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There is a thing—blended, formed, |
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born before Heaven and Earth. |
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Silent—empty— |
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Standing alone, unchanging, |
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circling without fatigue, |
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can be the mother of all under heaven. |
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I do not know its name; |
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naming it, I call it the Way. |
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Forcing a name upon it, I call it Great. |
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The Great—called passing; |
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passing—called distant. |
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distant—called return. |
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Therefore the Way is great, |
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Heaven is great, |
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Earth is great, |
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the King also is great. |
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In the realm there are four greats, |
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and the King occupies one of them. |
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Humans follow Earth, |
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Earth follows Heaven, |
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Heaven follows the Way, |
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the Way follows nature. |