artificial arrogance and pretense, unable to see the truth.
So, how can one escape this 'sickness'? Laozi emphasizes: "Truly, only by 'accurately recognizing and admitting one's own problem—that sickness of thinking one knows when one does not—as a sickness,' can one finally 'be free from that sickness' and achieve a correct state."
The reason why a sage who has realized the Tao always maintains a correct and healthy state is precisely because he acknowledges his own ignorance and is always vigilant in 'accurately recognizing the sickness' of arrogance—thinking he knows when he does not.
Truly, only by 'accurately recognizing and admitting one's own problem ('sickness') as a sickness,' can one finally 'be free from sickness' and advance on the path of the Tao.
🌟 The Meaning and Importance of Chapter 71
Chapter 71 presents the following core ideas:
- Knowing You Don't Know is Best (知不知上): It presents the idea that knowing one's own ignorance, or the humility of regarding what one knows as not known, is true wisdom (上). This is a Taoist perspective on knowledge that transcends the limits of worldly knowledge.
- Not Knowing You Know is a Sickness (不知知病): It clearly states that the attitude of thinking one knows when one does not (ignorance of one's ignorance) is a 'sickness' and a flawed state. This is a warning against arrogance and conceit.
- The Importance of Recognizing the Sickness (病病): It emphasizes that 'accurately knowing one's problem, or sickness, as a sickness' is the fundamental cure for that sickness. It stresses the importance of self-reflection and problem recognition.
- The Wisdom of the Sage: The sage maintains a state of being 'free from sickness (不病)' because he 'recognizes the sickness as a sickness (病病),' showing the image of a Taoist practitioner who approaches the truth through humility and constant self-reflection.
- Emphasis Through Repetition: The phrase '夫唯病病 是以不病 ' is repeated twice to strongly emphasize the chapter's core message: admitting one's own shortcomings is the beginning of true progress.
Chapter 71 holds a very important position in the epistemology and practical philosophy of the Tao Te Ching. It shows the unique Taoist perspective on 'knowing,' and profoundly suggests that guarding against artificial knowledge and arrogance, and instead embracing the humility of admitting one's own ignorance, is the foundation for attaining true wisdom and a correct state of being.
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