Chapter 61 · The Great State's Low Place

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 makes a great state is its being (like) a low-lying, down-flowing (stream);--

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

What makes a great state is its being (like) a low-lying, down-flowing (stream);--it becomes the centre to which tend (all the small states) under heaven. (To illustrate from) the case of all females:--the female always overcomes the male by her stillness. Stillness may be considered (a sort of) abasement. Thus it is that a great state, by condescending to small states, gains them for itself; and that small states, by abasing themselves to a great state, win it over to them. In the one case the abasement leads to gaining adherents, in the other case to procuring favour. The great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them; a small state only wishes to be received by, and to serve, the other. Each gets what it desires, but the great state must learn to abase itself.

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The great state only wishes to unite — missed men together and nourish them

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Chapter 61, in a second rendering

Sitting Low Like a River Delta

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

A big country should sit low, the way a river delta sits at the bottom and everything drains into it. It's the receiving role - the still thing that wins by staying low. A big country that lowers itself wins over a small one. A small country that lowers itself wins over the big one. So one wins by going low, the other wins by being low. All the big one really wants is to bring people in and look after them. All the small one wants is a place at the table. Both get what they want - if the bigger one is willing to lie low.

Next · Chapter 62Tao has of all things the most honoured place.Read chapter 62 →

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