Chapter 25: The Four Constants

The Thing Before

有物混成，先天地生 — “There is a thing formed before Heaven and Earth.”

The Tao existed before anything else. It is the origin of Heaven and Earth.

Four Descriptions

寂兮寥兮，獨立不改，周行而不殆 — “Silent and empty, it stands alone without changing. It moves around without failing.”

Laozi describes the Tao with four characteristics:

• Silent and empty (no sound, no form)
• Stands alone (independent)
• Does not change
• Moves without failing

The Mother of the World

可以為天下母 — “It can be the mother of the world.”

The Tao gives birth to everything without being exhausted. This is the feminine, creative principle.

Naming the Tao

吾不知其名，字之曰道 — “I do not know its name. I call it Tao.”

Laozi admits the Tao cannot be named. He calls it Tao (the way) and, if forced, ‘the great’ (大).

The Great’s Movement

大曰逝，逝曰遠，遠曰反 — “The great goes forth, goes far, goes to return.”

The Tao expands to create everything, goes to the farthest reaches, then returns to its source. This is the cycle of nature.

The Four Greats

故道大，天大，地大，王亦大 — “Therefore the Tao is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, the king is also great.”

Four entities are ‘great’ in the cosmic order. Each has its role in the whole.

The Hierarchy

人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然 — “Man follows Earth. Earth follows Heaven. Heaven follows the Tao. The Tao follows its own nature.”

Each follows the one above it. The Tao itself follows its own nature — there is nothing above it.

Modern Application

We try to control nature rather than follow it. Chapter 25 suggests: humanity should follow the order: Earth → Heaven → Tao → nature.

Key Takeaways

• The Tao existed before Heaven and Earth
• It is silent, empty, independent, and unchanging
• It is the mother of the world
• Tao, Heaven, Earth, and king are the four greats
• Each follows the one above it

Next: Chapter 26 — The Source of Heaviness →