The short of it:
Wholeness is whole, not incomplete.
28. Returning to Simplicity.
[Those] who [know] the masculine (nature), and at the same time [keep] the feminine, will be the whole world’s channel (i.e. the centre of universal attraction). Being the whole world’s channel, eternal Virtue will not depart from [them]; and [they] will return again to the state of an infant.
[Those] who [know] the light, and at the same time [keep] the shade, will be the whole world’s model. Being the whole world’s model, eternal Virtue will not miss [them], and [they] will return home to the Absolute.
[Those] who [know] the glory, and at the same time [keep] the shame, will be the whole world’s valley. Being the whole world’s valley, eternal Virtue will fill [them], and [they] will return home to Simplicity.
This simplicity (the primary existence) is what, being distributed, becomes (all the) vessels (forms of existence in the universe).
A wise [person], if [they embrace] it, becomes the chief of governors. For large (liberal) government is that which cuts off or hurts nobody.
28. ‘Returning to Simplicity.’
28.1 Who knows [their] manhood’s strength, Yet still [their] female feebleness maintains; As to one channel flow the many drains, All come to [them], yea, all beneath the sky. Thus [they] the constant excellence [retain]; The simple child again, free from all stains. Who knows how white attracts, Yet always [keep themselves] within black’s shade, The pattern of humility displayed, Displayed in view of all beneath the sky; [Those] in the unchanging excellence arrayed, Endless return to [humanity's] first state has made. Who knows how glory shines, Yet loves disgrace, nor e’er for it is pale; Behold [their] presence in a spacious vale, To which [people] come from all beneath the sky. The unchanging excellence complete its tale; The simple infant [person] in [them] we hail.
28.2
The unwrought material, when divided and distributed, forms vessels. The sage, when employed, becomes the Head of all the Officers (of government); and in [their] greatest regulations [they employ] no violent measures.
28. Returning to simplicity.
28.1 “Who [their] manhood shows And [their] womanhood knows Becomes the empire’s river. [Are they] the empire’s river, [They] will from virtue never deviate, And home [they] turneth to a child’ estate. 28.2 “Who [their] brightness shows And [their] blackness knows Becomes the empire’s model. [Are they] the empire’s model, Of virtue ne’er shall [they] be destitute, And home [they] turneth to the absolute. 28.3 “Who knows [their] fame And guards [their] shame Becomes the empire’s valley. Fore e’er [their] virtue will sufficient be, And home [they] turneth to simplicity.”
28.4
Simplicity, when scattered, becomes a vessel of usefulness. The holy [person], by using it, becomes the chief leader; and truly, a great principle will never do harm.
The Long of It:
None of the translators above chose to include Lao Tsu’s reference to uncarved wood in the closing stanza (see Ames, Henricks, Mears, Waley, Wang). As a result they all trip on the goal line.
The sage embodies the un-carved block, useless, but full of potential. They are neither one thing or another. They are whole.
“The Daoist image of the most consummate and fertile person is an androgyne who has access to the full range of gender traits…being first and last, strong and weak, hard and soft, aggressive and recessive, agitated and still, and so on….Under different circumstances, the authentic person might seem to be either aggressive or recessive, but in fact is both at the same time” (Ames 121).
-TB
works cited
Lao-tzu. Mears, Isabella. Tao Teh King (1922). Start Publishing LLC. Kindle Edition, 2012.
