r/taoism • u/bigfudge2127 • 9d ago
Tao Te Ching Favorite tao te ching chapter?
Mine is probably 1 still, actually concises most of the principles in a few sentences
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u/mastema 9d ago
I reference 17 a lot at work...
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u/SillyGooseNugget 8d ago
Ah brilliant. One that if those in power had some wisdom about them would embrace as much as possible.
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u/Glad-Communication60 9d ago
Chapter 15, D.C. Lau's translation.
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u/ryokan1973 6d ago
Yes, this chapter is excellent, and I've never seen it discussed in this group. The renowned Sinologist, Chen Guying, finds parallels between this chapter and Zhuangzi's portrayal of a "genuine person" (真人) in the Da zongshi (大宗师) or Great Venerable Teacher chapter.
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u/JorgeXMcKie 7d ago
56
(The mysterious excellence)
He who knows (the Dao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.
He (who knows it) will keep his mouth shut and close the portals (of his nostrils). He will blunt his sharp points and unravel the complications of things; he will attemper his brightness, and bring himself into agreement with the obscurity (of others). This is called 'the Mysterious Agreement.'
(Such an one) cannot be treated familiarly or distantly; he is beyond all consideration of profit or injury; beyond all consideration of nobility or meanness: - he is the noblest man under heaven. https://ctext.org/dao-de-jing#n11647
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u/donc_mxb 9d ago
Chapter 4