The form of existence of Tao

When all under heaven define "beauty" as a standard, ugliness emerges;

When all establish "goodness" as a rule, evil comes into being.

Thus, all opposites in the world exist interdependently:

"Being" and "Non-being" generate each other (like space and solid objects),

"Difficult" and "Easy" complete each other (like steep cliffs and gentle slopes on a mountain),

"Long" and "Short" reveal themselves through contrast (as measurements differ by scale),

"High" and "Low" take shape through mutual orientation (as peaks and valleys define each other),

"Tones" and "Sounds" harmonize in resonance (like instruments blending with human voices),

"Front" and "Rear" follow each other in motion (as a procession's head and tail are inseparable).

Therefore, the Sage acts through natural principles (wuwei),

Teaches without words (buzhi zhi jiao):

Allowing all beings to arise without interference,

Nurturing life without claiming possession,

Acting without boasting of ability,

Accomplishing deeds without dwelling on achievements.

Precisely because they do not cling to merit,

Their deeds endure forever.

Notes:

1. Duality Dynamics: Parenthetical analogies (e.g., mountain slopes, musical resonance) ground abstract concepts in sensory experience

2. Wuwei Interpretation: Rendered as "natural principles" to emphasize alignment with cosmic order, avoiding the passive connotation of "non-action"

3. Sage's Paradox: Verbs like "nurturing/acting/accomplishing" paired with negation ("without claiming/boasting/dwelling") mirror the original paradox of wei wuwei (action through non-action)

4. Kinetic Contrasts: "Steep cliffs vs. gentle slopes", "peaks vs. valleys" – spatial metaphors reinforce the philosophy of relational existence

5. Circular Logic: The closing couplet ("Precisely because... endure forever") replicates the self-validating structure of Laozi's reasoning, where apparent loss becomes true preservation