Chapter 31
Sharp weapons are instruments of ill omen, despised by all. Thus, those who follow the Dao do not wield them lightly. In daily life, noble persons honor the left as superior, but in warfare, they honor the right. Weapons, these ominous tools, are not meant for noble hands. They are used only when compelled by necessity, and even then, approached with calm detachment. Victory should not be glorified, for to revel in triumph is to delight in slaughter. Those who take pleasure in killing can never truly win the allegiance of the world.
Auspicious matters honor the left, while inauspicious matters honor the right. Hence, lieutenant generals stand to the left, and supreme generals to the right—symbolizing the treatment of war through funeral rites. Confronting the multitude of lives lost in battle, one must mourn with grief; even in victory, the rites of mourning should govern its aftermath.
(This passage illuminates the antinatural essence of warfare, framing weapons as cursed tools and military action as inauspicious. Laozi contends that even when forced into conflict, one must maintain restraint and compassion. Triumph should be met not with celebration but with mourning—a posture reflecting reverence for life and alignment with the Dao.)
Key Terms & Style:
1. Dao (道): Retained in transliteration to preserve philosophical depth.
2. Noble persons (君子): Emphasizes moral integrity over literal "gentleman."
3. Calm detachment (恬淡): Reflects the Daoist ideal of nonattachment.
4. Delight in slaughter (乐杀人): Sharpens the moral critique of glorified violence.
5. Funeral rites (丧礼): Highlights the ritualized condemnation of war.
The translation balances literal fidelity with idiomatic flow, using parallel structures (e.g., "honor the left... honor the right") to mirror Laozi’s rhythmic prose. The parenthetical commentary adopts an analytical tone to contextualize the text’s philosophical stance.
