第八章 Dao De Jing · Chapter 8
The highest good is like water, which benefits all things without contending.
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上善若水。
Supreme benevolence is like water.
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水善利万物而不争，
Water benefits all things without struggle,
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处众人之所恶，
It goes to places that everyone abhors,
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故几于道。
Thus is almost like the Way.
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居善地，心善渊，
Dwelling benefits from geography, the mind benefits from depth,
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与善仁，言善信，
Giving is facilitated by humanity, speaking is facilitated by trust,
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正善治，事善能，
Uprightness benefits from governance, work benefits from ability,
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动善时。夫唯不争，
Movement benefits from time. The disciple must avoid striving,
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故无尤。
Thus not fail.
Words in this chapter
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 上 | shàng | highest, supreme |
| 善 | shàn | good, goodness |
| 若 | ruò | like, as if |
| 水 | shuǐ | water |
| 善 | shàn | to be good at |
| 利 | lì | to benefit; profit |
| 万物 | wàn wù | the myriad things |
| 而 | ér | and yet, but |
| 不争 | bù zhēng | not contending |
| 处 | chǔ | to dwell in, abide by |
| 众人 | zhòng rén | the many, everyone |
| 之 | zhī | of, 's (linking particle) |
| 所 | suǒ | that which, what |
| 恶 | wù | to loathe |
| 故 | gù | therefore |
| 几 | jī | nearly, close to |
| 于 | yú | to, at |
| 道 | dào | the Way |
| 居 | jū | to dwell (in), claim |
| 地 | dì | earth, ground |
| 心 | xīn | heart, mind |
| 渊 | yuān | deep pool, depth |
| 与 | yǔ | giving, dealing with others |
| 仁 | rén | humaneness, humane |
| 言 | yán | words, to speak |
| 信 | xìn | trust, good faith |
| 正 | zhèng | governing |
| 治 | zhì | to govern; in order |
| 事 | shì | affairs, work |
| 能 | néng | ability |
| 动 | dòng | to move |
| 时 | shí | timing, the right time |
| 夫唯 | fú wéi | precisely because |
| 无 | wú | not have, without, no |
| 尤 | yóu | fault, blame |
Compare: James Legge (1891)
The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao.
The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place; that of the mind is in abysmal stillness; that of associations is in their being with the virtuous; that of government is in its securing good order; that of (the conduct of) affairs is in its ability; and that of (the initiation of) any movement is in its timeliness.
And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him.
Public domain. Source: Wikisource.
Meaning of chapter 8
Chapter 8 compares 上善 (the highest good) to water. Water benefits the myriad things without contending, and it settles in the low places everyone else avoids. That is why it is close to the Way.
Seven short phrases follow, each joining an area of life to 善, being good at something: in dwelling, the ground; in the heart, depth; in dealing with others, humaneness; in speech, trust; in governing (正, standing for 政), order; in work, ability; in action, timing. The list is often read as water's qualities carried over to a person, though the chapter does not say so, and the phrases are construed in more than one way; this site reads 善 in each as "good at".
The last line gives the reason: only because it does not contend, 不争, does it incur no blame. 不争 is one of the book's recurring conclusions, in chapters 22, 66 and 81 as well. Water returns in chapter 78: nothing is softer, yet nothing does better against the hard.