微明 · 柔弱胜刚强

Wēi Míng

Classical Chinese Text

将欲歙之，必固张之；将欲弱之，必固强之；将欲废之，必固兴之；将欲取之，必固与之。是谓微明，柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。

Translation & Meaning

事物将要收敛之前，往往先有一度扩张；将要衰弱之前，往往先有一度强盛；将要废弃之前，往往先有一度兴起；将要被夺取之前，往往先有所予取膨胀。洞悉这种物极必反的细微先兆，就叫做“微明”。 柔韧谦下终究胜过刚烈强横。正如鱼儿绝不可脱离深渊一样，安邦立身的核心重器也绝不可轻易向外炫耀示人。

Commentary

青禾散人评注：“微明”并非阴谋权术，而是对盛极必衰、张极必敛客观周期律的深邃洞察。守住深渊底牌、不轻露锋芒，方是立于不败之本。

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 将 (jiāng): classical character (jiāng)
  • 欲 (yù): intent / desire / craving
  • 歙 (xī): classical character (xī)
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 必 (bì): classical character (bì)
  • 固 (gù): classical character (gù)
  • 张 (zhāng): classical character (zhāng)
  • 弱 (ruò): weaken / soften / yield
  • 强 (qiáng): strengthen / firm / robust
  • 废 (fèi): classical character (fèi)
  • 兴 (xīng): classical character (xīng)
  • 取 (qǔ): classical character (qǔ)
  • 与 (yǔ): classical character (yǔ)
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 微 (wēi): classical character (wēi)
  • 明 (míng): classical character (míng)
  • 柔 (róu): classical character (róu)
  • 胜 (shèng): classical character (shèng)
  • 刚 (gāng): classical character (gāng)
  • 鱼 (yú): classical character (yú)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 可 (kě): can / capable of being
  • 脱 (tuō): classical character (tuō)
  • 于 (yú): to / at / in
  • 渊 (yuān): deepness / abyss / depth
  • 国 (guó): classical character (guó)
  • 利 (lì): benefits / nourishes
  • 器 (qì): classical character (qì)
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 示 (shì): classical character (shì)
  • 人 (rén): person / human