Having virtures of thick, is like a new-born infant. Poisonous insects

玄符 · Xuán Fú

Classical Chinese Text

含德之厚，比于赤子。毒虫不螫，猛兽不据,攫鸟不搏。骨弱筋柔而握固。未知牝牡之合而朘作，精之至也。终日号而不嗄，和之至也。
知和曰"常"，知常曰"明"，益生曰祥，心使气曰强。物壮则老，谓之不道，不道早已。

Translation & Meaning

Having virtures of thick, is like a new-born infant. Poisonous insects do not sting (him), beasts don't hurt (him), raptors don't attack (him). Bone is weak (and) muscle is soft yet the grips firm, not knowing about intercourse yet erect, (because of) the essence at (its) maximum. All-day crying without being hoarse, (because of) the harmony at (its) maxium.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 含 (hán): classical character (hán)
  • 德 (dé): Intrinsic Virtue / inner power
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 厚 (hòu): classical character (hòu)
  • 比 (bǐ): classical character (bǐ)
  • 于 (yú): to / at / in
  • 赤 (chì): classical character (chì)
  • 子 (zǐ): child / progeny
  • 毒 (dú): classical character (dú)
  • 虫 (chóng): classical character (chóng)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 螫 (shì): classical character (shì)
  • 猛 (měng): classical character (měng)
  • 兽 (shòu): classical character (shòu)
  • 据 (jù): classical character (jù)
  • 攫 (jué): classical character (jué)
  • 鸟 (niǎo): classical character (niǎo)
  • 搏 (bó): classical character (bó)
  • 骨 (gǔ): bones / structural vitality
  • 弱 (ruò): weaken / soften / yield
  • 筋 (jīn): classical character (jīn)
  • 柔 (róu): classical character (róu)
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 握 (wò): classical character (wò)
  • 固 (gù): classical character (gù)
  • 未 (wèi): classical character (wèi)
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 牝 (pìn): classical character (pìn)
  • 牡 (mǔ): classical character (mǔ)
  • 合 (hé): classical character (hé)
  • 朘 (juān): classical character (juān)
  • 作 (zuò): move / arise / operate
  • 精 (jīng): classical character (jīng)
  • 至 (zhì): classical character (zhì)
  • 也 (yě): [modal particle of assertion]
  • 终 (zhōng): classical character (zhōng)
  • 日 (rì): classical character (rì)
  • 号 (hào): classical character (hào)
  • 嗄 (á): classical character (á)
  • 和 (hé): accord / harmonize
  • 曰 (yuē): classical character (yuē)
  • 常 (cháng): constant / dynamic invariable
  • 明 (míng): classical character (míng)
  • 益 (yì): classical character (yì)
  • 生 (shēng): give birth to / arise
  • 祥 (xiáng): classical character (xiáng)
  • 心 (xīn): heart-mind / awareness
  • 使 (shǐ): cause / make / command
  • 气 (qì): classical character (qì)
  • 强 (qiáng): strengthen / firm / robust
  • 物 (wù): things / phenomena / forms
  • 壮 (zhuàng): classical character (zhuàng)
  • 则 (zé): classical character (zé)
  • 老 (lǎo): classical character (lǎo)
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 早 (zǎo): classical character (zǎo)
  • 已 (yǐ): arises / already / cessation