how do I thus know… : #21, #57 by means of this : #21, #57 Chapter Fifty Five 含 德 之 厚 [者] 比 於 赤 子 • 蜂 蠆 虺 蛇 不 螫 猛 獸 不 據 攫 鳥 不 摶 骨 弱 筋 柔 而 握 固 • 未 知 牝 牡 之 合 而 (脧) 作 精 之 至 也(•) • 終 日 號 而 不 嗄 和 之 至 也(•) 知 和 曰 常 知 常 曰 明 益 生 曰 祥 • 心 使 氣 曰 強 物 壯 則 老 謂 之 不 道 • 不 道 早 已 He who embodies the substance of De Can be compared to a newborn child : Wasps, scorpions, snakes, and serpents do not sting him, Fierce beasts do not seize him, Birds of prey do not claw him. His bones are weak, his muscles are soft, yet his grasp is firm and strong. He has not yet known the union of female and male, yet his penis rises. He has the utmost essence, indeed! He cries the entire day yet does not get hoarse. He has the utmost harmony, indeed! Knowing harmony speaks of the ever-constant. Knowing the ever-constant speaks of insight. Benefitting life speaks of good fortune. Heart/mind making Qi speaks of strength. When creatures are robust but old, We call them “not Dao”. That which is “not Dao” has an early finish. ♦He who embodies the substance of De ♦Can be compared to a newborn child2 : Wasps, scorpions, snakes, and serpents do not sting him, Fierce beasts do not seize him, Birds of prey2 do not claw him. [seize,catch,take hold bird] [roll around with hand] ♦His bones are weak, his muscles are soft, yet his grasp is firm and strong. He has not yet known the union of female and male, yet his penis rises. [baby’s genitals] ♦He has the utmost [of] essence, indeed! [extreme,most] ♦He cries the entire day yet does not get hoarse. ♦He has the utmost [of] harmony, indeed! [extreme,most] ♦Knowing harmony speaks of the ever-constant. ♦Knowing the ever-constant speaks of insight. [wise,sight] ♦Benefitting life speaks of good fortune. A [auspicious,lucky] ♦Heart/mind making Qi speaks of strength. ♦When creatures are robust but old, ♦We call them “not Dao”. [That which is] “not Dao” has an early finish. Notes The last sentence is in all sources except GUO A : this sentence and the next are sometimes reversed in meaning, as their last symbols have both positive and negative interpretations Cross-references substance : #38, #50, #75 baby/infant/child : #10, #20, #28, #49 newborn infant : #10, #20, #28 weak : #3, #29, #36, #40, #76, #78 soft : #10, #36, #43, #52, #76, #78