If you hang with Frankie, be sure to invite him over.
Embarking on a Sonic Journey: TATANKA’s Musical Adaptation of an Adaptation of Lao Tsu’s Timeless Wisdom
The Inspiration
TATANKA’s latest album is inspired by Lao Tsu’s ancient poetry collection, the “Tao Te Ching.” This iconic text is the foundation of Taoism, exploring the mysteries of the universe, balance, and harmony. The interpretation is a sonic trek that delves into the heart of Lao Tsu’s universal wisdom.
Exploring the Nature of the Tao
The album’s opening tracks are inspired by the first 16 chapters of the “Tao Te Ching”, which introduce the concept of the Tao as the ultimate reality. The music weaves together the paradoxical nature of the Tao, echoing verses like “The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao” (Chapter 1). The soundscapes evoke the infinite and the eternal, inviting listeners to contemplate the mysteries of existence.
The World and Its Ways
The album’s next section draws from chapters 17-27, examining the natural world and its patterns. The music reflects the cyclical nature of life, growth, and decay, echoing verses like “The best leaders are those whose existence is barely known” (Chapter 17). The use of organic instrumentation and earthy tones brings the natural world to life, illustrating the Tao’s presence in every aspect of our lives.
Advice to Rulers and Living in Harmony
The album’s middle section is inspired by chapters 28-43, offering guidance for leaders to govern in harmony with the Tao. The music emphasizes humility, simplicity, and non-action (wu-wei), echoing verses like “Do not use force to control” (Chapter 30). The sound shifts to more introspective and contemplative tones, inviting listeners to cultivate balance and harmony in their personal lives.
Returning to the Source
The album’s final section draws from chapters 62-81, discussing the journey back to the Tao and letting go of attachments. The music becomes more ethereal and meditative, echoing verses like “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” (Chapter 64). The use of ambient textures and minimalist melodies creates a sense of space, inviting listeners to embark on their own journey of self-discovery.
The Tao
TATANKA’s album brings Lao Tsu’s timeless wisdom to life through music. By exploring the Tao Te Ching’s themes and verses, the sonic journe invites listeners to contemplate the nature of reality, balance, and harmony. Let go to the world of Taoism.
Process Notes
In in 1988 I wrote and recorded this adaption, of another adaptation of mine, forever lost due to sheer recklessness on my part.
Thirty-six years later, as I continue to collaborate with AI to develop new music, I thought it might be time to use these new tools to create a larger piece. I based what I’ll call the EP+ on Stephen Mitchell’s 1988 (Aha!) translation of the Tao Te Ching, a five-part/chapter English rendering of the eighty-one poems.
I wanted to remain as loyal as possible to the original poems’ text, so the lyrics are in Classical Chinese, followed by the English translations. Although not the Tao Te Ching’s poems, they are a lyrical adaptation of Mitchell’s translations as follows:
Stephen Mitchell’s Translation (1988)
- Chapters 1-16: The Nature of the Tao
- Chapters 17-27: The World and Its Ways
- Chapters 28-43: Advice to Rulers
- Chapters 44-61: Living in Harmony
- Chapters 62-81: Returning to the Source
Chapters 1-16: The Nature of the Tao
- Introduces the concept of the Tao as the ultimate reality, beyond words and descriptions.
- Explores the paradoxical nature of the Tao: eternal, infinite, and beyond human comprehension.
- Key verses:
- Chapter 1: “The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.”
- Chapter 4: “The Tao is empty; its usefulness never exhausted.”
- Chapter 14: “Looked at, but cannot be seen; listened to, but cannot be heard.”
Chapters 17-27: The World and Its Ways
- Examines the natural world and its patterns, illustrating the Tao’s presence.
- Discusses the cyclical nature of life, growth, and decay.
- Key verses:
- Chapter 17: “The best leaders are those whose existence is barely known.”
- Chapter 22: “Know the masculine, but keep to the feminine.”
- Chapter 25: “The sage wears rough clothing, but carries jade within.”
Chapters 28-43: Advice to Rulers
- Offers guidance for leaders to govern in harmony with the Tao.
- Emphasizes humility, simplicity, and non-action (wu-wei).
- Key verses:
- Chapter 28: “Know the strength of the male, but keep to the gentleness of the female.”
- Chapter 30: “Do not use force to control.”
- Chapter 37: “The Tao does nothing, and yet nothing is left undone.”
Chapters 44-61: Living in Harmony
- Focuses on cultivating balance and harmony in personal life.
- Explores the importance of self-awareness, acceptance, and contentment.
- Key verses:
- Chapter 45: “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.”
- Chapter 50: “The sage has no fixed heart.”
- Chapter 55: “In the world, there is nothing more submissive and weak than water.”
Chapters 62-81: Returning to the Source
- Discusses the journey back to the Tao, letting go of attachments.
- Emphasizes simplicity, humility, and embracing the unknown.
- Key verses:
- Chapter 64: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
- Chapter 71: “To know, yet to think that one does not know, is best.”
- Chapter 79: “The sage takes action without attachment.”
The Music
Considering the Taoist principles of simplicity, harmony, and balance, I decided on a “Song Style” text to song prompt for my go-to AI Song Generator, Suno.com.
Ethereal ambient with Chinese instruments (Guqin, Pipa, Erhu), piano & soft vocals for Tao Te Ching-inspired reflection
The tracks are all ambient instrumentation, mainly piano, until the end of the final track, which includes three additional pieces featuring the Guqin, Pipa, and Erhu. I wanted to keep a listener’s focus on the lyrics, the poetry, the philosophy, so the end is meant to be a culturally sensitive Outro. This musical arrangement resonates most with Taoist philosophy due to:
- Simple and elegant language: Aligns with Taoist emphasis on simplicity and clarity.
- Emphasis on reflection: Encourages contemplation and introspection, core Taoist practices.
- Traditional Chinese instruments: Honors Taoist cultural heritage and symbolism (e.g., guqin represents harmony).
- Ambient and ethereal texture: Evokes the Tao’s mysterious and ineffable nature.
I wanted to strike a balance between cultural authenticity, sonic serenity, and philosophical alignment, making it the most Taoist, IMHO.
The Text
The original Tao Te Ching was written in Classical Chinese. The exact date and authorship is debated, but the oldest excavated portions of the text date back to the late 4th century BC. Modern scholarship suggests that the current text may have been compiled around 250 BCE from a variety of versions that were a century or two older.
- The literary language of ancient China (5th century BC – 3rd century AD)
- Differs significantly from Modern Chinese (Mandarin)
- Characterized by concise, poetic, and often ambiguous language
For this project, using Classical Chinese is intended to:
- Maintain authenticity and connection to the original text
- Allow for nuanced, poetic expressions
However:
- Classical Chinese is no longer a spoken language
- Its grammar and vocabulary differ from Modern Chinese
Classical Chinese Poetry Structures
I incorporated elements from:
- Shi (poetry): 4-6 lines, with tonal harmony and balance.
- Ci (lyric poetry): variable lines, emphasizing musicality and emotional resonance.
- Fu (rhapsody): longer, narrative-driven poems with varied line lengths.
Key Characteristics
- Imagery-rich language: Favor vivid, concise descriptions.
- Parallelism: Balance phrases and ideas to create harmony.
- Tonal resonance: Consider the musical quality of words and phrases.
- Simple, natural language: Avoid complex metaphors and flowery language.
Lyrical Structure Inspirations
- Couplets (, líng shǒu): Pairs of lines with balanced meaning.
- Tercets (, sān yǒu): Three-line stanzas with interconnected ideas.
- Quatrains (, sì yǒu): Four-line stanzas with alternating tones.
Free-Flowing Narrative
Obviously I needed to abandon traditional Western song structures and embrace a more Eastern fluid, narrative-driven approach:
- Stream-of-consciousness: Reflect the natural flow of thoughts and emotions.
- Fragmented sentences: Mimic the concise, impressionistic nature of Classical Chinese poetry.
Collaborative Approach
To ensure an authentic and effective adaptation I relied on AI. We know it is less trustworthy than first lauded, so I triple checked everything using Meta AI, ChatGPT and Google Genesis. If anyone finds anything erroneous, my bad, but I felt that as best as I could, embracing these elements hopefully helped create lyrics that honor the spirit of the original Tao Te Ching.
Editor’s Note: The Tao Te Ching is a text that once fundamentally changed me, so I hope it has a similar impact on those unfamiliar with its embrace of the harmony of opposites through effortless action and alignment with the natural order, a quintessential TATANKA tenet.
The Tao Te Ching explores the nature of reality, balance, and the path to a life of simplicity, wisdom, and contentment. It encourages embracing the cyclical and interconnected nature of the universe, letting go of ego and desires, and aligning oneself with the natural flow of life, or The Tao.
Lyrics Structure
For each “chapter,” AI and I crafted:
- Couplets (, líng shǒu) or Tercets (, sān yǒu) to reflect balanced harmony.
- Imagery-rich language to evoke the chapter’s essence.
- Simple, natural language to maintain authenticity.
Classical Chinese Influence
We drew from:
- Shi (poetry) and Ci (lyric poetry) traditions.
- Tonal resonance and parallelism techniques.
Tracks/Lyrics
Stephen Mitchell’s 1988 translation is highly regarded for its clarity and poetic flair which I attempted to emulate.
Chapters 01-16: The Nature of the Tao
Ethereal ambient instrumentation & soft vocals for Tao Te Ching-inspired reflection
- Introduces the concept of the Tao as the ultimate reality, beyond words and descriptions.
- Explores the paradoxical nature of the Tao: eternal, infinite, and beyond human comprehension.
- Key verses:
- Chapter 1: “The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.”
- Chapter 4: “The Tao is empty; its usefulness never exhausted.”
- Chapter 14: “Looked at, but cannot be seen; listened to, but cannot be heard.”
Classical Chinese Lyrics
道可道，非常道，
名可名，非常名。
無名天地之始，
有名萬物之母。空而不盡，渺渺無形，
無所不在，無所不容。
看之不可見，聽之不可聞，
然而常在，常存。無欲以靜，無為以成，
自然之道，無為無求。
虛無為寶，柔弱為強，
生生不已，化化不窮。道之德，柔弱之德，
上德不德，是以有德。
無名之名，天地之始，
道之門，萬物之源。天地之間，若鴻毛，
六合之內，若綫髮。
無所不在，無所不容，
微妙之道，無形無象。道生一，一生二，
二生三，三生萬物。
萬物負陰而抱陽，
沖氣以為和。上下之道，若水行，
無所不在，無所不容。
無為而為，無欲而得，
自然之道，無為無求。道者，萬物之源，
德者，萬物之母。
無名之名，天地之始，
道之門，萬物之根。道之門，若小口，
萬物之源，若小根。
生生不已，化化不窮，
無為而為，無欲而得。道者，無名之名，
德者，無欲之欲。
虛無為寶，柔弱為強，
生生不已，化化不窮。道者，萬物之始，
德者，萬物之母。
無所不在，無所不容，
微妙之道，無形無象。道者，自然之道，
德者，無為之德。
無名之名，天地之始，
道之門，萬物之源。道者，無為而為，
德者，無欲而得。
虛無為寶，柔弱為強，
生生不已，化化不窮。道者，萬物之源，
德者，萬物之母。
無所不在，無所不容，
微妙之道，無形無象。道者，自然之道，
德者，無為之德。
無名之名，天地之始，
道之門，萬物之根。道者，無名之名，
德者，無欲之欲。
虛無為寶，柔弱為強，
生生不已，化化不窮。
English Translation
The Way that can be spoken is not the eternal Way,
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
Nameless, the origin of heaven and earth,
Named, the mother of all things.Empty yet inexhaustible, vast and formless,
Everywhere present, embracing all.
Looked at, but cannot be seen; listened to, but cannot be heard,
Yet always present, always existing.Desireless, tranquil, and effortless,
Aligning with nature, without striving.
Emptiness is treasure, weakness is strength,
Endless growth, endless transformation.The Virtue of the Way, gentle and weak,
Highest Virtue, beyond virtue itself.
Nameless, yet the source of all,
The Gate of the Way, origin of all things.Between heaven and earth, like a feather,
Within the six directions, like a single hair.
Everywhere present, embracing all,
Subtle and mysterious, formless and invisible.The Way gives birth to one, one gives birth to two,
Two gives birth to three, three gives birth to all.
All things carry yin and embrace yang,
Blending energies to create harmony.The Way of non-action, like flowing water,
Everywhere present, embracing all.
Effortless action, desireless achievement,
Aligning with nature, without striving.The Way is the source of all,
Virtue is the mother of all.
Nameless, yet the origin of all,
The Gate of the Way, root of all.The Gate of the Way, like a small opening,
The source of all, like a small root.
Endless growth, endless transformation,
Effortless action, desireless achievement.The Way is nameless, Virtue desireless,
Emptiness is treasure, weakness is strength.
Endless growth, endless transformation,
Formless and invisible, yet always present.The Way is the origin of all,
Virtue is the mother of all.
Everywhere present, embracing all,
Subtle and mysterious, formless and invisible.
Chapters 17-27: The World and Its Ways
Ethereal ambient instrumentation & soft vocals for Tao Te Ching-inspired reflection
- Examines the natural world and its patterns, illustrating the Tao’s presence.
- Discusses the cyclical nature of life, growth, and decay.
- Key verses:
- Chapter 17: “The best leaders are those whose existence is barely known.”
- Chapter 22: “Know the masculine, but keep to the feminine.”
- Chapter 25: “The sage wears rough clothing, but carries jade within.”
賢者無名，百姓善治，
上下和同，自然無事。
無為而為，無欲而得，
虛無為寶，柔弱為強。知陽而守陰，知剛而守柔，
知白而守黑，知盈而守虛。
反者道之動，弱者道之用，
無為而為，自然之道。天地之間，若布帛，
六合之內，若綫繫。
無所不在，無所不容，
微妙之道，無形無象。賢者內藏，外露者少，
聖人外愚，內藏之道。
知者不言，言者不知，
自然之道，無為無求。天地之道，無親無疏，
無為而為，自然之道。
聖人無心，百姓自化，
不敢為先，故能為首。知其男，守其女，
知其白，守其黑。
知其盈，守其虛，
反者道之動。聖人穿褐，懷玉於內，
外愚而內明，無為而為。
無欲以靜，無為以成，
自然之道，無為無求。道者，萬物之源，
德者，萬物之母。
無名之名，天地之始，
道之門，萬物之根。道者，自然之道，
德者，無為之德。
虛無為寶，柔弱為強，
生生不已，化化不窮。賢者無名，百姓善治，
上下和同，自然無事。
無為而為，無欲而得，
虛無為寶，柔弱為強。
English
Chapter 17:
The best leaders are those whose existence is barely known,
Their people prosper, harmony reigns, all is well.
Effortless action, desireless achievement,
Emptiness is treasure, weakness is strength.Chapter 18:
When the great Way is abandoned, kindness and morality arise,
People become cunning and deceitful.
Officialdom and laws proliferate.Chapter 19:
Discard sagehood, abandon wisdom,
And the people will benefit a hundredfold.Chapter 20:
Discard moralizing, abandon justice,
And the people will return to filial piety.Chapter 21:
The sage wears rough clothing, but carries jade within,
Outer foolishness conceals inner wisdom.
Effortless action, desireless achievement.Chapter 22:
Know the masculine, but keep to the feminine,
Know strength, but guard vulnerability.
Know fullness, but guard emptiness.Chapter 23:
Nature does not strive, yet accomplishes,
Does not speak, yet responds.
Silent and effortless, it transforms.Chapter 24:
The sage has no attachments, no desires,
Embracing simplicity, rejecting excess.Chapter 25:
The sage wears rough clothing, but carries jade within,
Outer simplicity conceals inner treasure.
Effortless action, desireless achievement.Chapter 26:
Heavy is the foundation of light,
Stillness is the master of movement.Chapter 27:
Know the front, but watch the back,
Know the left, but guard the right.
Chapters 28-43: Advice to Rulers
Ethereal ambient instrumentation & soft vocals for Tao Te Ching-inspired reflection
- Offers guidance for leaders to govern in harmony with the Tao.
- Emphasizes humility, simplicity, and non-action (wu-wei).
- Key verses:
- Chapter 28: “Know the strength of the male, but keep to the gentleness of the female.”
- Chapter 30: “Do not use force to control.”
- Chapter 37: “The Tao does nothing, and yet nothing is left undone.”
知其雄，守其雌，
知其強，守其柔。
知其盈，守其虛，
反者道之動。上德不德，是以有德，
下德不失德，是以無德。
聖人無心，百姓自化，
不敢為先，故能為首。為無為，事無事，
自然之道，無為無求。
不尚賢，無過功，
不自見美，故能為器。道者，萬物之源，
德者，萬物之母。
無名之名，天地之始，
道之門，萬物之根。不用兵力以制，
天下之至柔，征天下之至堅。
無有入無間，
天下之至無有。聖人處無為之事，
行不言之教。
百姓自化，自正，
不敢為先，故能為首。道者，自然之道，
德者，無為之德。
虛無為寶，柔弱為強，
生生不已，化化不窮。天地之間，若布帛，
六合之內，若綫繫。
無所不在，無所不容，
微妙之道，無形無象。道之德，柔弱之德，
上德不德，是以有德。
無名之名，天地之始，
道之門，萬物之源。道者，萬物之源，
德者，萬物之母。
無為而為，自然之道，
無欲而得，無求而成。不敢為先，故能為首，
不自見美，故能為器。
自然之道，無為無求，
虛無為寶，柔弱為強。
English
Chapter 28:
Know the strength of the male, but keep to the gentleness of the female,
Know power, but guard vulnerability.
Know fullness, but guard emptiness,
Return to the Way, yield and adapt.Chapter 29:
Highest Virtue does not vaunt its virtue,
Lowest Virtue never loses its virtue.
Sages have no attachments, people transform,
Not seeking precedence, they lead.Chapter 30:
Do not use force to control,
The world’s greatest softness overcomes the hardest.
Enter where there is no space,
The world’s greatest emptiness.Chapter 31:
Sages accomplish without action,
Teach without words.
People transform, self-rectify,
Not seeking precedence, they lead.Chapter 32:
The Way is natural, Virtue effortless,
Emptiness is treasure, weakness is strength.
Endless growth, endless transformation.Chapter 33:
Heaven and earth, like woven fabric,
Six directions, interconnected threads.
Everywhere present, embracing all,
Subtle and mysterious, formless and invisible.Chapter 34:
The Virtue of the Way, gentle and weak,
Highest Virtue, beyond virtue itself.
Nameless, yet the source of all,
The Gate of the Way, origin of all.Chapter 35:
The Way is the source of all,
Virtue is the mother of all.
Effortless action, natural harmony,
Desireless achievement.Chapter 36:
Not seeking precedence, they lead,
Not boasting, they achieve.
Aligning with nature, without striving,
Emptiness is treasure, weakness is strength.Chapter 37:
The Tao does nothing, and yet nothing is left undone,
Natural harmony, effortless action.
People transform, self-rectify.Chapter 38:
Highest Virtue does not strive,
Lowest Virtue strives for virtue.
Sages have no attachments.Chapter 39:
Emptiness is the root of all,
Weakness is the source of strength.Chapter 40:
Return to the Way, yield and adapt,
Natural harmony, effortless action.Chapter 41:
Upper Virtue does not show its virtue,
Lower Virtue cannot lose its virtue.Chapter 42:
The Way generates one, one generates two,
Two generates three, three generates all.Chapter 43:
The softest thing in the world overcomes the hardest.
Chapters 44-61: Living in Harmony
Ethereal ambient instrumentation & soft vocals for Tao Te Ching-inspired reflection
- Focuses on cultivating balance and harmony in personal life.
- Explores the importance of self-awareness, acceptance, and contentment.
- Key verses:
- Chapter 45: “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.”
- Chapter 50: “The sage has no fixed heart.”
- Chapter 55: “In the world, there is nothing more submissive and weak than water.”
知人者智，自知者明，
勝人者有力，自勝者強。
知足者富，容人者廣，
處其中而立，靜而不敗。不自見美，故能為器，
不自見大，故能成器。
聖人無心，百姓自化，
不敢為先，故能為首。不尚賢，無過功，
不自見美，故能為器。
知者不言，言者不知，
自然之道，無為無求。天下之柔，克天下之堅，
無有入無間，天下之至無有。
不爭之德，天下莫能與，
不為之功，天下莫能及。聖人無常心，以百姓心為心，
善者，吾善之；不善者，吾亦善之。
信者，吾信之；不信者，吾亦信之。
天下之事，無有不成.
English
Chapter 44:
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Conquering others requires strength; conquering yourself requires greatness.
Contentment brings wealth; tolerance expands capacity.Chapter 45:
The sage has no fixed mind,
Adapting to the world, harmonizing with change.
Not boasting, they achieve;
Not self-aggrandizing, they lead.Chapter 46:
When the world has the Way,
Horses transport manure;
Without the Way, horses bear armor.Chapter 47:
Without leaving your door, know the world;
Without looking out the window, see the Way.
The farther you go, the less you know.Chapter 48:
Decrease and simplify, decrease and simplify,
To reach the state of non-action.
Take no action, and nothing will be left undone.Chapter 49:
The sage has no fixed heart,
Embracing all, rejecting none.
Good, I treat as good;
Evil, I also treat as good.Chapter 50:
The sage has no fixed heart,
Embracing all, like a newborn.
Desireless, yet fulfilled.Chapter 51:
The world has no equal,
Embracing the Way, aligning with Virtue.Chapter 52:
Block the openings, shut the doors,
And all will be peaceful and secure.
Open the openings, show your strength,
And all will be weak and disordered.Chapter 53:
Know the masculine, but keep to the feminine,
Know strength, but guard vulnerability.Chapter 54:
Cultivate Virtue in yourself,
And Virtue will be genuine.
Cultivate Virtue in your family,
And Virtue will abound.Chapter 55:
In the world, there is nothing more submissive and weak than water,
Yet nothing can surpass its strength.
Weakness conquers strength.Chapter 56:
Knowing and not speaking,
Speaking and not knowing,
All arise from the Way.Chapter 57:
Govern the state with upright integrity,
Deploy the army with cunning strategy.
Win the war without violence.Chapter 58:
When the government is non-intrusive,
People are genuine and simple.
When government is intrusive,
People become cunning.Chapter 59:
Ruling the state, manage with simplicity,
Align with the Way, embrace Virtue.Chapter 60:
Govern the state with non-action,
Cultivate Virtue, reject excess.Chapter 61:
A large state attacks a small state,
Using non-action, the small state prevails
Chapters 62-81: Returning to the Source
Ethereal ambient with Chinese instruments (guqin, pipa, erhu), piano & soft vocals for Tao Te Ching-inspired reflection
- Discusses the journey back to the Tao, letting go of attachments.
- Emphasizes simplicity, humility, and embracing the unknown.
- Key verses:
- Chapter 64: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
- Chapter 71: “To know, yet to think that one does not know, is best.”
- Chapter 79: “The sage takes action without attachment.”
千里之行，始於足下，
大樹之用，始於萊薪。
欲求其明，必先去其濁，
欲求其白，必先去其汙。知者不言，言者不知，
自然之道，無為無求。
不尚賢，無過功，
不自見美，故能為器。天地之間，若布帛，
六合之內，若綫繫。
無所不在，無所不容，
微妙之道，無形無象。為者敗之，執者失之，
是以聖人不為。
不尚賢，無過功，
不自見美，故能為器。知及之，愚及之，
大小相同，長短齊。
道者，萬物之源，
德者，萬物之母。知而不知，乃至知，
不知而知，乃不知。
聖人無心，百姓自化，
不敢為先，故能為首。天网恢恢，疏而不失，
善者，吾善之；不善者，吾亦善之。
信者，吾信之；不信者，吾亦信之。聖人不積，既思已行，
既服已食，既事已畢。
無為而為，自然之道，
無欲而得，無求而成。知者不語，語者不知，
自然之道，無為無求。
聖人無常心，以百姓心為心，
善者，吾善之；不善者，吾亦善之。
English
Chapter 62:
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,
Great accomplishments start with small beginnings.
Seeking clarity, eliminate confusion;
Seeking purity, eliminate impurities.Chapter 63:
Take no action, and nothing will be left undone,
Embracing simplicity, rejecting excess.Chapter 64:
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,
The greatest accomplishment starts with the smallest beginning.Chapter 65:
The sage takes action without attachment,
Embracing the unknown, letting go of control.Chapter 66:
The world’s greatest river flows downward,
Embracing humility, seeking the lowest place.Chapter 67:
I have three treasures: simplicity, patience, and humility,
Embracing these, one becomes invincible.Chapter 68:
The sage takes no sides, embracing all,
Good, I treat as good; evil, I also treat as good.Chapter 69:
A victorious army does not announce its victory,
A great leader does not boast of their power.Chapter 70:
Know yourself, know your enemy,
And you will win every battle.Chapter 71:
To know, yet to think that one does not know, is best,
Embracing humility, seeking wisdom.Chapter 72:
Without self-identification, one finds true self,
Embracing simplicity, letting go of ego.Chapter 73:
Bravery without caution leads to death,
Courage with caution leads to life.Chapter 74:
Difficulties arise from easy things,
Great accomplishments start with small beginnings.Chapter 75:
Nature does not dominate; it adapts,
Embracing flexibility, finding harmony.Chapter 76:
People are born soft and supple,
Die hard and stiff.Chapter 77:
The Tao does not dominate; it nurtures,
Giving without expecting.Chapter 78:
Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water,
Yet nothing can surpass its strength.Chapter 79:
The sage takes action without attachment,
Embracing non-action, letting go of control.Chapter 80:
A small state with few people is better,
Embracing simplicity, rejecting excess.Chapter 81:
True words are not eloquent,
Eloquent words are not true.