Lao Tzu for Everyone
Students, Scholars,
& Seekers
Chinese-English Interlinear
Peter Gilboy, Ph. D.
Tao
the Way
regarding the characters
used in this translation.
Lesson 30
On Using Force
(Part 1)
果guǒ
( 田field + 木 tree)
fruit, result, consequence
There is no mention of the sage in this lesson. It is simply a reminder to leaders that even the most practical of measures must conform to the Way. Note also Lao Tzu's continuing themes regarding what to "not do," and "stopping in time."
Interlinear
Line 1
When assisting the ruler
in accord with the Way,
do not use
force of arms
against the empire.
以yǐ 道tào 佐zuǒ 人rén 主zhǔ
use way assistant person ruler
不bù 以yǐ 兵bīng 強qiáng 於yú 天tiān 下xià
not use troops strong (prep.) heaven earth
As to the Way,
a ruler’s assistant does not
use troops and strength
against the world.
. . . . . .
Line 2
To do so
will surely backfire.
亓qí 事shì 好hǎo 還huán
(pron.) matter good revert
Such a matter
is good to revert.
. . . . . .
Line 3
Where armies
are stationed
thorns and brambles grow.
師shī 之zhī 所suǒ 居jū
troops (pron.) where dwell
楚chǔ 棘jí 生shēng 之zhī
thorn/misery bramble life (pron.)
Where the troops dwell,
thorns and bramble live them.
. . . . . .
Line 4
A good general
fulfills the objective
and then stops!
A general never
uses the occasion
to seize power.
善shàn 者zhě 果guǒ 而ér 已yǐ 矣yǐ
good one who fruit and stop (exclaim)
毋wú 以yǐ 取qǔ 強qiǎng 焉yān*
not by means take strong (part.)
The good one has results and stops!
Not by means of this takes strength.
______
*焉yān is a final particle indicating emphasis and certainty, as well as finality.
. . . . . .
Line 5
He fulfills the objective
without any
arrogance or pride.
果guǒ 而ér 毋wú 驕jiāo
fruit and do not haughty
果guǒ 而ér 勿wù 矜jīn
fruit and must not boast
Results, and not being haughty.
Results, and must not be boastful.
. . . . . .
Line 6
He fulfills the objective
without subduing the people,
and even then, when there is
no other choice.
果guǒ 而ér 勿wù 伐fá
fruit and do not subjugate
果guó 而ér 毋wú 得dé 已yǐ 居jū
fruit and must not get stop dwell/occupy
Results, and yet does not subjugate.
Results and must not get to stop*, dwelling.
_______
*Note: 毋wú 得dé 已yǐ, literally "must not get to stop" is an idiomatic expression meaning "unavoidable," here translated as "no other choice." This line could also be read “does not dwell on the success” and “has no choice but to occupy. Note also that the final character 居jū, “reside,” “dwell,” is not present in the standard texts.
. . . . .
Line 7
This is known as
achieving results
without coercion.*
是shì 胃wèi 果guǒ 而ér 不bù 強qiáng
this say fruit and not strong
This is called having results
and yet without strength.
_______
*In line 6 of the next lesson, Lao Tzu tells us, “If a moral person cannot help but use weapons, quick force is superior, though never desired.”
. . . . .
Line 8
Going too far
only leads to decay.
This is not
in accord with the Way.
物wù 壯zhuàng 而ér 老lǎo
thing big/vigorous/prime and old
是shì 胃wèi 之zhī 不bù 道tào
his call (poss.) not way
Things are big/vigorous, and then old;
this is called not the Way.
. . . . .
Line 9
What is not in
accord with the Way
soon comes to an end.
不bù 道tào 蚤zǎo* 已yǐ
not way morning/early stop
Not the Way, soon stops.
_______
*蚤zǎo , is a variant of 早zǎo , morning, early, and, by extension, “soon.” 早zǎo is found in the standard editions.
. . . . .