Chapter 50: Life and Death
Laozi describes three types of people: those who live long, those who die early, and those who move toward death. The skilled in preserving life have no place of death.
📖 Definition
Chapter 50 shows three types: born to live, born to die, and moving toward death. The skilled in preserving life have no place of death — they are beyond danger.
Source Text
Read the original alongside the English rendering
Original Chinese
出生入死。
生之徒，十有三；
死之徒，十有三；
人之生，動之死地，亦十有三。
夫何故？
以其生生之厚。
蓋聞善攝生者，陸行不遇兕虎，入軍不被甲兵，兕無所投其角，虎無所措其爪，兵無所容其刃。
夫何故？
以其無死地。
English Rendering
Out of life, into death.
Those who are born — three in ten.
Those who die — three in ten.
Those whose life moves toward death — also three in ten.
Why?
Because they live intensely.
I have heard of those skilled in preserving life: traveling on land, they do not meet rhinos or tigers.
Entering battle, they are not harmed by weapons.
The rhino has nowhere to thrust its horn.
The tiger has nowhere to place its claws.
The soldier has nowhere to admit the blade.
Why?
Because they have no place of death.
Out of Life, Into Death
出生入死 — “Out of life, into death.”
Life leads to death. This is the natural cycle.
Three Types
- 生之徒，十有三 — Those who are born to live: three in ten
- 死之徒，十有三 — Those who are born to die: three in ten
- 動之死地 — Those who move toward death: three in ten
Most people fall into these three categories equally.
Why They Move Toward Death
以其生生之厚 — “Because they live intensely.”
Those who live too intensely shorten their lives. Excess kills.
The Skilled in Preserving Life
蓋聞善攝生者 — “I have heard of those skilled in preserving life.”
These people avoid danger naturally:
- 陸行不遇兕虎 — No rhinos or tigers on land
- 入軍不被甲兵 — No weapons in battle
No Place of Death
以其無死地 — “Because they have no place of death.”
They have no attachment to life, so no place exists where death can find them. This is the ultimate preservation.
Modern Application
We try to preserve life through medical intervention. Chapter 50 suggests: true preservation comes from having no place of death.
Key Takeaways
- Life leads to death
- Three types of people exist
- Living intensely leads to early death
- The skilled avoid danger naturally
- Having no place of death is true preservation
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Written by
Lee
Lee explains Chinese philosophy, strategy, and stories in plain English — for people who want ancient wisdom they can actually use. Based in China, writing for the world.
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