Cobie Posted 3 hours ago 7 minutes ago, ChiDragon said: What stops the Scholars from doing so? It is a corruption of the original script. 7 minutes ago, ChiDragon said: It is the logic that dictates the encouragement to make sense out of it. You can use punctuation in the English translation, or add a commentary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted 3 hours ago 4 minutes ago, ChiDragon said: Why are you looking at an incomplete copy of it? The MWD is complete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChiDragon Posted 3 hours ago 4 minutes ago, Cobie said: The MWD is complete May I see the MWD version? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted 3 hours ago (edited) The original is in vertical lines without breaks. MWD ch. 1 道 可 道 也 非 恆 道 也 名 可 名 也 非 恆 名 也 无 名 萬 物 之 始 也 有 名 萬 物 之 母 也 故 恆 无 欲 也 以 觀 其 眇 恆 有 欲 也 以 觀 其 所 噭 兩 者 同 出 異 名 同 胃 玄 之 有 玄 眾 眇 之 門 Edited 3 hours ago by Cobie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apech Posted 2 hours ago What does ‘grok its quale’ mean? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted 1 hour ago (edited) On 25/12/2025 at 1:30 AM, ChiDragon said: 3. 無,名天地之始。 4. 有,名萬物之母。 3. Invisible, was a name given to Tao at the origin of sky and earth. 4. Visible, was a name given to Tao as the mother of all things. 無 (wu2) and 有 (you3) did not have the meanings “invisible” and “visible”. Edited 1 hour ago by Cobie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted 1 hour ago (edited) Trying to find places in the DDJ with descriptions of Dao. Ch. 25: start of ch. 25 by Henricks (G) 又状虫成, 先天地生, 敚[糸禾], 独立而不亥, 可以为天下母。 未智(知)其名, 字之曰道。 There is a form that developed from primordial chaos That was born before heaven and earth. Silent and still, it stands on its own and does not change. … It can be regarded as the mother of all under heaven. Not yet knowing its name, We refer to it as the Dao. start of ch. 25 by Henricks (MWD) 1. There was something formed out of chaos, 2. That was born before Heaven and Earth. 3. Quiet and Still! Pure and deep! 4. It stands on its own and does not change. 5. It can be regarded as the mother of Heaven and Earth. 6. I do not yet know its name: 7. I "style" it "the Way." Edited 51 minutes ago by Cobie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted 1 hour ago (edited) start of ch. 25 by CD 1. 有物混成 2. 先天地生 3. 寂兮寥兮 4. 獨立而不改 5. 周行而不殆 6. 可以為天地母 7. 吾不知其名 8. 強字之曰"道" 1. There was a thing formed by chaos; 2. Before heaven and earth were born; 3. Soundless and formless; 4. Independent and stable;5. Continuously cycling but never exhausted; 6. It may be the mother of heaven and earth. 7. I don't know its name. 8. I'm reluctant to call it "Tao". Edited 52 minutes ago by Cobie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lairg Posted 1 hour ago 1 minute ago, Cobie said: There was a thing formed by chaos; I am not sure that chaos is the right word. How does chaos form a non-chaotic thing. A thing must be low-chaotic to have a form Perhaps humans do not perceive easily what Is before Existence occurs 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted 1 hour ago (edited) 4 minutes ago, Lairg said: … humans do not perceive easily what Is before Existence occurs Yes I agree. Nobody can know; it’s 自然 (zi4 ran2) unknowable Edited 1 hour ago by Cobie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobie Posted 49 minutes ago (edited) 3. Invisible, was a name given to Tao … 4. Visible, was a name given to Tao … Does it say that anywhere else in the DDJ? Edited 47 minutes ago by Cobie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChiDragon Posted 39 minutes ago Just now, Cobie said: 无 名 萬 物之 始 也1 Even though 天地 did not use here. The logic still holds with 萬 物. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChiDragon Posted 35 minutes ago (edited) Just now, Cobie said: 3. Invisible, was a name given to Tao … 4. Visible, was a name given to Tao … Does it say that anywhere else in the DDJ? 無 (wu2) and 有 (you3) did not have the meanings “invisible” and “visible”. 旡: None, nothing, zero, the image is "invisible". 有: something that exists that is "visible". Edited 32 minutes ago by ChiDragon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChiDragon Posted 24 minutes ago Just now, Apech said: What does ‘grok its quale’ mean? Observe Tao's invisible characteristic by one's intuition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites