天 下 莫 柔 弱 於 水 而 攻 堅 強 者 莫 之 能 勝 • 以 其 無 以 易 之 • 弱 之 勝 強 • 柔 之 勝 剛 • • 天 下 莫 不 知 • 莫 能 行 • 是 以 聖 人 云 • 受 國 之 垢 是 謂 社 稷 [之] 主 受 國 [之] 不 祥 是 謂 天 下 [之] 王 正 言 若 反 • In the world, nothing is softer and weaker than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong, There is nothing that can surpass it. This is because it endlessly replaces itself. Weakness conquers strength. Softness conquers hardness. In the world, there is no one who does not know this, But there is no one who can practice it. Thus the sage says : Accepting upon oneself the disgrace of the nation Is called being master of the shrines. Accepting upon oneself the misfortune of the nation Is called being king of the world. Honest words seem contrary. ♦In the world2, nothing is softer and weaker than water. ♦Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong, ♦There is nothing that can surpass it. [them] ♦This is because it endlessly2 replaces{changes} it[self].A Weakness [it] conquers strength. [victorious,beats] Softness [it] conquers hardness. [victorious,beats] In the world2, there is no one who does not know this, But there is no one who can practice it. [perform] Thus2 the sage2 says : Accepting [upon oneself] the disgrace of the nation Is called being master of the shrines2B. Accepting [upon oneself] the misfortune 2 of the nation [not lucky] Is called being king of the world2. ♦Honest words seem contrary. Notes A : the grammar of this sentence is very difficult to parse; I do not know if 無以 meant “endlessly” when the DDJ was written, but this is the only translation that seems to make sense B : the symbols specifically refer to the shrine of the god of soil, and the shrine of the god of grain Cross-references soft : #10, #36, #43, #52, #55, #76 weak : #3, #29, #36, #40, #55, #76 hard : #36, #43, #76 strong : #3, #29, #30, #33, #36, #52, #55, #67 soft conquers hard : #36, #43 no one who can practice it : #70 the sage says : #57 Chapter Seventy Nine 和 大 怨 必 有 餘 怨 • 安 可 以 為 善 是 以 聖 人 執 左 契 而 不 責 於 人 [(•)故] 有 德 司 契 無 德 司 徹 天 道 無 親 常 與 善 人 Harmonize a great resentment, And there must exist some remaining resentment. How can this be considered good? Thus the sage : Holds the left side of an agreement, But does not demand payment of people. Therefore : to have De is to take charge of your agreements;