Quick Answer
ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵏ ⵓⵔⵎⵉⵡⵏ ⵉⵙⵎⴽⴰⵏ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⵉⴼⴼⵉⵙ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ, ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵓⴼⴼⵓⴳⵍ. ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵖⵉⵍ ⵉⵍⵍⵓⵙ ⵉⴽⴰ, ⵎⴰⵏⵏⵓⵓ ⵉⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⵉⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⵓⵔⴰⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵏⵖⵉ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ. ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍⵏ, ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ. ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ, ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵎⵉⵡⵏ.
Key Concepts
Cite This Chapter
Laozi, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 16, "ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵏ ⵓⵔⵎⵉⵡⵏ", laotzu.ai: https://www.laotzu.ai/ber-Tfng/chapters/16/
Classical Chinese, translation, and AI reflection are shown separately; cite this chapter URL for references.
Original
致虚极，守静笃。万物并作，吾以观复。
ⵜⴰⴼⵙⵙⵓⵜ
ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵏ ⵓⵔⵎⵉⵡⵏ ⵉⴼⴼⵉⵙ, ⵙⴽⵓ ⵓⴼⴼⵓⴳⵍ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ. ⴰⵙⵉⴷⵉ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵖⵉⵍ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ, ⵏⵖⵉ ⴱⴰⵔⴰⵡⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵔⴰⴷⵉ. ⴰⵙⵉⴷⵉ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵖⵉⵍ ⵉⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⵉⴽⴽⴰ, ⵙⴽⵓ ⵓⵔⴰⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ. ⵎⴰⵏⵏⵓⵓ ⵉⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ, ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ. ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⴱⴰⵔ, ⵉⵙⴱⴰⵔ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍⵏ. ⵎⴰⵏⵏⵓⵓ ⵉⵙⴱⴰⵔ, ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵙⵉⴷⵉ ⵏ ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ. ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ, ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⵙⵓⵍⵉ. ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⵙⵓⵍⵉ ⵉⵙⵎⴽⴰⵏ, ⵉⵙⵎⴽⴰⵏ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ. ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⵎⴰⵙⵙⴰ, ⵓⵎⴰⵙⵙⴰ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⴼⴼⵉⵙ, ⵓⴼⴼⵉⵙ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵎⵉⵡⵏ, ⴰⵎⵉⵡⵏ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⵙⵡⵉⵍ. ⵓⵙⵡⵉⵍ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ, ⵎⴰ ⵏⵖⵉ ⵓⴱⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ, ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ.
ⴰⵎⵢⵓⵙⵙⵏ ⴰⴳⴳⴰⵔⴰⵏ
ⴰⵏⵏⴰ ⵓⵎⵓⵔⵓⵙ ⵏⵓⵙ?
ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵏ ⵓⵔⵎⵉⵡⵏ ⵉⵙⵎⴽⴰⵏ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⵉⴼⴼⵉⵙ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ, ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵓⴼⴼⵓⴳⵍ. ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵖⵉⵍ ⵉⵍⵍⵓⵙ ⵉⴽⴰ, ⵎⴰⵏⵏⵓⵓ ⵉⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⵉⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⵓⵔⴰⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵏⵖⵉ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ. ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍⵏ, ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ. ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ, ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵎⵉⵡⵏ.
ⵎⴰⵎⴽ ⵉⵜⵜⴽⴽⴰ ⵖⴼ ⵓⴷⵔⵉⵎ ⵉⵏⵓ?
ⴰⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵓⴳⴰⵔ ⵏⵖⵉ ⵓⵖⵓⵍⵓⵏ ⵏⵉ, ⴰⵙⵎⴽⴰⵏ ⵉⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵉⵡⵏ. ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⵙⵡⵉⵍ ⵓⴳⴰⵔ ⵏⵖⵉ ⵓⴱⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ, ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵣⵓⴳⵉⵍ ⵓⴱⴷⵓ. ⵓⵣⵓⴳⵉⵍ ⵓⴱⴷⵓ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⴼⴼⵉⵙ ⵓⴳⴰⵔ ⵏⵖⵉ ⵓⴱⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ.
ⵎⴰ ⴷ ⴰⵔⴰ ⵅⴷⵎⵖ ⴰⵙⵙ ⴰⴷ?
ⵓⵣⵓⴳⵉⵍ ⵓⴱⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ, ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵓⴼⴼⵓⴳⵍ. ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵉⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⵉⵙⵎⴽⴰⵏ ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ, ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⵙⵓⵍⵉ.
📜 ⵙⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⵙⵉⴼⵓⵔⵏ (Wang Bi · Legge · AI Modern)
Wang Bi (226–249 CE)
致虚，物之极也。守静，物之真正也。动作生长者，虚而不屈。归根则静，故曰静。静则复命，故曰复命也。复命则得性命之常，故曰常也。
James Legge (1891)
The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state).
AI Modern
ⴰⴽⴰⵔ ⵏ ⵓⵔⵎⵉⵡⵏ ⵉⴼⴼⵉⵙ, ⵙⴽⵓ ⵓⴼⴼⵓⴳⵍ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ. ⴰⵙⵉⴷⵉ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵖⵉⵍ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ, ⵏⵖⵉ ⴱⴰⵔⴰⵡⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵔⴰⴷⵉ. ⴰⵙⵉⴷⵉ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵖⵉⵍ ⵉⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⵉⴽⴽⴰ, ⵙⴽⵓ ⵓⵔⴰⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ. ⵎⴰⵏⵏⵓⵓ ⵉⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ, ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ. ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵏⵉⵔ ⵉⵇⵇⵓⵍ ⵉⵙⴱⴰⵔ, ⵉⵙⴱⴰⵔ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍⵏ. ⵎⴰⵏⵏⵓⵓ ⵉⵙⴱⴰⵔ, ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵙⵉⴷⵉ ⵏ ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ. ⵓⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ, ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⵙⵓⵍⵉ. ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⵙⵓⵍⵉ ⵉⵙⵎⴽⴰⵏ, ⵉⵙⵎⴽⴰⵏ ⵉⵙⵎⵓⵍⴼⵓⵍ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ. ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴷⴷⵓⵔ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⵎⴰⵙⵙⴰ, ⵓⵎⴰⵙⵙⴰ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⴼⴼⵉⵙ, ⵓⴼⴼⵉⵙ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⵎⵉⵡⵏ, ⴰⵎⵉⵡⵏ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⵓⵙⵡⵉⵍ. ⵓⵙⵡⵉⵍ ⵉⵣⵓⴳⵓ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ, ⵎⴰ ⵏⵖⵉ ⵓⴱⴷⵓ ⵏ ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ, ⵓⵎⵓⵟⵟⵓⵏ ⴰⵣⵓⵍⵓ ⴰⴽⴰⵔ.
ⴰⵎⵢⵓⵙⵙⵏ ⵉⵏⵓ
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