Scarce in speaking (is the way of) nature. Gusting wind doesn't last o
虛無 · Xū Wú
Classical Chinese Text
希言自然。故飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日，孰为此者？天地。天地尚不能久，而况于人乎？ 故从事于道者同于道；德者同于德；失者同于失。同于道者，道亦乐得之；同于德者，德亦乐得之；同于失者，失亦乐得之。信不足焉，有不信焉！
Translation & Meaning
Scarce in speaking (is the way of) nature. Gusting wind doesn't last over a morning, pouring rain doesn't last over a day, who makes it so? Heaven and Earth. Heaven and Earth couldn’t even (make it) long, let alone humans.
Linguistic & Character Analysis
- 希 (xī): classical character (xī)
- 言 (yán): words / speech
- 自 (zì): classical character (zì)
- 然 (rán): classical character (rán)
- 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
- 飘 (piāo): classical character (piāo)
- 风 (fēng): classical character (fēng)
- 不 (bù): not / un- / without
- 终 (zhōng): classical character (zhōng)
- 朝 (cháo): classical character (cháo)
- 骤 (zhòu): classical character (zhòu)
- 雨 (yǔ): classical character (yǔ)
- 日 (rì): classical character (rì)
- 孰 (shú): classical character (shú)
- 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
- 此 (cǐ): classical character (cǐ)
- 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
- 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
- 地 (dì): classical character (dì)
- 尚 (shàng): classical character (shàng)
- 能 (néng): fruitful / capacity / ability
- 久 (jiǔ): classical character (jiǔ)
- 而 (ér): yet / and / but
- 况 (kuàng): classical character (kuàng)
- 于 (yú): to / at / in
- 人 (rén): person / human
- 乎 (hū): classical character (hū)
- 从 (cóng): classical character (cóng)
- 事 (shì): affairs / deeds
- 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
- 同 (tóng): identical / unified / same source
- 德 (dé): Intrinsic Virtue / inner power
- 失 (shī): classical character (shī)
- 亦 (yì): classical character (yì)
- 乐 (lè): classical character (lè)
- 得 (dé): obtain / acquire / gain
- 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
- 信 (xìn): truth / fidelity / honesty
- 足 (zú): classical character (zú)
- 焉 (yān): classical character (yān)
- 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess