Chapter 77: The Nature of the Tao

Like Drawing a Bow

天之道，其猶張弓與 — “Heaven’s way — is it not like drawing a bow?”

Heaven’s way is like drawing a bow — finding balance through adjustment.

The Four Actions

1. 高者抑之 — The high → press down
2. 下者舉之 — The low → lift up
3. 有餘者損之 — The surplus → reduce
4. 不足者補之 — The lacking → supplement

These four actions create balance.

Heaven’s Way

天之道，損有餘而補不足 — “Heaven’s way reduces the surplus to supplement the lacking.”

Heaven takes from those who have excess and gives to those who lack. This creates balance.

People’s Way

人之道，則不然，損不足以奉有餘 — “People’s way — not so. Reduce the lacking to serve the surplus.”

Human society does the opposite — taking from the poor to serve the rich. This creates imbalance.

Who Can Serve

孰能有餘以奉天下？唯有道者 — “Who can have surplus to serve the world? Only those with the Tao.”

Only those who follow the Tao can have surplus to give to others. This requires letting go of accumulation.

The Sage’s Way

是以聖人為而不恃，功成而不處，其不欲見賢 — “Therefore the sage acts but does not rely. Completes but does not occupy. Does not want to appear worthy.”

The sage:

• Acts without relying on outcomes
• Completes without occupying the result
• Does not seek to appear worthy

Modern Application

We take from the poor to give to the rich. Chapter 77 suggests: follow heaven’s way — reduce surplus to supplement lacking.

Key Takeaways

• Heaven’s way is like drawing a bow
• Press high, lift low, reduce surplus, supplement lacking
• Heaven reduces surplus to supplement lacking
• Human society does the opposite
• Only those with Tao can serve the world

Next: Chapter 78 — The Softest Thing →