Translation
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Carrying the soul,
embracing it as one—
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載營
魄抱一 |
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Can you be free from separation?
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能無離乎
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Rolling up your vital energy,
becoming gentle, supple—
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摶氣
致柔
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Can you become an infant?
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能嬰兒乎
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Purifying, cleansing, removing,
seeing the profound—
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滌除
玄覽
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Can you be free from blemish?
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能無疵乎
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Loving the people,
governing the nation:
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愛民
治國
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Can you be free from action?
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能無為乎
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The Gate of Heaven
opens and shuts:
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天門
開闔
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Can you be gentle, female?
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能為雌乎
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Understanding,
reaching all four corners:
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明白
四達
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Can you be free from knowledge?
~~
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能無知乎
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Giving birth and raising life
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生之畜之
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Living but not having
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生而不有
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Doing but not presuming
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為而不恃
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Leading but not ruling
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長而不宰
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These are called
the profound virtues
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是謂
玄德
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Notes:
1. Last 4 verses: some variations don’t include the last 4 verses.
2. Last but one verse (Zhǎng ér bù zǎi,): 長 also has another pronunciation cháng, which means longer. Some versions adopt this variant and meaning.
Original Chinese
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Traditional
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Simplified
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Pronunciation
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載營魄抱一，
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载营魄抱一，
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Zài yíng pò bào yī,
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能無離乎？
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能无离乎？
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Néng wú lí hu?
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摶氣致柔，
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抟气致柔，
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Tuán qì zhì róu,
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能嬰兒乎？
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能婴儿乎？
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Néng yīng ér hu?
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滌除玄覽，
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涤除玄览，
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Dí chú xuán lǎn,
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能無疵乎？
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能无疵乎？
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Néng wú cī hu?
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愛民治國，
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爱民治国，
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ài mín zhì guó,
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能無為乎？
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能无为乎？
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Néng wú wéi hu?
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天門開闔，
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天门开阖，
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Tiān mén kāi hé,
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能為雌乎？
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能为雌乎？
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Néng wéi cí hu?
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明白四達，
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明白四达，
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Míng bái sì dá,
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能無知乎？
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能无知乎？
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Néng wú zhī hu?
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生之畜之。
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生之畜之。
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Shēng zhī xù zhī.
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生而不有，
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生而不有，
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Shēng ér bù yǒu,
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為而不恃，
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为而不恃，
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Wéi ér bù shì,
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長而不宰，
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长而不宰，
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Zhǎng ér bù zǎi,
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是謂玄德。
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是谓玄德。
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Shì wèi xuán dé.
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Literal Translation
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載營魄抱一，
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Carry/load/convey strive-for/manage/build soul/vigor embrace/cherish/hold one/alone
[strive-for= spiritual soul]
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能無離乎？
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Able-to/capability/can-possibly not separate/leave/depart hu
[hu= Chinese character in the end with no real meaning, but indicating it’s a question.]
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摶氣致柔，
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Roll-up-to-a-ball/roll-with-hand/spiral/circle vital/spirit-energy reach/send/deliver/cause soft/gentle/supple
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能嬰兒乎？
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Able-to/can-possibly baby son
[baby son= infant, baby]
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滌除玄覽，
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Wash/cleanse/purify get-rid-of/remove black/mysterious/profound/deep view/perceive
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能無疵乎？
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Able-to no blemish/flaw/defect
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愛民治國，
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Love citizen/people govern/manage country/nation
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能無為乎？
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Can no action/do
[no action = Daoist doctine of inaction, letting things take their course, laissez-faire]
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天門開闔，
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Heaven/sky door open close/shut
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能為雌乎？
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Can be/as female/feminine/gentle/soft
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明白四達，
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Understand/bright/brilliant/clear white/pure four reach/attain/intelligent/arrive-at
[Understand white= understand/clear/realize/obvious/]
[four reach/attain= reach anywhere]
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能無知乎？
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Can no knowledge/perceive/comprehend
[no knowledge = ignorance]
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生之畜之。
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Give-birth/life/living it raise(animals)/livestock
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生而不有，
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Give-birth/grow/living/be-born/life but not have/own/possess
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為而不恃，
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Do but not rely-upon/presume
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長而不宰，
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Elder/senior/leader/develop/enhance/increase but not dominate/slaughter/rule/govern
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是謂玄德。
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This/indeed/is so-called mysterious/deep/profound virtue/ethics/morality
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The notes, character table, and literal translation were prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.