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Tao Te Ching · 42 of 81 · tr. James Legge

Chapter 42

The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things. All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are harmonised by the Breath of Vacancy. What men dislike is to be orphans, to have little virtue, to be as carriages without naves; and yet these are the designations which kings and princes use for themselves. So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased. What other men (thus) teach, I also teach. The violent and strong do not die their natural death. I will make this the basis of my teaching.
Themes
◆Monadcosmology

The absolutely simple, undivided first principle from which all multiplicity and existence flows.

The 'One' is presented as a distinct principle produced by the Tao from which further multiplicity flows.

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◆Sunyata Emptinesssoteriology

The Buddhist doctrine that all phenomena lack independent self-nature; emptiness as the positive recognition that things arise only in dependence on conditions — distinct from kenoma's mere deficiency.

The 'Breath of Vacancy' is described as the harmonizing force behind all things, reflecting emptiness as a generative principle.

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◆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.

The warning that the violent and strong do not die their natural death advocates for non-coercive action aligned with the Tao.

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◇Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

[auto] It contrasts Obscurity and Brightness as complementary forces that all things navigate during their emergence.

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◇Emanation Hierarchycosmology

A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.

[auto] It describes a chain of production flowing from the Tao through One, Two, and Three to All things.

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◇Numerical Mysticismtheology

Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality.

[auto] The passage explicitly outlines a cosmogonic sequence using the numbers One, Two, and Three to generate All things.

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◇Opposites Transcendedanthropology

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

[auto] The passage states that opposing forces like Obscurity and Brightness are harmonised by the Breath of Vacancy.

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◇Paradox As Teachingethics

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

[auto] It teaches that things are increased by being diminished and that the violent do not die their natural death, utilizing reversal for insight.

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◇Unity Of Beingtheology

The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim.

[auto] The text posits that all things originate from a single source (the Tao/One), implying an underlying unity of existence.

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Related passages · 4 parallels
◆hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 2: The Serapeum|Section 1d
“Not only, then, is God not understood by all, but both unto the gods and some of the men they out of ignorance do give the name of Good, though they can never either be or become Good. For they are very different from God, while Good can n…”
Both passages discuss the origin and nature of all things, emphasizing a singular source (Tao in Passage A, God in Passage B) from which everything emanates. They also touch on the themes of creation and the ultimate nature of reality, though from different cultural and religious contexts.
◆hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 10: The Sermon on the Mount|Section 1b
“For It doth will to be, and It is both Itself and most of all by reason of Itself. Indeed, all other things beside are just bacause of It; for the distinctive feature of the Good is "that it should be known". Such is the Good, O Tat. Tat…”
Both passages discuss the origin and nature of all things, emphasizing a fundamental principle (Tao in Passage A, the Good in Passage B) that underlies and unifies existence. They also touch on the idea of transformation and the ultimate goal of spiritual realization.
◆hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 12: The Prayer|Section 1b
“But for the moment, [Tat,] let be the teaching as to vice and Fate, for we have spoken of these things in other [of our sermons]; but now our teaching (logos) is about the Mind: - what Mind can do, and how it is [so] different - in men bein…”
Both passages discuss the fundamental principles of the universe and the role of a higher power or force (Tao/Mind) in governing existence. They also explore the interplay between opposing forces (Brightness/Obscurity, vice/Fate) and the nature of human suffering and virtue.
◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 211 (part 1)
“Section 5 5. There is, then a Providence, which permeates the Kosmos from first to last, not everywhere equal, as in a numerical distribution, but proportioned, differing, according to the grades of place- just as in some one animal, linke…”
Both passages discuss the nature of existence and the role of a higher principle or force (Tao in Passage A and the Reason-Principle in Passage B) in the creation and governance of all things. They also explore the idea of duality and the interplay between different aspects of reality.