Chapter 6 of the Laozi

Chinese Text

谷gǔ神shén不bù死sǐ, 是shì谓wèi玄xuán牝pìn, 玄xuán牝pìn之zhī门mén, 是shì谓wèi天tiān地dì根gēn.
绵mián绵mián若ruò存cún, 用yòng之zhī不bù勤qín.

Translation

The spirit of the valley never dies; it is called the mysterious feminine.
The gate of the mysterious feminine is called the root of heaven and earth.
It is eternal and seems to exist (materially).
If one uses it, one experiences no fatigue.

Notes

The expression 谷神gǔshén "Spirit of the Valley" refers to the 道Dào. G: The word 谷gǔ "valley" is used here in a figurative sense. 苏子由Sū Zǐyóu: A valley is empty and yet has a form, meaning it exists materially. But the Spirit of the Valley is empty and immaterial (literally, without form). What is empty and immaterial has not received life; how could it die? The expression 谷神gǔshén "Spirit of the Valley" is meant to express its virtue (the virtue of the 道Dào). See note 044, line 7.

The expression 玄牝xuánpìn "mysterious feminine" serves to express its merits. This feminine produces all beings. It is called 玄xuán "mysterious" to say that while we see beings born, we do not see what makes them be born. The word 玄xuán means "obscure, deep, impenetrable." E: All beings that have received life are therefore subject to death. The Spirit of the Valley was not born, which is why it does not die.

E: The word 牝pìn "feminine" means that the 道Dào is the mother of the universe.

苏子由Sū Zǐyóu: This expression means that all creatures came from the 道Dào.

苏子由Sū Zǐyóu: This expression means that heaven (天tiān) and earth (地dì) were born from the 道Dào.

B: The expression 绵绵miánmián means "to continue without interruption."

苏子由Sū Zǐyóu: It exists and cannot be perceived. 王辅嗣Wáng Fǔsì: Will you say it exists (materially)? But you do not perceive its form. Will you say it does not exist? But all beings are born from it. That is why 老子Lǎozǐ says: It seems to exist.

苏子由Sū Zǐyóu: If a person can imitate the 道Dào, even if they use it all day, they will never tire.

刘戬夫Liú Jiǎnfū: If we use it and preserve it, we will never experience any fatigue. B: This sentence means that one must empty the heart (心xīn) (that is, rid it of all desire, all sensual affection) and practice 无为wúwéi.

杜道坚Dù Dàojiān: The philosopher 列子Lièzǐ also includes this chapter. He does not say he took it from 老子Lǎozǐ and attributes it to Emperor 黄帝Huángdì. It is known that 老子Lǎozǐ quotes many passages from the books called 《汾阴篇》Fényīn Piān. This is recognized whenever he says, "That is why the Sage (圣人shèngrén)." By this, he recalls axioms or actions belonging to ancient sages.

This is also what 孔子Kǒngzǐ did by reporting actions or words that were not his own.