Chapter 40

Quote

The movement of the Tao
By contraries proceeds;
And weakness marks the course
Of Tao's mighty deeds.

All things under heaven sprang from It as existing (and named);
that existence sprang from It as non-existent (and not named). (James Legge translation)

Commentary

In this chapter we have two key concepts: Tao and the void (wu).
Tao is the eternal law of the universe, meaning movement through opposites - yin-yang.

This operation is fluid, not static.

The void refers to the source of the universe. All things come from the void, meaning from nothing.

But let us remember the statement of Hui Neng, the sixth patriarch of the Taoism Ch'an, who in a historical circumstance claimed that nothing really exists.

Compare Legge's translation with that of Bradford Hatcher.

Reversal is the movement of the way
Yielding in the method of the way
The myriad beings in nature arose out of being
Being arose out on nothing.

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Commentary by Jhian

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