Monday, 29 July 2024

lnhammer: the Chinese character for poetry, red on white background (Default)
[Despite appearances, I’m not actually doing this. I’M NOT, OKAY? Okay. Good. Fine.]

Heaven and earth is not benevolent,
For the ten-thousand things are as straw dogs [to it];
A sage is not benevolent,
For the hundreds of families are as straw dogs [to him].
The space between heaven and earth,
Might it be like a bellows?
Empty it, and it’s not exhausted[5-1],
Expand it, and it sends out more.
Much talk [leads to] more exhaustion:
Don’t go [there]—guard your inner self.

[5-1] Other texts have “turbulent”

天地不仁,
以万物为刍狗;
圣人不仁,
以百姓为刍狗。
天地之间,
其犹橐龠乎?
虚而不屈,
动而愈出。
多言数穷,
不如守中。

Time for some Chinese terminology, not specific to Daoism: “heaven and earth” generally means the world/universe, the “ten-thousand things” are everything that lives (which could be rendered the myriad creatures), and the “hundreds of families” means the common people. I leave the latter two literal to bring out the parallel numbers.

“Straw dogs” are replica animals used in sacrifices in place of real ones, so something of low worth. Does that make the universe (and sage) indifferent or impartial? You decide.

BTW, obligatory disclaimer: I’m not consulting any English translations while working on this, only Chinese commentaries. Frankly, I don’t dare.

---L.

About

Warning: contents contain line-breaks.

As language practice, I like to translate poetry. My current project is Chinese, with practice focused on Tang Dynasty poetry. Previously this was classical Japanese, most recently working through the Kokinshu anthology (archived here). Suggestions, corrections, and questions always welcome.

There's also original pomes in the journal archives.

April 2025

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