ChineseStudy

39. Attaining the One

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English translation

Of old, those that attained the One were these: heaven attained the One and became clear; earth attained the One and became settled; spirits attained the One and became potent; valleys attained the One and became full; the myriad things attained the One and came to life; lords and rulers attained the One and became a standard for the realm.

“The One” is the underlying unity by which each thing retains wholeness and order. By sharing in it, different beings fulfill their nature and hold a stable place within the whole.

Carried to the consequences of losing this ground: if heaven had no means to remain clear, it might split; if earth had no means to remain settled, it might erupt; if spirits had no means to remain potent, they might fade; if valleys had no means to remain full, they might run dry; if the myriad things had no means to live, they might perish; if lords and rulers relied only on exalted rank, they might fall.

The previous lines show positively how the One sustains things; these lines show that without a common ground, they come apart. Even the highest position cannot stand apart from what supports the whole.

Therefore, the honored takes the humble as its root, and the high takes the low as its foundation.

Prominent positions exist only through ordinary, supporting parts. Recognizing this dependence keeps those above from imagining themselves isolated and self-sufficient.

For this reason, lords and rulers call themselves “the solitary,” “the lacking,” and “the unworthy.”

By adopting humble titles, people in honored positions remind themselves that the high is founded on the low and that authority cannot exist independently of others.

Is this not taking the humble as the root?

The question points back to the rulers’ humble titles: placing themselves low acknowledges the foundation on which their honored status depends.

Is it not so?

This follow-up question reinforces the claim and asks the reader to face the dependence of the high upon the low, and of the honored upon the humble.

Therefore, piling up one distinction after another results in no true honor.

Breaking status into many boastworthy titles makes a person dependent on outside approval. Lasting worth does not need to prove itself by accumulating praise.

Do not seek to gleam with the distinction of jade, or to stand hard and separate like a stone.

The line rejects both conspicuous prestige and hardened isolation. Its emphasis remains on letting go of exceptional status and staying connected to the common ground.

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