A : taxes were taken in grain at the time the DDJ was written, so this seems to be something of a play on words B : literally, they “possess action” C : HSG and FY have Because their superiors seek the substance of life thus placing the blame not on the people, but those who govern them (WB used the viewpoint of the earlier sources) D : compare to #38, where living for the “substance” is apparently a good thing, and #50, where it is a bad thing E : one who “values living” will be less virtuous than one who does not, because the former is out to get what he can for himself Cross-references citizens are hard to govern : #65 die/death : #6, #33, #42, #50, #67, #74, #76, #80 citizens do not fear death, take death seriously/lightly : #74, #80 substance : #38, #50, #55 Chapter Seventy Six • 人 之 生 也 柔 弱 其 死 也 堅 強 • 萬 物 草 木 之 生 也 柔 脆 其 死 也 枯 槁 • (•)故 堅 強 者 死 之 徒 • 柔 弱 者 生 之 徒 • 是 以 兵 強 則 不 勝 木 強 則 兵 • 強 大 處 下 • 柔 弱 處 上 The people are born (indeed!) soft and weak. They die (indeed!) hard and inflexible. The ten thousand creatures, the grass and trees, are born (indeed!) soft and fragile. They die (indeed!) dried and withered. Therefore : that which is hard and inflexible is a follower of death. That which is soft and weak is a follower of life. Thus if a weapon is inflexible, the consequence is defeat. If a tree is inflexible, then it snaps. Inflexible and great dwell below. Soft and weak dwell above. ♦The people [they] are born (indeed!) soft and weak. They die (indeed!) hard and inflexible. The ten thousand creatures, the grass and trees, [they] are born (indeed!) soft and fragile. ♦They die (indeed!) dried and withered. Therefore : that which is hard and inflexible is a followerA of death. That which is soft and weak is a follower of life. Thus2 if a weapon is inflexible, the consequence is defeat2.B [not victory] If a tree is inflexible, then it snaps°. Inflexible and great dwell belowC. Soft and weak dwell above. Notes A : “follower” as in disciple or one who agrees with a particular way of looking at things B : an inflexible weapon shatters easily; this line can be translated in many ways, because “weapon is inflexible” can also mean weapon is strong army is inflexible army is strong C : interestingly, this is the same symbol translated in #61, #66, and #68 as “lower-than” (which was a good thing), so in this case it is the inferior qualities which are lower-than Cross-references