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Tao Te Ching · 55 of 81 · tr. James Legge

Chapter 55

He who has in himself abundantly the attributes (of the Tao) is like an infant. Poisonous insects will not sting him; fierce beasts will not seize him; birds of prey will not strike him. (The infant's) bones are weak and its sinews soft, but yet its grasp is firm. It knows not yet the union of male and female, and yet its virile member may be excited;--showing the perfection of its physical essence. All day long it will cry without its throat becoming hoarse;--showing the harmony (in its constitution). To him by whom this harmony is known, (The secret of) the unchanging (Tao) is shown, And in the knowledge wisdom finds its throne. All life-increasing arts to evil turn; Where the mind makes the vital breath to burn, (False) is the strength, (and o'er it we should mourn.) When things have become strong, they (then) become old, which may be said to be contrary to the Tao. Whatever is contrary to the Tao soon ends.
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Themes
Childlike Innocenceanthropology

The infant or child as symbol of the unfallen, undivided spiritual state; return to primordial simplicity.

[auto] The passage explicitly uses the infant as the central metaphor for one who possesses the attributes of the Tao and embodies primordial simplicity.

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Forbidden Knowledgesoteriology

Transgressive knowing acquired against divine prohibition — the Watchers' teaching of metallurgy, sorcery, and cosmetics in 1 Enoch, the Gnostic Eve narratives, the Promethean mytheme; explicitly contrasted with gnosis_direct_knowledge, which is salvific.

Artificial life-increasing arts are condemned as turning to evil, suggesting a prohibition against certain types of striving or knowledge contrary to the Tao.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

[auto] Wisdom is attained through knowing the internal harmony, indicating direct experiential knowledge rather than external ritual.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text refers to the 'secret' of the unchanging Tao being shown only to those who understand harmony, implying esoteric knowledge.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation.

[auto] The attributes of the Tao are described as being abundantly present within the individual himself.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

[auto] The sage embodies the attributes of the Tao, suggesting a union or identity with the divine principle.

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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 infant state transcends binary oppositions like weak/strong and male/female union while maintaining vitality.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

[auto] The text employs paradoxical statements such as weak bones having a firm grasp and lack of sexual knowledge coexisting with virility.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

The infant metaphor implies a return to the primordial, undivided state of origin which characterizes the Tao.

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Self Knowledgesoteriology

The recognition of one's own true divine nature as the primary path to liberation; 'know thyself' as soteriology.

[auto] Knowing the harmony within one's constitution is presented as the path to wisdom and understanding the Tao.

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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.

[auto] The passage explicitly critiques forcing the vital breath and artificial strength, advocating instead for natural harmony and non-striving action aligned with the Tao.

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Related passages · 9 parallels
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