My Translation
The harvesting spirit
does not die
|
谷神
不死
|
It is said
to be female and profound
|
是謂
玄牝
|
The gate
to a mysterious valley
|
玄牝
之門
|
It is called
the source
of heaven and earth
|
是謂
天地
根
|
Spooling continuously
as if storing
|
綿綿
若存
|
Of use
without effort
|
用之
不勤
|
Original Chinese
Traditional
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Simplified
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Pronunciation
|
|
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谷神不死,
|
谷神不死,
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Gǔ shén bùsǐ,
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是謂玄牝。
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是谓玄牝。
|
Shì wèi xuán pìn.
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玄牝之門,
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玄牝之门,
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Xuán pìn zhī mén,
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是謂天地根。
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是谓天地根。
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Shì wèi tiān dì gēn.
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綿綿若存,
|
绵绵若存,
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Mián mián ruò cún,
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用之不勤。
|
用之不勤。
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Yòng zhī bù qín.
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Literal Translation
谷神不死,
|
Valley spirit not die
[valley spirit = harvest God]
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是謂玄牝。
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Indeed/it-is call deep/mysterious female/gorge
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玄牝之門,
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Deep/mysterious female/gorge ’s/its gate/entrance
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是謂天地根。
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Indeed/it-is call heaven earth root/foundation
[heaven earth = heaven and earth, world]
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綿綿若存,
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Cotton-wad cotton-wad similar exist/live/store
[cotton-wad cotton-wad = continuous]
|
用之不勤。
|
Use ’s/it not diligent
|