Peace PeaceWhen the world has Tao,
race horses pull night-soil carts.
When the world loses Tao,
war horses breed in the fields.
Daodejing 46
309
Cicadas chirp in bare mulberry woods.
In this eighth month, the road and pass are desolate.
Patrols come and go at the border checkpoint—
but yellow reeds and grass are everywhere.
Each of us ordered to be stationed here
has grown old facing the battlefield.
Don't learn to be like the warriors
who boast how good they are with dark horses.
“Song above the Border Pass,” Wang Changling (698–756)
A good warrior
is not martial.
A good fighter
is never angry.
A good victor
never engages.
A good commander
remains subordinate.
So we say:
virtue does not fight,
strength commands well,
the ultimate is to
blend with perpetual heaven.
Daodejing 68
311
A lake gathering on the earth
is the image of collecting.
A noble one repairs the tools of war
against the unforeseen.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 45: Collecting
Power comes from the waist and hips.
Be mindful of change and turn, empty and full.
Let the breath-energy flow throughout your body without
deficiency.
Movement is in stillness, stillness is in movement,
miraculously forcing the opponent to adjust.
Shanxi Wang Zongyue's Taijiquan Treatise, “The Song of Practicing the Thirteen Dynamics”
313
An arrogant army will always lose.
Proverb
314
If the left becomes heavy, then make the left empty.
If the right becomes heavy, them make the right vanish.
If others try to reach up for me, then they must go higher.
If others try to reach down for me, then they must go lower.
If they advance, then the farther they have to go.
If they try to retreat, then the more pressed they will feel.
Shanxi Wang Zongyue's Taijiquan Treatise
The bright moon lifts from heaven's peak;
a boundless haze between cloud and sea.
Ten thousand miles of endless wind
blasts its way through Jade Gate Pass.
Han troops marched on Baideng Road.
Hu troops stole into Qinghai Lake.
From the start, the battleground
never saw anyone return.
Soldiers gaze across the border,
their faces bitter, and think of home,
where tonight those in high towers
sigh and fail to find any rest.
“Moon over the Mountain Pass,” Li Bai (701–762)
316
Water in the middle of the earth
is the image of armies.
A noble one gathers people together
and nourishes the multitude.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 7: Armies
Last year, you were sent to attack the Yuezhi:
your army vanished beyond the city walls.
Now the border is sealed and all news has stopped.
Are you dead, or alive, or wandering forever?
No one found even an abandoned tent
or knew of a returning horse with a torn flag.
Ceremonies are useless if I don't know where you are.
You're at the end of the world; I'm here crying.
“To a Friend Lost in the Tibetan War,” Zhang Ji (766–830?)
318
The world in chaos, we fled south together.
Now those times are over, and you go north alone.
My hair turns white in this foreign land.
In the capital again, you'll see our green hills.
The moon will rise across battered ramparts,
a millions stars will set over the pass,
and shivering animals in withered grass
on every side will accompany my worried face.
“Farewell to a Friend Returning North after the Rebellion Is Quelled,” Sikong Shu (720?–790?)
Strategists say:
“I dare not be the host,
but prefer to be the guest.
I dare not advance by inches,
but prefer to retreat by feet.”
This is called movement
without movement,
seizing without arms,
throwing without resistance,
advancing before enemies appear.
Calamity is going lightly to war—
how much would I lose
that is precious to me?
Therefore, when armies clash,
those who mourn will win.
Daodejing 69
320
A mountain rising from the earth
is the image of splitting.
The high are generous
to the low so all can live in peace.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 23: Splitting
I see that anyone
who wants to conquer the world
will never succeed.
The world is a sacred vessel
no one can possess.
Those who try will be defeated.
Those who grab for it will lose it.
Some things move forward, some follow behind.
Some blow hot, some blow cold.
Some are strong, some are weak.
Some may chop, some may fall.
That's why the sage
avoids the excessive,
avoids the extravagant,
and avoids the exalted.
Daodejing 29
322
A lake below a mountain
is the image of decrease.
A noble one holds their anger
and curbs their desires.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 41: Decrease
A mountain under the sky
is the image of distance.
A noble one stays far from the vile,
does not attack, and yet is firm.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 33: Withdrawal
324
What others teach,
I also teach:
the violent and strong do not die naturally.
That is the basis of my teaching.
Daodejing 42
325
Fire burning over wood
is the image of the cauldron.
A noble one takes the right seat
and sets their commands.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 50: Cauldron
However beautiful, weapons
are tools of ill omen,
hateful to all beings.
Those who have Tao don't use them.
The prince usually values the left,
but values the right when using troops.
Armies are tools of ill omen
and they are not the tools of a prince.
They are used only as a last resort.
Calm and repose are better.
Force is not beautiful.
To call it beautiful
is to delight in killing people.
Those who kill people
can never carry out the will of the world.
Celebration proceeds on the left.
Mourning proceeds on the right.
The lieutenant stands on the left.
The high general stands on the right,
in the place of mourning.
He is the killer of multitudes.
Mourning, grief, and sobbing surround him.
For he, the victor in war, hands out funerals.
Daodejing 31
Don't take fish from the depths.
Whatever benefits a state
should be revealed to no one.
Daodejing 36
328
Fire over water
is the image of not-yet-across.
A noble one sorts things with care
and puts them in their rightful places.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 64: Not Yet Across
329
A moment of patience avoids a hundred days of regret.
Proverb
330
Wind above a lake
is the image of inner faith.
A noble one mediates lawsuits
and is slow to execute.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 61: Inner Confidence
If I were to tell everyone
to follow the great Tao,
I would be afraid
of what they would do.
The great Tao is straightforward,
but people like detours.
When the official courts are well kept,
the fields are barren
and the granaries are empty.
When officials wear elegant silks,
dangle sharp swords,
pamper themselves with food and drink,
and heap overflowing property and wealth,
they are called arrogant thieves.
That is the corruption of Tao!
Daodejing 53
332
Thunder and wind
are the image of constancy.
A noble one stands firm
and does not change direction.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 32: Constancy
One who relies on strong armies does not conquer.
A strong tree will be chopped down.
Daodejing 76
334
Resentment will still linger
even when peace follows hatred,
so how can we make good on peace?
A wise person holds an exact tally
but doesn't hold others exactly to it.
Use virtue to manage agreements,
because pettiness is vicious.
Heaven's Tao is impartial
and always helps good people.
Daodejing 79
335
Thunder exploding in the sky
is the image of innocence.
The ancient kings
followed the seasons
and nourished all creatures.
Yijing, Image of hexagram 25: Innocence
Let a small country
keep a small population,
and have a supply of goods
ten- or a hundredfold more
than people can use.
Let the people be serious about death
and not migrate far.
While they would have boats and carts,
they wouldn't ride them.
While they would have armor and weapons,
they wouldn't show them.
Let them return to
tallying with knotted cords,
sweet food,
beautiful clothes,
restful dwellings,
and joyful customs.
Let neighboring countries see each other,
and hear one another's chickens and dogs,
but to old age,
even to death,
let no state invade another.
Daodejing 80
Nature says little:
A cyclone doesn't last beyond a morning.
A downpour doesn't last beyond a day.
Who does this?
Heaven and earth.
If heaven and earth can't last long,
that's even more true of our own actions!
Daodejing 23
338
Therefore, when it comes to matters of Tao,
join those with Tao,
join those with virtue,
join those with loss.
For those with Tao
have the joy of joining with it.
Those with virtue
have the joy of joining with it.
Those with loss
have the joy of joining with it.
But those without faith
will have no faith from others.
Daodejing 22
Tao gives life,
virtue fosters it,
things take form,
and power is complete.
That's why every creature
reveres Tao and values virtue.
When Tao is revered
and virtue valued,
then everyone naturally
obeys it always.
Daodejing 51
340
Therefore, Tao is great.
Heaven is great.
Earth is great.
The king is also great.
In this world, there are these Four Greats,
and the king is one of them.
Human law follows the earth.
Earth's law follows heaven.
Heaven's law follows Tao.
Tao's law is nature.
Daodejing 25