WORDS & IDEAS
Yi 一
The One. An image of unity and coherence. The chapters use it to explore the relation between multiplicity and a sustaining source.
Holding to the one
载营魄抱一，能无离乎？专气致柔，能婴儿乎？涤除玄览，能无疵乎？爱国治民，能无知乎？天门开阖，能为雌乎？明白四达，能无为乎？生之，畜之。
When the intelligent and animal souls are held together in one embrace, they can be kept from separating. When one gives undivided attention to the…
Read chapterYield and remain whole
曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则得，多则惑。
The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty, full; the worn out, new. He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires) are many…
Read chapterHolding to the one
昔之得一者，天得一以清，地得一以宁，神得一以灵，谷得一以盈，万物得一以生，侯王得一以为天下贞。
The things which from of old have got the One (the Tao) are-- Heaven which by it is bright and pure; Earth rendered thereby firm and sure; Spirits with…
Read chapterOne, two, three
道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。
The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things. All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have…
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