1) The document discusses opposing concepts in Taoism such as beauty and ugliness, virtue and vice, being and nothingness. It explains that in Taoism, opposing concepts arise together and depend on one another for their meaning. 2) A key Taoist concept discussed is Wu Wei, which refers to action through inaction, or acting without acting forcibly. The document says sages practice Wu Wei by following the natural way of the Tao and leaving no traces of their deeds. 3) By not taking credit or relying on their accomplishments, sages are able to achieve long-lasting success through Wu Wei, according to the principles of the Tao.

1. EASY PASSTO DAO

2. 天 下 皆 知 美 之 为 美， 斯 恶 矣。
Heaven,
Sky
Under All Know Beauty ‘s Is, as Beauty, Is Ugly,
bad,
evil
Empty
word.
皆 知 善 之 为 善， 斯 不 善 矣。
All Know Virtue ‘s Is, as Virtue, Is Not Virtue Empty
word.
Usually there are two ways to understand this:
• One is when people are all chasing for good things like beauty and virtue, it actually creates ugly and
evilness.
• The other stand of view is slightly different that when notion of beauty and virtue are created, the
opposites notion like ugly and evilness are created at same time.Thus to say, the notion won’t be
existing singly.

3. 故 有 无 相 生， 难 易 相 成，
Thus You Wu Mutual Birth, Hard Easy Mutual Produce,
长 短 相 较， 高 下 相 倾， 音
Long Short Mutual Compare, High Low Mutual Lean, rely Sound
声 相 和， 前 后 相 随。
Voice Mutual Harmony, Front Behind Mutual Follow.
• From here, the second explanation of first line makes more sense. Because then Laozi provide several
examples of opposite notions likeYou(being of forms) and Wu(nothing, empty), hard and easy, long and
short, high and low, voice and sound, front and behind- their existing is just because of the opposite.
And here Laozi is emphasizing on the mutual changes among the opposites.

4. 是 以 圣 人 处 无 为 之 事，
Thus As Sage Stay No Action ‘s Thing,
行 不 言 之 教； 万 物 作 焉
Behave No Words ‘s Education; Everything Do Empty
word
而 不 辞， 生 而 不 有。
While Not Quit, Give birth
to
While Not Own.
• The next two lines put forwarded Laozi’s core idea- WuWei.Wu Wei is the actions sages take after they
realizing and experience the Dao. In Laozi’s idea, WuWei means one get the Dao. So actions ofWu Wei
shows one do things following the Dao. Why WuWei follows rules of Dao? Nature is the selfless mom
that giving resources to human beings without asking for return.

5. 为 而 不 恃， 功 成 而 弗 居。
Do, act While Not Rely,
own
Feats Achieved While Not Occupied
夫 唯 弗 居， 是 以 不 去。
Empty
word
Only Not Occupie
d,
Is As Not Fade, ask
for return.
• Because sages are Wu Wei, they won’t be failure.