Introduction
This verse has several phrases that are layered with complex meanings and difficult to convey in verse English. The three trickiest terms are:
- 不仁 meaning “not benevolent; inhumane”
- 刍狗 meaning “straw dog”
- 守中 meaning “preserve the center”
Mixed in is a metaphor about emanation being like the bellows, reminiscent of the last verse’s opening lines:
“The Dao flows from a bottomless vessel. Throughout eternity, it cannot be depleted.”
Overall, this verse is very evocative in contemplating peaceful well-being amid ever-changing conditions. The Dao expresses itself as eternal change, yet constant renewal fuels it. It reminds me of a fizzy drink. Watching the bubbles float to the surface and beyond then pop can certainly be entertaining. So is the way they feel on our noses and in our mouths. Yet, the liquid - the passive element, not the active one - quenches our thirst.
A similarly related Daoist concept is The Utility of Uselessness. Coined by the eminent Daoist Zhuang Zi, this phrase points to the “passive” value in something as a counter to our incessant longing after something’s “active” value. For example, a large, beautiful tree has a passive value to humans. It provides shade and beauty, filters our air, and contributes to the local ecosystem. However, this does “nothing” for us. When we chop it down, we can use its lumber to build structures and furniture, fashion weapons, fuel our fires, and so forth. These uses are all “active.” The argument isn’t that active uses are bad, simply that we must remember the power of passive utility as well.
Translation
Nature is not benevolent;
all things serve their purpose and are destroyed.
The Wise are not benevolent;
people serve their purpose and are destroyed.
The relationship between the spiritual and the material.
Isn’t it just like a bellows?!
Empty yet never depleted,
Pumped and even more comes out.
Excessive seeking hurries destitution,
It’s better to preserve your center.
Commentary
Nature is not benevolent,
all things serve their purpose and are destroyed.The Wise are not benevolent,
people serve their purpose and are destroyed.
These two lines are parallel, with just a few keywords swapped out. Due to their structure, we can see that certain things are being compared. “Nature” and “the Wise” are marked as similar, and so are “all things” and “people.” Here is an example of using the fractal nature of the universe to draw out cosmic principles. “Nature” and “all things” are at the macro level. “The Wise” and “people” are at the micro level. “The Wise” accord with “Nature” and so must understand and apply its laws. Remember that humans are a small part of Nature in the worldview of Weaving the Virtuous Way, not separate from it as in the common Western definition.