Shangde

Laozi said: "The ruler is the heart of the state. When the heart is well governed, all the joints will be at peace; when the heart is disturbed, all the joints will be in chaos. Therefore, when the body is well governed, the branches will be lost to each other; when the state is well governed, the ruler and his subjects will forget each other." Laozi learned from Chang Zong. When he saw the tongue, he remained gentle; when he looked up at the house and the trees, he stepped back and gazed at the river; when he watched the shadow, he knew to hold back. Therefore, the sage said, "There is no following, always behind but not ahead." It is like accumulating firewood and burning it; the latter is at the top. Laozi said: "The bell rings to destroy itself with sound, the candle burns to heat itself with light, the tiger and leopard shoot with their script, the ape 狖 is swift to form a style. Therefore, the brave and the valiant die by strengthening the beam, and the eloquent are trapped by their intelligence." One should be able to know through wisdom, but not be ignorant by wisdom. If one dares to be capable of one thing and is observant of one word, one can talk about it with Qu, but not respond to it widely. Laozi said: The Dao takes non-existence as its essence. When viewed, its form cannot be seen; when heard, its voice cannot be heard. This is called the mysterious and the dark. The netherworld is for discussing the Dao, not the Dao itself. The way of life is to look inward and reflect on oneself. Therefore, one does not learn from others, is not confused, is not petty, and is not foolish. Do not focus on the flow of water, but on the retention of water. Use it to protect it and prevent it from flowing out. The moon and the sun steal the light, and the Yin cannot support the Yang. The rising sun and the stars are visible, but they cannot compete with it for light. The branches cannot be stronger than the root, and the branches cannot be larger than the trunk. If the top is heavier than the bottom, it will be easy to cover. One pool does not have two dragons; one female does not have two males. One is stable, and the other is competitive. Jade in the mountains makes the grass and trees moist; pearls grow in the deep pool and the banks never dry up; earthworms lack the strength of tendons and bones and the sharpness of claws and teeth. They feed on 咘堁 above and drink from the yellow spring below, with a single heart. Clarity is clarity; a cup of water reveals one's eyes; turbidity is harm; a river does not see the great mountains; orchids do not lose their fragrance just because they are not taken; boats float on rivers and seas do not sink just because they are not taken; a gentleman follows the right path and does not get angry just because he is not known. This is the nature of nature. When the clear enters the turbid, it will surely be trapped and disgraced; when the turbid enters the clear, it will surely be overturned. The two energies of the sky will form a rainbow, the two energies of the earth will leak and be stored, and the two energies of the human body will cause illness. Yin and Yang cannot be in harmony, the day is winter and summer, the moon does not know day, and the day does not know night. Where rivers are wide, fish are big; where mountains are high, trees are tall; where land is vast, virtue is great. Therefore, fish cannot be fished without bait, and beasts cannot be summoned without weapons. When there are fierce beasts in the mountains, the trees are not cut; when there are stinging insects in the garden, the lotus flowers are not picked; when there are virtuous ministers in the country, they travel a thousand miles. Those who pass through the road are like the turning of a chariot in the hub, not for oneself. They reach a thousand miles, ending and beginning again, turning the endless source. Therefore, when it comes to upholding the wrong or the right, why not? When it comes to upholding the right or the wrong, do not rush into it. When a bird comes, one should prepare and wait for it. To catch a bird is one eye of Luo. Now it is one eye of Luo. Then there will be no time to catch a bird. The story may not be predictable, and things may not be predictable. Therefore, the sage holds the way and waits for the right time. Therefore, if one wants to attract fish, one must first pass through the valley; if one wants birds to come, one must first grow trees. When water accumulates, fish gather; when trees grow luxuriant, birds gather. For fish to gain, it is not about lifting them into the deep; for apes to gain, it is not about carrying them up to the trees. It is merely about letting go of the benefits. What the feet have practiced is shallow; only when one has not practiced can one act. What the mind knows is extensive; only when one has not known can one understand. When the river dries up, the valleys become empty; when the hills are sparse, the deep valleys are blocked; when the lips wither, the teeth grow cold; when the water is deep, it gives way to the mountains. When water is still, it is clear; when it is clear, it is level; when it is level, it is easy; when it is easy, the form of things can be seen. Since forms cannot be combined, they can be regarded as correct. Leaves fall because the wind shakes them; water becomes turbid because objects scratch it; a fine vessel is the work of 礛; moye cuts and sharpens, is the force of sharpening? Just as a steed travels a thousand miles but does not fly, without the need to carry food but does not feel hungry, a cunning rabbit gains but the hunting dogs cook it, all the tall birds wither but the fine bow is hidden, when success is achieved, one withdraws. This is the way of heaven. Anger stems from non-anger, action stems from non-action. By observing nothing, one gains what is seen; by listening to silence, one gains what is heard. Birds fly back to their hometowns, rabbits return to their dens, foxes die on their first hills, cold 螀 and foreign wood, each according to its origin. Water and fire detest each other. Ding? Among them, the five flavors harmonize, blood and flesh love each other, slander the world, father and son are in danger. Dogs and pigs eat without any choice of food, which makes their bodies fatter and thus they are close to death. Even phoenixes soaring thousands of feet high cannot be achieved. If one forges within a hundred paces, one cannot naturally 椓; if one looks a hundred steps away, one cannot see the canthus. Because high is like a mountain, it is safe and not dangerous; because low is like a pool, it is deep and deep, and fish and turtles return to it. Ditches overflow when flooded and dry up when dry. The sources of rivers and seas are deep and never dry up. Turtles have no ears but their eyes cannot be blocked, for they are very clear. Blind men have no eyes but their ears cannot be blocked, for they are very sharp. Can the murky water wash my feet? The clear and crisp water, can it wash my tassels? Silk is called "gauze", or "crown", or "?" The crown is worn on a branch? Then it is sufficient to 蹍. The power of metal surpasses that of wood; a single blade cannot cut through a forest of trees. The power of earth surpasses that of water; a handful of it cannot block a river. The power of water is like fire; a single sip cannot save a cartload of firewood. In winter there is thunder, in summer there is hail, cold and heat do not change their seasons, frost and snow 麃麃, the sun rises. It is easily overturned when tilted, easily turned over when leaned, easily assisted by several times, easily moistened by rain. The orchid and the angelica are fragrant and cannot be exposed to frost. The toad is smeared by the enemy, its lifespan is around the fifth month. If the essence is drained, it is easily damaged. Flowers that are not in season should not be eaten. Which is more harmful, the tongue or the teeth? Which comes first, a rope or an arrow? It is the form that makes the shadow curved and the sound that makes the sound muffled. Those who share the same illness as death cannot be good doctors, and those who share the same path with a fallen country cannot be loyal strategists. When he played the yu (a kind of wind instrument), he mastered the technique of capturing the key points, even if it was moderate, it could still make the decision, and the ruler's form would be lost. The deaf do not sing and thus cannot enjoy themselves; the blind do not observe and thus cannot receive things. Those who walk in the forest do not follow a straight path, and those who walk in danger do not walk on ropes. It is within the sea that they come out, and thus they can be great. The sun does not rise together, foxes do not have two heroes, divine dragons do not match, fierce beasts do not flock, and raptors do not pair up. It is because 橑 does not block out the sun, and the wheel does not radiate or chase the swift. Youdaoplaceholder1 is not enough to rely on. The arched bow can shoot, but it is not the string that does not release. Firing an arrow is called shooting, one-tenth of that. A hungry horse lies in the stable, silent and indifferent. It is thrown beside it to rumble, and then the spirit of contention arises. If a three-inch pipe is not full, the world cannot be filled; if ten stones are blocked, a hundred bamboos are sufficient. If it breaks along the rope, it will not pass; if it is balanced and measured, it will not be wrong; if it is similar to the ancient method, it will be accomplished at the right time; if it is done with a staff? Acting at the right time and doing what is right is called chaos. A farmer works hard while a gentleman nurtures him; a fool speaks while a wise person makes choices. When seen clearly, they are treated like jade; when seen in darkness, they will surely retain their strategies. The brightness of a hundred stars is not as good as that of a month; the brightness of ten 牖 is not as good as that of a single household. A viper cannot be its feet, nor can a tiger be its wings. Now it is six feet wide. It is not difficult to cross it when lying down, but it is not easy to surpass it when standing up. It is a matter of different strategies. Those who assist in the sacrifice will taste, those who rescue the fighting will be wounded, and those who shield themselves from ominous trees will be struck by thunder. The sun and the moon wish to be bright, but the turbid clouds cover them; the river wishes to be clear, but the sand and soil are filthy; the clusters of orchids wish to be pruned, but the autumn wind fades them; human desires are calm, but desires harm them; covered with dust, one desires not to squinth; one cannot obtain 絜. Gold and jade are regarded as adornments by the wise, and soil and soil are seen as wealth by the capable. Therefore, it is better to treat the weak with a simple measure than gold and jade. When the hub is empty and the thirty radii are neutral, each exerting its strength, allowing one radii to enter alone and all others to abandon, how could one possibly reach near or far? Tangerines and pomelos have their own fields, 萑 reeds have their own clusters, beasts on the same feet swim together, birds on the same wings fly together. To view the land of the nine provinces, one must travel a thousand miles or have no principles of politics and religion. But to serve the people is extremely difficult! Those who are fierce are captured, and those who are lifted up are shot. Therefore, the great white seems to be humiliated, and the great virtue seems insufficient. A gentleman has wine, while a petty person uses a whip and a caulking vessel. Even if it is not good, it can still be ugly. Human nature is like wearing plain clothes and soft silk, or being shot and immediately covered with armor, which is inconvenient, so as to obtain convenience. Thirty radii form one hub, each straight and chiseled, not allowed to enter each other, just like subjects each performing their duties. Those who are good at making use of people are like the foot of the tongue, which attracts many but does not harm each other; like the tongue and teeth, which are hard and soft but do not defeat each other. Stone is hard when born, 茞 fragrant when born, few but abundant, long but bright. To help and to lift, to thank and to give way, to gain and to lose, to promise and to oneself, they are worlds apart. Those who are reborn will not gain; those who bloom too early do not need frost to fall. To defame the standard, to powder the black, to decay rats in 阼, to burn and fumigate in the hall, to add water to increase the humidity, to hold the stench and seek fragrance, even if it is good, it cannot be considered a worker. Winter ice can be broken, summer wood can be knotted. Time is hard to come by and easy to lose. The wood is flourishing and grows back to life after being picked all day long. In the autumn wind, frost falls and vanishes overnight. When the quality expands, arrows gather; when the forest and trees are lush, axes and jin enter. This is not due to being summoned; it is the result of the situation. A Suckling dog devouring a tiger, a crouching chicken fighting a beaver, all the kindness bestowed upon it is beyond measure. Those who wait for profit and drown themselves will surely drown themselves. A boat can float or sink; the foolish are never content. If the steed does not advance and the guide does not stop, the ruler will not follow the path. Even if the water is level, there must be waves; even if the balance is right, there must be differences; even if the ruler is even, there must be danger. Without rules, one cannot determine the square members; without a straight line, one cannot correct the curves and straightness. Those who use rules also have the heart of rules. The height of Mount Tai is so great that even the tiniest detail can be seen. Bamboo has no fire; it does not drill or smoke. Water in the soil cannot be dug out. The speed of an arrow is no more than two li. Every small step does not stop. Youdaoplaceholder0, if the soil does not stop accumulating, hills and mountains will eventually form. It is better to return and weave a net than to want fish by the river. A bow should be adjusted before seeking strength; a horse should be smoothed before seeking goodness; a person should be trusted before seeking ability. A craftsman cannot melt wood, and a fine craftsman cannot 斲 ice. If things have their imperfections, how could a gentleman not pay attention to them? It is acceptable to make people unable to cross the river, but it is not possible to make the river without waves. No moon will never fail; the steamer will never fall into the well. Those who stab me and want me to befriend them, 呰 those who want my market, a single move is not enough to show understanding, a single strumming is not enough to make one feel sad. Now there is a piece of charcoal. When it is cleaned up, it is rotten . When it is close, all ten stones will be fumigated. When it is removed, it will die in ten steps. The same energy but different accumulative. Where there is prosperity, there must be sorrow; where there is luo 纨 above, there must be hemp below; where there is a big tree, there must be a dull root; where there is a high mountain, there must be a solid foundation. Laozi said: A drum does not hide its sound, so it can make a sound; a mirror does not have a form, so it can have a form; metal and stone make a sound; they do not make a sound when not moving; the pipe and the flute make a sound; they do not make a sound when not being played. Therefore, the sage hides within himself, does not sing for things, and responds when things come. The course of heaven is ceaseless, ending and beginning again, thus it can last long. It rotates in turn, thus it can go far. The course of heaven is never wrong, so there is no fault. Under the weather and above the earth's energy, Yin and Yang are in harmony, all things are in harmony, the gentleman acts on his own, and the petty man perishes. This is the way of heaven and earth. When the weather does not descend, the earth's energy does not rise, Yin and Yang are not in harmony, all things do not thrive, the petty person gains power, the gentleman perishes, the five grains do not grow, morality is hidden within. The way of heaven is to diminish the abundance and increase the scarcity; the way of earth is to diminish the high and increase the lower; the way of ghosts and gods is to be arrogant and overbearing to the lower; the way of man is not to be followed by the excessive; the way of the sage is to be lowly and cannot be elevated. When the sky is bright and clear, it can illuminate the four directions. When the ruler and the subjects are clear, the domain will be at peace. With the four signs of clarity, it can last long. To clarify the implementation of clarity is to clarify the transformation. The way of heaven is the zhang, the way of earth is the li, and the one is the harmony. When time is used to make use of it, all things are formed. This is called the Way. The great way is smooth and unobstructed, not far from the body. Cultivate it within oneself, and the virtue will be true; cultivate it with external things, and the virtue will never cease. Heaven covers all things, bestows its virtue upon them and nourishes them, giving without taking. Thus, the spirit returns to it. Giving without taking is the highest virtue, and thus there is virtue. Nothing is higher than the sky, and nothing is lower than the marsh. When the sky is high and the marsh is low, the sage follows it. The hierarchy is determined, and the world is at peace. The earth sustains all things and grows them. By taking from them, the bones return to them. Taking from them is the lowest virtue. "The lowest virtue does not lose virtue, and thus there is no virtue." The earth supports the sky, thus it is stable and peaceful. When the earth is stable and peaceful, all things take shape. When the earth is vast and thick, all things gather. In stability and peace, nothing can be carried; in vastness and thickness, there is no tolerance. The terrain is deep, water and springs gather, and the earth is wide and square, thus it can last for a long time. The sage follows this, and his virtue is without tolerance. When Yin overcomes Yang, all things thrive. When Yang overcomes Yin, all things become lush. When all things thrive, there is no shortage; when all things are lush, there is no joy; when all things are joy, there is no governance. Yin harms things, while Yang subdues itself. When Yin advances and Yang retreats, the petty gain power while the virtuous avoid harm. This is the way of heaven. When the Yang energy moves, all things slow down and find their proper places. Therefore, the sage follows the Yang way. If he follows things, they will follow him; if he goes against things, they will go against him. Thus, he does not lose the nature of things. Youdaoplaceholder0 When the marsh is abundant, all things come together in harmony. Youdaoplaceholder1 When the marsh dries up, all things have no harmony to nourish them. Therefore, when the rain and marsh fail, the world becomes desolate. Yang ascends and then descends, thus it is the owner of all things. It does not last long, so it can end and start again, end and start again, thus it can last long, and thus it can last long, thus it is the mother of the world. When Yang energy is accumulated, it can be released again; when Yin energy is accumulated, it can be transformed again. There is no such thing as being able to transform without accumulation. Therefore, sages are cautious about what they accumulate. When Yang ceases to Yin, all things thrive; when Yin ceases to Yang, all things decline. Therefore, if the king and the duke adhere to the Yang way, all things will thrive; if they adhere to the Yin way, the world will perish. If Yang does not settle in Yin, all things will not come to an end. If a ruler does not submit to his subjects, his moral influence will not be effective. Therefore, if a ruler submits to his subjects, he will be wise; if he does not, he will be deaf. When the sun rises above the earth, all things wither. The nobles and Kings rise above to illuminate the way and virtue. When the sun sets below the earth, all things rest. The villains rise above, and all things flee. The movement of thunder awakens all things, and the moistening of rain resolves all things. When a great man acts, it is similar to this. The movement of Yin and Yang has a constant rhythm, but the movement of a great man does not limit all things. When thunder strikes the earth, all things slow down. When the wind shakes trees, grass and trees wither. When the great man turns away from evil and does good, the people do not move far. Therefore, when the people go, they do not go much, so they become more and more. If the wind does not move, the fire will not come out. If a great man does not speak, a small man will not say anything. Even if the fire comes out, it must wait for the fire to burn. If a great man's words are trustworthy and true, how could it not be? The river is deep, the soil is in the mountains, the hills are high, and they flow into the deep. When the Yang energy is abundant, it turns into Yin; when the Yin energy is abundant, it turns into Yang. Therefore, desires cannot be fulfilled, and joy cannot be extreme. When one is angry, one does not speak ill of others; when one is furious, one does not show any coloration. This is called having a plan. Fire burns upwards and water flows underwater. The way of the sage is to seek by comparing with others. The sage 偯 Yang, the world is in harmony; 偯 Yin, the world is in distress. Laozi said: "By accumulating the thin, one becomes thick; by accumulating the humble, one becomes high. A gentleman is constantly striving to achieve success every day, while a petty person is constantly striving to bring disgrace. Even if the good news is not seen, one may not be able to see the good and may not see the bad. If one does good, even if one makes mistakes, there will be no resentment. If one does not do good, even if one is loyal, evil will come. Therefore, it is better to blame oneself than to blame others, and it is better to blame oneself than to seek help from others. A sound is called upon by oneself, a kind is sought by oneself, a name is self-proclaimed, and a person is self-disciplined. It is nothing but oneself. One wields sharp weapons to stab and wields sharp blades to strike. Why blame others? Therefore, a gentleman should be cautious in his actions. All things carry Yin and embrace Yang. When they collide with each other, they form harmony. Harmony is located in the center. Therefore, wood is solid and grows in the heart, grass is solid and grows in the heart, and the mortise and tenon is born in the center. Without mortise and tenon, there is no fetus; birth requires time. When the ground is level, water does not flow; when the weight is equal, balance does not collapse. This is the transformation of all things. I can truly understand this. Laozi said: A mountain, because of its height, gives rise to clouds and rain; a water, because of its depth, gives birth to dragons; a gentleman, because of his pursuit of the way, bestows virtue upon him. Those who have good deeds in secret will surely be rewarded in public; those who walk in seclusion will surely have a good reputation. Those who grow millet will not gain it; those who bear grudges will not be rewarded with good deeds.