[Original]

Those who are good at swords do not pull out, those who are good at holding (1) do not take off, and their descendants will not give up with sacrifices (2). Cultivating it in the body, its virtue is true, cultivating it at home, its virtue is surplus, cultivating it in the township, its virtue is long (3), cultivating it in the state (4), its virtue is abundant, cultivating it in the world, its virtue is Pu. Therefore, look at the body with the body, look at the home with the home, look at the township with the township (5), look at the state with the state, and look at the world with the world. How do I know what the world is?

[Translation]

If the descendants can follow and hold this truth, then the ancestors and grandchildren will not be cut off. If he applies this truth to himself, his virtue will be true and pure; if he applies this truth to his own home, his virtue will be abundant; if he applies this truth to his own country, his virtue will be honored; if he applies this truth to his own country, his virtue will be abundant and fruitful; and if he applies this truth to the world, his virtue will be infinitely popular. Therefore, observe other bodies with your own self-cultivation, observe other homes with your own self-cultivation, observe other homes with your own hometown, and observe and observe the world with the way of ordinary world. How do I know that the world is like this? It is because I have used the above methods and principles.

[Notes]

1. Hold: hold, fix and firm.

2. The descendants will not stop with sacrifices: quit, stop, cut off, and terminate. This sentence means: Ancestors and grandchildren can abide by the principles of "good construction" and "good hugging", and the incense of future generations will not end.

3. Long: Respect.

4. Bang: a book as "country".

5. Therefore, observe by oneself, look at home with home, and look at the hometown with one's hometown: observe others with one's own observation, observe other homes with one's own home, and observe other towns with one's own hometown.

[Quote]

This chapter talks about the function of the Tao, that is, the benefits that virtue brings to people. This chapter is an important addition to Chapters 47 and 52. For example, chapter 47 says, "If you don't go out of your house, you will know the world," and chapter 52 says, "You will know your mother, so that you may know your son, and if you know your son, you will keep your mother." To do this, it is also necessary to "plug it and close its door". So in this chapter, Lao Tzu talked about the principles, methods and functions of self-cultivation. He said that the principle of self-cultivation is the foundation of living in the world, and only by consolidating the foundation of self-cultivation can we establish oneself, for one's family, for one's hometown, and for one's world, which is the "Tao." Lao Tzu believes that this is the only correct way and way to know.

[Commentary]