Chapter 69 of the Tao Te Ching

E agrees with several commentators that the words 用兵有言 yòng bīng yǒu yán refer to 'a writer belonging to the school called Píng-jiā, at the military school', that is, the class of authors who wrote about the art of war, and who were, for the most part, famous warriors.

Literally: 'I dare not be the host who receives (in English: "host"), but I am the guest who is received (in English: "guest")'. In Chinese society, the first sets the example of getting on, getting off, standing up, sitting down, etc., the second conforms to his example and imitates it punctually.

E: Here the word 主 zhǔ (commonly 'master of the house, host who receives') refers to 'the one who starts the attack'; the word 客 kè (commonly 'guest who is received') refers to 'the one who responds to the enemy's attack'.

According to Lin-hi-i, the whole chapter has a figurative meaning. It is intended to show what should be the humble and reserved conduct of men who practice the Tao.

E: He advances with difficulty and retreats easily, that is, with eagerness. He does not provoke the enemy, only he responds to his attack; and, although he responds to his attack, he does not wish to come to blows with him. He prefers to flee far away to avoid the enemy rather than seek him out for hand-to-hand combat.

That is, being as if one had not. E: The expression 行无行 xíng wú xíng means 'not to have a rank to follow'. The word 行 xíng means 'to go to find' (adire).

Sou-tseu-yeou: He who goes forward intends to fight; he who retreats does not think of fighting. If a man thinks not to fight, although he walks among soldiers, he is as if he were not in the ranks; although he has arms, he is as if he had none to extend; although he has a weapon, he is as if he had none to seize; although he has enemies before him, he is as if he had none to pursue.

E: Lao-tseu means that if a warrior can act this way, even though he fights, he will be as if he did not fight; word for word in Latin: 'Si ille qui armis utitur, revera hoc modo (agere) possit, quamvis utatur armis, (erit) quasi non uteretur (armis)'.

E: The word 哀 āi means here 慈 cí 'affection (for men)'. The Sage, says Sou-tseu-yeou, regards affection (for men) as a treasure. If one fights lightly, it is because one loves to fight. Loving to fight is taking pleasure in killing men. Thus, we almost lose the feelings of affection and humanity that we should preserve as a treasure.

H: The expression 抗兵 kàng bīng refers to 'two armies of equal strength, neither of which has the advantage over the other, so that the victory remains undecided'.

E: I feel a sense of compassion that prevents me from killing men. As soon as this sense of compassion is manifested, heaven and men lend me their assistance; when I would not want to conquer, I could not help it.