Yi (一, the One) in the Dao De Jing: Meaning and Occurrences
In the Dao De Jing, yi (一) as a key term is the One: the first thing the Way gives birth to in chapter 42, which heaven, earth and the myriad things attain in chapter 39.
一 (yī) is the number one, and the text sometimes uses it as a plain number: one hub in chapter 11, the first of three treasures in chapter 67. This page counts only the other use, where 一 names the One, something that things attain or embrace.
Chapter 42 gives the order: the Way gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two to three, and three to the myriad things. Chapter 39 is built on the One: of old, heaven attained the One and became clear, earth attained it and became calm, and so on through the spirits, the valley, the myriad things, and lords and kings.
The text speaks of embracing the One (抱一). Chapter 10 opens with it, asking whether soul and body can be held together without separating, and in chapter 22 the sage embraces the One and becomes the model of the world. In chapter 14, the three that cannot be seen, heard or grasped merge and become one.
Every occurrence of 一
Chapter 10
-
Line 1
载营魄抱一，
Manage to unite your soul and body,
Chapter 14
-
Line 4
此三者不可致诘，故混而为一。
These three ultimately cannot be fathomed. Therefore they join to become one.
Chapter 22
-
Line 4
是以圣人抱一，为天下式。
Therefore the sage embraces unity, and follows the universe's patterns.
Chapter 39
-
Line 1
昔之得一者，天得一以清，
Of old, these attained the One: heaven attained the One and became clear,
-
Line 2
地得一以宁，神得一以灵，
earth attained the One and became calm, the spirits attained the One and became potent,
-
Line 3
谷得一以盈，万物得一以生，
the valley attained the One and became full, the myriad things attained the One and came to life,
-
Line 4
侯王得一以为天下贞。
lords and kings attained the One and became the standard of the world.