Tao Te Ching · 27 of 81 · tr. James Legge

Chapter 27

The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will be impossible; the skilful binder uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound will be impossible. In the same way the sage is always skilful at saving men, and so he does not cast away any man; he is always skilful at saving things, and so he does not cast away anything. This is called 'Hiding the light of his procedure.' Therefore the man of skill is a master (to be looked up to) by him who has not the skill; and he who has not the skill is the helper of (the reputation of) him who has the skill. If the one did not honour his master, and the other did not rejoice in his helper, an (observer), though intelligent, might greatly err about them. This is called 'The utmost degree of mystery.'

Themes

◆Inner Silencepraxis

The practice of stilling the mind and speech to open receptivity to divine knowledge or presence.

The description of the skilful speaker who says nothing aligns with the practice of stilling speech.

All passages →

◇Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

[auto] The sage's procedure is described as hidden light, aligning with the concept of the divine or supreme way being concealed from ordinary perception.

All passages →

◇Hidden Sayingssoteriology

Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.

[auto] The text explicitly names the concept of 'Hiding the light' and refers to the wisdom as 'The utmost degree of mystery,' indicating esoteric knowledge.

All passages →

◇Love Of Neighbourethics

Active compassionate care for others as a central spiritual obligation or expression of divine love.

[auto] The sage is described as saving all men and things without casting any away, reflecting a universal compassionate care.

All passages →

◇Opposites Transcendedanthropology

The dissolution of binary oppositions (male/female, inner/outer, above/below) as a mark of spiritual completion.

[auto] The reciprocal relationship where the skilled and unskilled serve each other dissolves the binary opposition between master and helper.

All passages →

◇Paradox As Teachingethics

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

[auto] The passage relies heavily on paradoxical imagery, such as binding without strings or closing without bolts, to illustrate the sage's skill.

All passages →

◇Wu Weipraxis

Effortless action aligned with the spontaneous flow of the Dao; non-coercive, non-striving conduct that yields results without forcing — the sage acts without acting.

[auto] The passage describes the sage's skillful action that leaves no traces and uses no tools, embodying effortless action aligned with the Dao.

All passages →