Chapter Sixty One 大 國 者 下 流 • 天 下 之 交 • 天 下 之 牝 • 牝 常 以 靜 勝 牡 以 靜 為 下 • (•)故 大 國 以 下 小 國 則 取 小 國 小 國 以 下 大 國 則 取 [於] 大 國 (•)故 或 下 以 取 • 或 下 而 取 大 國 不 過 欲 兼 畜 人 小 國 不 過 欲 入 事 人 • 夫 兩 者 各 得 [其] 所 欲 • 大 者 宜 為 下 A great nation is like the lowest places water can flow – The merging place of the world, The female of the world. The female always uses stillness to conquer the male. By using stillness, she becomes lower-than. Therefore : if a great nation is lower-than a small nation, Then it takes hold of the small nation. If a small nation is lower-than a great nation, Then it is taken hold of by the great nation. Therefore : sometimes one nation is lower-than in order to take hold of, Sometimes one nation is lower-than and then it is taken hold of. A great nation merely desires to combine livestock and people, A small nation merely desires to get work for its people. Now : for both nations to each get that which is their desire, It is proper for the great nation to be lower-than. A great nation [it] is like the lowest places [water]A can flow – The merging place of the world2, [intersection,exchange,mixing] The female of the world2. The female always uses stillness to conquer the male. [victory,beat] By using stillness, she becomes lower-thanB. ♦Therefore : if a great nation is [thus] lower-than a small nation, ♦Then it takes hold of the small nation. ♦If a small nation is [thus] lower-than a great nation, Then it is taken hold of by the great nation. ♦Therefore : sometimes one [nation] is lower-than in order to take hold of, [maybe,perhaps] ♦Sometimes one [nation] is lower-than and then it is taken hold of. [maybe,perhaps] A great nation merely2 desires to combine livestock and people, ♦A small nation merely2 desires to get work for its people.C Now : for both nations to each get that which is their desire, [entities] It is proper for the great nation to be lower-than. [entity] Notes A : 流 (flow) has associations with water B : literally “below”, “under”, or “inferior”, here “lower-than” is used to indicate taking the lower or inferior position in a relationship (which in ancient Chinese culture was the better thing to do); Lau translates it as “taking the lower position”