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The Philosophy of Heaven and Earth

Laozi said that drums make sound because they don't muffle sound, and mirrors reflect light because they don't absorb light. Bells make sound but don't ring till they're struck, and flutes make music but not till they're played. So the wise are responsible and don't play any tunes. When there's work to do, they get it done. When something happens, they respond.

The universe is in constant motion. Ancient because every ending is a new beginning, vast because it circles back to where it started, flawless because it moves indivisibly as one.

When energy rains down from the heavens, energy rises up from the earth. Yin and yang flow and mix and life is fair and balanced. Good people are in charge and tyranny withers and dies. That's the Dao of heaven and earth.

When energy doesn't rain down from the heavens, energy doesn't rise up from the earth. Yin and yang don't mix and life is desperate. Tyrants gain power and good people get killed. Crops don't grow and Dao De compensates.

Dao of the heavens eases pressure and fills empty space. Dao of earth erodes the heights and fills the hollows. Dao of gods frightens the comfortable and helps the oppressed. Dao of man hoards and doesn't help. Dao of the wise is humble but nothing could be higher.

Every corner is lit when the sky is bright and the sun shines. The middle realm is at peace when the sovereign is enlightened and ministers shine. The realm can grow and last when it has all four lights to enlighten those who shine the light, to enlighten their progress.

Universal Dao makes the laws and earth Dao obeys them. Unity balances them and time connects them. Life is mature when it recognizes Dao. Great Dao is wide and easy. If we leave it behind, it's not far. We manifest its character when we cultivate it within. We sustain its character when we practice it with others. 使

The heavens protect life. They make us moral and provide for us. Our souls return to them because they help and don't harm. Helping and not harming builds character, so that's how to be moral.

There's nothing above the heavens nor beneath the waters. Sky above, water below, the wise imitate them. Society is stable when we channel their respect and humility.

The earth supports life and disciplines us. Our bodies return to it because it gives and takes. Give and take is low character, and the least moral don't escape morality, so that's how to be immoral.

The earth is stable and calm because it embodies the heavens. Life forms when the earth is stable and calm, and life gathers when the earth is generous and rich. Stable and calm, it's never unreasonable. Generous and rich, it's never intolerant.

When earth power is rich enough, fresh water joins the gathering. Earth Dao can grow and last because it's predictable and generous. The wise imitate it. They're moral, never intolerant.

Yin resists yang and life prospers. Yang accepts yin and everything settles down. When something is prosperous, it's never ungrateful. When it settles down, it's never unhappy. When it's happy, it's never upset.

When yin destroys, yang adapts. Yin advances, yang retreats. Tyrants gain power and good people escape unharmed. That's universal Dao. 退

Positive energy motivates everything to settle down and take its place, so the wise follow yang Dao. When we follow something, it follows us, and when we resist something, it resists us, and that's why we can't forget its true nature.

Rice patties fill when the rhythm of life matures, and canals drain when life has no rhyme or reason. That's why societies collapse when the rains don't come. 洿 洿

Yang is lord of life because it rises up and comes back down. It can find its way back to where it started because it doesn't last long. It can grow and last because it returns to where it began. It's the mother of civilization because it can last so long.

We can give again and again when we limit positive energy, and we can change over and over when we collect negative energy. But nothing can ever change without limits and potential, and that's why the wise are careful about what collects.

Life thrives when yang eliminates yin, and life struggles when yin extinguishes yang. That's why life gets better when the powerful promote yang Dao, and civilizations die when yin Dao prevails.

Life is immature when yang doesn't defer to yin, and moral change doesn't come when sovereigns don't defer to ministers. That's why reforms are enlightened when sovereigns defer. They're blind and deaf when they don't.

Life teems and multiplies when the sun rises, and Dao De shines when good leaders are in charge. Life stops and rests when the sun sets, and everything runs and hides when tyrants rule.

Life stirs to the sound of thunder, and life blossoms in the patter of rain. The influence of a great leader is something like this. Yin and yang motivate us to take their rhythm, and great leaders keep us from losing the beat.

Everything gets nervous when thunder shakes the earth, and branches fall when the wind sways the trees. People behave because they're civilized and because great leaders help them let go of anger and be good. Most people don't like conflict and welcome the relief.

When the winds don't blow, fires don't rise, and great leaders are silent so there's nothing for troublemakers to criticize. When fires start, they need fuel, so when great leaders speak, they stick to the facts. What could go wrong when they're sincere and tell the truth?

Rivers swell with debris from the hills, mountaintops sink to the sea. Extra positive energy comes back as yin, and extra negative energy comes back as yang. That's why they don't make promises or exaggerate, and it's why they say it's a good idea not to express frustration or show anger. 忿

Water flows down when flames rise up, and the way of the wise helps us cooperate. Society is harmonious and balanced when the wise are a positive influence. Civilizations sink and drown in negativity.

Notes

My vocabulary notes are in the glossary.

Vocabulary

lǎo
老 125 + 0
old, aged; experienced; Kangxi radical 125
zi zǐ
子 39 + 0
offspring, child; fruit, seed of; first earthly branch
yuē
曰 73 + 0
say; Kangxi radical 73
鼓 207 + 0
drum; beat, top, strike; Kangxi radical 207
bù fǒu
一 1 + 3
no, not; un-; negative prefix
cáng zàng
艸 140 + 14
hide, conceal; hoard, store up
shēng
耳 128 + 11
sound, voice, noise; tone; music
攴 66 + 5
ancient, old; reason, because
néng tái
肉 130 + 6
to be able; can, permitted to; ability
yǒu yòu
月 74 + 2
have, own, possess; exist
jìng
金 167 + 11
mirror; lens; glass; glasses
méi
水 85 + 4
not, have not, none; to drown, sink
xíng
彡 59 + 4
form, shape, appearance
jīn jìn
金 167 + 0
gold; metals in general; money; Kangxi radical 167
shí dàn
石 112 + 0
stone, rock, mineral; Kangxi radical 112
dòng
力 19 + 9
move, happen; movement, action
míng
鳥 196 + 3
cry of bird or animal; make sound
guǎn
竹 118 + 8
pipe, tube, duct; woodwind music
xiāo xiǎo
竹 118 + 12
musical instrument like pan-pipes, bamboo flute
yīn
音 180 + 0
sound, tone, pitch, pronunciation; Kangxi radical 180
chuī chuì
口 30 + 4
blow; puff; brag, boast
wú mó
火 86 + 8
negative, no, not; lack, have no
shì tí
日 72 + 5
indeed, yes, right; to be; demonstrative pronoun, this, that
yǐ sì
人 9 + 3
by means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to
shèng
耳 128 + 7
holy, sacred; sage
rén
人 9 + 0
man; people; mankind; someone else
nèi
入 11 + 2
inside, interior; domestic
wèi
火 86 + 5
do, handle, govern, act; be
牛 93 + 4
thing, substance, creature
chàng
口 30 + 8
sing, chant, call; ditty, song
shì zì
亅 6 + 7
affair, matter, business; to serve; accident, incident
lái lài
人 9 + 6
come, coming; return, returning
ér néng
而 126 + 0
and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
zhì
刀 18 + 6
system; establish; overpower
zhì dié
至 133 + 0
reach, arrive; extremely, very; Kangxi radical 133
yīng yìng
心 61 + 13
should, ought to, must
tiān
大 37 + 1
sky, heaven; god, celestial
xíng háng
行 144 + 0
go; walk; move, travel; circulate; Kangxi radical 144
己 49 + 0
already; finished; stop
zhōng
糸 120 + 5
end; finally, in the end
彳 60 + 9
return; repeat; repeatedly; hexagram ䷗
shǐ
女 38 + 5
begin, start; then, only then
zhǎng cháng
長 168 + 0
long; length; excel in; leader; Kangxi radical 168
jiǔ
丿 4 + 2
long time (ago); time passage, grow late
lún
車 159 + 8
wheel; revolve, turn; recur
qí jī
八 12 + 6
his, her, its, their; that
suǒ
戶 63 + 4
place, location; numerary adjunct
zhuǎn zhuàn
車 159 + 11
shift, move, turn
zhì zhuì
至 133 + 3
send, deliver, present; cause
yuǎn yuàn
辵 162 + 10
distant, remote, far; profound
一 1 + 0
one; a, an; alone
chā chà
工 48 + 7
to differ; different, wrong; nearly, almost; an officer
guò guō
辵 162 + 9
pass, pass through, go across
yǐ xián
矢 111 + 2
particle of completed action
qì xì
气 84 + 6
air, gas, steam, vapor; spirit
xià
一 1 + 2
under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
dì de
土 32 + 3
earth; soil, ground; region
shàng shǎng
一 1 + 2
top; superior, highest; go up, send up
yīn yìn
阜 170 + 8
the passive, female principle in Chinese philosophy (yin); dark; secret
yáng
阜 170 + 9
the active, male principle in Chinese philosophy (yang); light; sun
jiāo
亠 8 + 4
mix; intersect; exchange, communicate; deliver
tōng
辵 162 + 7
pass through; common; communicate
wàn
禸 114 + 8
ten thousand; innumerable
qí jī
齊 210 + 0
even, uniform, of equal length; Kangxi radical 210
tóng tòng
口 30 + 3
same, similar; together with
jūn
口 30 + 4
sovereign, monarch, ruler, chief, prince
yòng
用 101 + 0
use, employ, apply, operate; use
xiǎo
小 42 + 0
small, tiny, insignificant
xiāo
水 85 + 7
vanish, die out; melt away
wáng wú
亠 8 + 1
death, destroyed; lose, perish
zhī zhū
丿 4 + 3
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
dào dǎo
辵 162 + 9
path, road, street; method, way
yě yí
乙 5 + 2
also; classical final particle of strong affirmation or identity
chāng chàng
日 72 + 4
light of sun; good, proper
dé děi
彳 60 + 8
obtain, get, gain, acquire
shì
力 19 + 11
power, force; tendency
二 7 + 2
five; surname
禾 115 + 10
corn, grain, cereal; lucky
zhí
木 75 + 8
plant, trees, plants; grow
彳 60 + 12
ethics, morality, virtue
sǔn
手 64 + 10
diminish; impair; injure; hexagram ䷨
yíng
皿 108 + 4
fill; full, overflowing; surplus
皿 108 + 5
profit, benefit; advantage; hexagram ䷩
guǎ
宀 40 + 11
widowed; alone, friendless
gāo gào
高 189 + 0
high, tall; lofty, elevated; Kangxi radical 189
guǐ
鬼 194 + 0
ghost; spirit of dead; devil; Kangxi radical 194; 23rd lunar mansion, determinative star θ Cancri
shén shēn
示 113 + 5
spirit, god, supernatural being
jiāo xiāo
馬 187 + 12
spirited horse; haughty
水 85 + 10
overflow, brim over; full
yǔ yú
臼 134 + 8
and; with; to; for; give, grant
duō
夕 36 + 3
much, many; more than, over
zhě
老 125 + 4
that which; he who; those who
bēi bǐ
十 24 + 6
humble, low, inferior; despise
mò mù
艸 140 + 7
do not, is not, can not; negative
míng mèng
日 72 + 4
bright, light, brilliant; clear
日 72 + 0
sun; day; daytime
hòu
彳 60 + 6
behind, rear, after; descendents
zhào
火 86 + 9
shine, illumine, reflect
囗 31 + 2
four
fāng fáng
方 70 + 0
a square, rectangle; a region; local
chén
臣 131 + 0
minister, statesman, official; Kangxi radical 131
土 32 + 8
district, region, boundary; land
zhōng zhòng
丨 2 + 3
central; center, middle; in the midst of; hit (target); attain
nǎi ǎi
丿 4 + 1
then; really, indeed; as it turned out, after all; namely
ān
宀 40 + 3
peaceful, tranquil, quiet
shī yì
方 70 + 5
grant, bestow; give; act; name
huà huā
匕 21 + 2
change, convert, reform; -ize
zhàng
一 1 + 2
unit of length equal 3.3 meters; gentleman, man, husband
玉 96 + 7
reason, logic; manage
hé hè
口 30 + 5
harmony, peace; peaceful, calm
shí
日 72 + 6
time, season; era, age, period
使
shǐ
人 9 + 6
cause, send on a mission, order; envoy, messenger, ambassador
chéng
戈 62 + 2
completed, finished, fixed
mìng
口 30 + 5
life; destiny, fate, luck; an order, instruction
dà dài
大 37 + 0
big, great, vast, large, high
tǎn
土 32 + 5
flat, smooth; self-possessed
qù qū
厶 28 + 3
go away, leave, depart
shēn juān
身 158 + 0
body; trunk, hull; Kangxi radical 158
xiū yǒu
肉 130 + 7
dried meat (used as teachers payment in ancient times)
yú wū
方 70 + 4
in, at, on; interjection alas!
zhēn
目 109 + 5
real, actual, true, genuine
jué
糸 120 + 6
cut, sever, break off, terminate
襾 146 + 12
cover; tip over; return; reply
yǎng yàng
食 184 + 6
raise, rear, bring up; support
qǔ qū
又 29 + 6
take, receive, obtain; select
jīng qíng
米 119 + 8
essence; semen; spirit
guī kuì
止 77 + 14
return; return to, revert to
yān yí
火 86 + 7
thereupon, then; how? why? where?
zé shì
水 85 + 13
marsh, swamp; grace, brilliance; damp, moist; fertile
水 85 + 5
law, rule, regulation, statute; France, French
zūn
寸 41 + 9
respect, revere, venerate; honor
攴 66 + 7
express, state, relate, narrate
dìng
宀 40 + 5
decide, settle, fix
zài zǎi
車 159 + 6
load; carry; transport, convey
gǔ gú
骨 188 + 0
bone; skeleton; frame, framework; Kangxi radical 188
hái gāi
骨 188 + 6
skeleton, body; leg bone
shī yì
大 37 + 2
lose; make mistake, neglect
chéng zhěng
手 64 + 4
inherit, receive; succeed
níng nìng
宀 40 + 11
repose, serenity, peace; peaceful
guǎng guàng
广 53 + 12
broad, wide, extensive
hòu
厂 27 + 7
thick; substantial; greatly
耳 128 + 8
assemble, meet together, collect
róng yǒng
宀 40 + 7
looks, appearance; figure, form
shēn
水 85 + 8
deep; depth; far; very, extreme
shuǐ
水 85 + 0
water, liquid, lotion, juice
quán
水 85 + 5
spring, fountain; wealth, money
入 11 + 0
enter, come in(to), join
nán nàn
隹 172 + 11
difficult, arduous, hard; unable
fú fù
月 74 + 4
clothes; wear, dress
zhàn chén
水 85 + 9
deep; profound; clear; tranquil, placid
shàn dàn
貝 154 + 13
support, aid; to be sufficient; rich, elegant
lè yuè
木 75 + 11
happy, glad; enjoyable; music
zhì chí
水 85 + 5
govern, regulate, administer
hài hé
宀 40 + 7
injure, harm; destroy, kill
自 132 + 0
self, private, personal; from; Kangxi radical 132
qū jué
尸 44 + 5
bend, flex; bent, crooked; crouch
jìn
辵 162 + 8
advance, make progress, enter
退
tuì
辵 162 + 6
step back, retreat, withdraw
辵 162 + 13
avoid; turn aside; escape; hide
rán
火 86 + 8
yes, certainly; pledge, promise
huǎn
糸 120 + 9
slow, leisurely; to postpone, delay
shùn
頁 181 + 3
obey, submit to, go along with
fū fú
大 37 + 1
man, male adult, husband; those
亠 8 + 4
also, too; likewise
辵 162 + 6
disobey, rebel; rebel, traitor
qíng
心 61 + 8
feeling, sentiment, emotion
xìng
心 61 + 5
nature, character, sex
洿
wū hù
水 85 + 6
stagnant water; impure, filthy
jié jiē
竹 118 + 7
knot, node, joint; section; hexagram ䷻
kū gū
木 75 + 5
dried out, withered, decayed
yǔ yù
雨 173 + 0
rain; rainy; Kangxi radical 173
huāng huǎng
艸 140 + 6
wasteland, desert; uncultivated
zhǔ zhù
丶 3 + 4
master, chief owner; host; lord
mǔ mú
毋 80 + 1
mother; female elders; female
chù xù
田 102 + 5
livestock, domestic animals
禾 115 + 11
accumulate, store up, amass
wèi
木 75 + 1
not yet; eighth earthly branch
shèn zhèn
心 61 + 10
act with care, be cautious
miè
水 85 + 10
extinguish; wipe out, exterminate
féi bǐ
肉 130 + 4
fat, plump, obese; fertile
shuāi suō
衣 145 + 4
decline, falter, decrease; weaken
wáng wàng
玉 96 + -1
king, ruler; royal; surname
gōng
八 12 + 2
fair, equitable; public; duke
shàng cháng
小 42 + 5
still, yet; even; fairly, rather
刀 18 + 7
rule, law, regulation; grades
cōng
耳 128 + 11
intelligent, clever, bright
àn ǎn
門 169 + 9
close, shut; dark, dismal
lóng
耳 128 + 16
deaf
chū
凵 17 + 3
go out, send out; stand; produce
fān fán
艸 140 + 12
foreign things
心 61 + 6
rest, put stop to, end, cease
jū jī
尸 44 + 5
live, dwell, reside, sit
mín
氏 83 + 1
people, subjects, citizens
xiū xù
人 9 + 4
rest, stop; retire; do not!
táo
辵 162 + 6
escape, flee; abscond, dodge
nì tè
匸 23 + 9
hide; go into hiding
léi lèi
雨 173 + 5
thunder
攴 66 + 7
open; begin
rùn
水 85 + 12
soft, moist; sleek; freshen
jiě jiè
角 148 + 6
loosen, unfasten, untie; explain; hexagram ䷧
shì sì
人 9 + 5
resemble, similar to; as if, seem
止 77 + 2
this, these; in this case, then
cháng
巾 50 + 8
common, normal, frequent, regular
jí jǐ
木 75 + 9
extreme, utmost, furthest, final
fēng fèng
風 182 + 0
wind; air; manners, atmosphere; Kangxi radical 182
yáo
手 64 + 10
wag, swing, wave; shake; scull
shù
木 75 + 12
tree; plant; set up, establish
cǎo zào
艸 140 + 6
grass, straw, thatch, herbs
木 75 + 0
tree; wood, lumber; wooden
bài
攴 66 + 7
be defeated, decline, fail
è wù
心 61 + 8
evil, wicked, bad, foul
jiù
尢 43 + 9
just, simply; to come, go to; to approach, near
shàn
口 30 + 9
good, virtuous, charitable, kind
xǐ sī
彳 60 + 8
move one's abode, shift, migrate
yóu
尢 43 + 1
especially, particularly
shén shèn
甘 99 + 4
great extent; considerably
shǎo shào
小 42 + 1
few, less, inadequate
心 61 + 9
more and more, even more
huǒ huō
火 86 + 0
fire, flame; burn; anger, rage
yán yàn
言 149 + 0
words, speech; speak, say; Kangxi radical 149
shù
辵 162 + 5
narrate, state, express
心 61 + 1
surely, most certainly; must
dài dāi
彳 60 + 6
treat, entertain, receive; wait
xīn
艸 140 + 13
fuel, firewood; salary
xìn shēn
人 9 + 7
trust, believe; letter
hé hè
人 9 + 5
what, why, where, which, how
wǎng wàng
彳 60 + 5
go, depart; past, formerly
水 85 + 5
river; stream; the Yellow River
rǎng
土 32 + 17
soil, loam, earth; rich
zài
土 32 + 3
be at, in, on; consist in, rest
shān
山 46 + 0
mountain, hill, peak
qiū
一 1 + 4
hill; elder; empty; a name
líng
阜 170 + 8
hill, mound; mausoleum
yuān
水 85 + 8
gulf, abyss, deep
shèng chéng
皿 108 + 6
abundant, flourishing; contain; fill
biàn
言 149 + 16
change, transform, alter; rebel
欠 76 + 7
desire, want, long for; intend
kě gē
口 30 + 2
may, can, -able; possibly
忿
fèn
心 61 + 4
get angry; fury, exasperation
心 61 + 5
anger, rage, passion; angry
zuò zuō
人 9 + 5
make; work; compose, write; act, perform
sè shǎi
色 139 + 0
color, tint, hue, shade; form, body; beauty, desire for beauty; Kangxi radical 139
wèi
言 149 + 9
say, tell; call, name; be called
言 149 + 2
plan, plot; stratagem; scheme
yán yàn
火 86 + 4
flame, blaze; hot
liú
水 85 + 6
flow, circulate, drift; class
lèi
頁 181 + 10
class, group, kind, category
xiāng xiàng
目 109 + 4
mutual, reciprocal, each other
qiú
水 85 + 2
seek; demand, request; beseech
人 9 + 9
sob
nì ruò
水 85 + 10
drown; submerge in water; indulge
chén
水 85 + 4
sink, submerge; addicted to