Chapter 54 · What Is Well Planted

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

Learn the Dao: a quiet practice for learning the thing that can’t be known.

The chapter’s first line

What (Tao's) skilful planter plants

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This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

What (Tao's) skilful planter plants Can never be uptorn; What his skilful arms enfold, From him can ne'er be borne. Sons shall bring in lengthening line, Sacrifices to his shrine. Tao when nursed within one's self, His vigour will make true; And where the family it rules What riches will accrue! The neighbourhood where it prevails In thriving will abound; And when 'tis seen throughout the state, Good fortune will be found. Employ it the kingdom o'er, And men thrive all around. In this way the effect will be seen in the person, by the observation of different cases; in the family; in the neighbourhood; in the state; and in the kingdom. How do I know that this effect is sure to hold thus all under the sky? By this (method of observation).

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Chapter 54, in a second rendering

What's Planted Right

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

What's planted right doesn't get yanked out. What's held right doesn't slip away. Do it well and people keep it up for generations. Build this in yourself and the character is real. Build it in the family and there's more than enough to go around. In the town, it grows. In the country, it's plenty. In the world, it's everywhere. So you read a person by looking at the person, a family by the family, a town by the town, a country by the country, the world by the world. How do I know the world's like that? This is how - you look at what's in front of you.

Next · Chapter 55He who has in himself abundantly the attributes (of the Tao) is like an infant.Read chapter 55 →

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