遍用 · 至柔驰骋至坚

Biàn Yòng

Classical Chinese Text

天下之至柔，驰骋天下之至坚。无有入无间，吾是以知无为之有益。不言之教，无为之益，天下希及之。

Translation & Meaning

天下最柔顺的东西，反而能自由穿行并驾驭天下最坚硬的东西。无形无质的力量能够渗入毫无缝隙的坚体之中，我因此深知顺应自然无为的巨大益处。 不靠繁言说教的潜移默化，不靠强力妄作的自然助益，普天之下很少有人能真正企及这一境界。

Commentary

青禾散人评注：水滴石穿，清风透隙；越是无形无执，越能穿透一切刚硬壁垒。“不言之教，无为之益”胜过一切声嘶力竭的控制。

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 至 (zhì): classical character (zhì)
  • 柔 (róu): classical character (róu)
  • 驰 (chí): classical character (chí)
  • 骋 (chěng): classical character (chěng)
  • 坚 (jiān): classical character (jiān)
  • 无 (wú): formless void / non-being / without
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 入 (rù): classical character (rù)
  • 间 (jiān): classical character (jiān)
  • 吾 (wú): I / myself
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 益 (yì): classical character (yì)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 言 (yán): words / speech
  • 教 (jiào): teaching / guidance
  • 希 (xī): classical character (xī)
  • 及 (jí): classical character (jí)