Welcome back to The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.
We are reading chapter 22 of Tao Te Ching this week.
If we perceive life as a journey of self-discovery, we will likely encounter epiphany moments that awaken us.
This chapter leads us to examine the idea of non-contention and counterintuitive ideas that could help us rediscover our true Self.
Let’s dive in.
**22**
曲則全，枉則直。
窪則盈，敝則新。
少則得，多則惑。
是以聖人抱一為天下式。
不自見故明，不自是故彰。
不自伐故有功，不自矜故長。
夫唯不爭，故天下莫能與之爭。
古之所謂「曲則全」者，豈虛言哉！誠全而歸之。
Border-crossing: English translations
#1 Lin Yutang’s version
To yield is to be preserved whole.
To be bent is to become straight.
To be hollow is to be filled.
To be tattered is to be renewed.
To be in want is to possess.
To have plenty is to be confused.
Therefore the Sage embraces the One,
And becomes the model of the world.
He does not reveal himself,
And is therefore luminous.
He does not justify himself,
And is therefore far-famed.
He does not boast of himself,
And therefore people give him credit.
He does not pride himself,
And is therefore the chief among men.
It is because he does not contend
That no one in the world can contend against him.
Is it not indeed true, as the ancients say,
“To yield is to be preserved whole?”
Thus he is preserved and the world does him homage.
#2 Edmund Ryden’s version
Only by bending can you be whole;
Only by twisting can you be straight.
Only by hollowing out can you be full;
Only by being used up can you be new.
Only by reducing can you obtain;
Only by having excess can you be tempted.
For this reason,
The Sage embraces the One so as to be the pointer of all under
heaven.
He does not reveal himself, therefore he shines brightly;
He does not affirm himself; therefore he radiates out;
He does not appropriate to himself, therefore he achieves.
He does not magnify himself, therefore he increases.
It is only because he does not compete that, therefore, under heaven there is none who can compete with him.
The old saying Only by bending can you be whole is very true.
Truly it enables one to go home to wholeness.1
#3 D. C. Lau’s version
Bowed down then preserved;
Bent then straight;
Hollow then full;
Worn then new;
A little then benefited;
A lot then perplexed.
Therefore the sage embraces the One and is a model for
the empire.
He does not show himself, and so is conspicuous;
He does not consider himself right, and so is illustrious;
He does not brag, and so has merit;
He does not boast, and so endures.
It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position to contend with him.
The way the ancients had it, ‘Bowed down then preserved’, is no empty saying. Truly it enables one to be preserved to the end.2
Deeper dive
This chapter is a typical example of Lao Tzu’s paradoxes and holistic thinking.
Being hollowed out can reach fullness. Being submissive leads to a preserved whole. Possessing plenty can confuse.
From Lao Tzu’s observations, we can see that the possibility of transitions always exists in the interconnectedness of things.
Taoism, in this sense, represents the ancient Chinese way of perceiving the world as an organic system.
Being observant of the wholeness of the system, Taoists remind themselves not to be narrowly focused on the separate parts. It is essential to be aware of the subtle transformations inherent in the myriad things.
If we only pay attention to one side, we fail to realize the interdependence in things and their potential to transform. As Lao Tzu describes in later chapters, “The softest substance of the world goes through the hardest”(Chapter 43) or “there is nothing weaker than water but none is superior to it in overcoming the hard.”(Chapter 78).
Therefore, the Taoists embrace the One — following the model of the Tao. Being inclusive and all-pervasive, Tao is manifested in these principles of Taoists and their applications in life.
Then, we can see the merit in these practices of not revealing oneself, not affirming one’s being right, not boasting oneself, and not pride oneself. By adopting this approach, Taoists can detach from the world’s conflicts and fulfill their self-preservation.
He Shanggong’s (approximately 200 BC - ?) comment on the statement —“He does not consider himself right, and so is illustrious” — confirms the principle of the Taoists to mingle with others, as “the sage does not assert their self-righteousness and correct others, which is why the world recognizes them.「聖人不自以為是而非人，故能彰顯於世。」
Spiritual Taoism
Living in the modern world, we can learn three essential principles from the Taoists.
The first principle demands the Taoists choose a path of openness and broad-mindedness as they understand the futility of always needing to be correct. They recognize that rigid adherence to personal beliefs can foster intolerance, arrogance, and an unyielding spirit that dismisses alternative viewpoints.
By acknowledging the value of diverse perspectives, we can avoid the potential disasters that result from stubbornness and the refusal to listen to alternative voices. As the Chinese proverb says, "To listen to both sides is to be enlightened; to believe only one side is to be in the dark."
Then, they embody the spirit of individualism by keeping low-key, resisting the lure of recognition, rewards, and fame that often ensnare those driven by ego and external validation.
Therefore, Taoists navigate the complexities of social dynamics with a keen sense of detachment. They understand the human tendency to form factions based on shared beliefs, often leading to divisive social structures. By remaining detached from such groupthink and herd behavior, they foster genuine, spontaneous connections that transcend superficial agreements and unconscious mass movements.
Also, by practicing the principle of non-contending, Taoists understand the strategic power of yielding without losing inherent strength and integrity. They do not boast amongst others nor succumb to the allure of self-aggrandizement.
As Chapter 8 describes, “Highest good is like water. Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes close to the way.”
So, Taoists uphold the intrinsic value of benefiting others without contention, mirroring the way water nurtures myriad creatures without seeking recognition. In embodying this principle, Taoists remain impervious to the forces of conflict, standing firm in their serene strength that no external entity can challenge.
By adhering to these principles, Taoists illuminate a path that encourages a search for self-discovery and understanding of the interconnectedness of all existence. In embracing the way of the Tao, they navigate the complexities and impermanence of life with spontaneity, grace, and a profound sense of harmony that transcends the boundaries of individual existence.
Thank you for reading!
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All my best,
Yuxuan
Daodejing, trans. Edmund Ryden. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), 47.
Tao Te Ching, trans. D. C. Lau. (London: Penguin Classics, 1963), 27.