A big country is the downstream, (it is) all that is under heaven’s fe

謙德 · Qiān Dé

Classical Chinese Text

大邦者下流，天下之牝，天下之交也。牝常以静胜牡，以静为下。故大邦以下小邦，则取小邦；小邦以下大邦，则取大邦。故或下以取，或下而取。大邦不过欲兼畜人，小邦不过欲入事人。夫两者各得所欲，大者宜为下。

Translation & Meaning

A big country is the downstream, (it is) all that is under heaven’s feminine, (it is) all that is under heaven’s convergence. The feminine with its tranquility often defeats the masculine, considering tranquility as the lowness. So a big country applies lowness (in affairs) with a small country, it can lead the small country; when a small country applies lowness (in affairs) with a big country, it can influence the big country. So either (applying) lowness to lead, or (applying) lowness to influence. The big country desires nothing more than annexing and leading others, the small country desires nothing more than following and serving others. For both to have what they desire, the big one better be lower.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 邦 (bāng): classical character (bāng)
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 流 (liú): classical character (liú)
  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 牝 (pìn): classical character (pìn)
  • 交 (jiāo): classical character (jiāo)
  • 也 (yě): [modal particle of assertion]
  • 常 (cháng): constant / dynamic invariable
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 静 (jìng): classical character (jìng)
  • 胜 (shèng): classical character (shèng)
  • 牡 (mǔ): classical character (mǔ)
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 小 (xiǎo): classical character (xiǎo)
  • 则 (zé): classical character (zé)
  • 取 (qǔ): classical character (qǔ)
  • 或 (huò): tangible / perhaps / presence
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 过 (guò): classical character (guò)
  • 欲 (yù): intent / desire / craving
  • 兼 (jiān): classical character (jiān)
  • 畜 (chù): classical character (chù)
  • 人 (rén): person / human
  • 入 (rù): classical character (rù)
  • 事 (shì): affairs / deeds
  • 夫 (fū): for / indeed / now
  • 两 (liǎng): two / duality / polarity
  • 各 (gè): classical character (gè)
  • 得 (dé): obtain / acquire / gain
  • 所 (suǒ): place / frontier / that which
  • 宜 (yí): classical character (yí)