Original text:
A total of 30 spokes make a hub, which is useless for a car. Think of it as a device. When it is useless, it will be useful. Carve the family into a room, and when it has nothing, it has a room. Therefore, thinking is beneficial, but thinking is not.
Vernacular translation:
A wheel consisting of 30 spokes, in which the empty space can be used to install the axle, has the function of a car. A vessel made of clay is empty, so things can be put in. This is the function of the vessel. Open the window and make a square, which is empty. You can put things and live in it. This is the function of the house.
Finally, to sum up what I said above, "doing something beneficial" here can be interpreted as favorable conditions, and "doing nothing" here can be interpreted as making favorable conditions work. The same is true of "mutual learning" and "utilization", which is the so-called "Tao".
This article comes from Laozi's Tao Te Ching in the Spring and Autumn Period.
Extended data writing background:
According to the literature, Lao Tzu is quiet, studious and knowledgeable. In the process of teaching knowledge by his teacher, Shang Rong, Laozi always gets to the bottom of the matter and is very eager for knowledge. In order to solve doubts, he often looks up at the sun, moon and stars and thinks about what the sky is, so that he often can't sleep.
Later, Mr. Shang Rong "really learned everything from the old lady." Recommend Laozi to study in Zhoudu. The literature records: "When I went to see a doctor in Zhou, I went to imperial academy, and I learned all about astronomy, geography and human feelings. When I read all my poems, I could easily experience rituals and music, and I learned all my cultural relics, laws and history books, and I made great progress in my studies.
The doctor also recommended him to be an official in the Tibetan room. The sutra depository is a collection of ancient books in the Zhou Dynasty, which is full of articles and books from all over the world. "Through this experience, Lao Tzu has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and made him famous.
Tao Te Ching begins by saying, "Tao, Tao and Tao are extraordinary. Names, nicknames, unusual names. Nothing, the beginning of the world; Yes, the mother of all things. Therefore, there is often nothing and I want to see its wonders; Often, I want to see it. Both of them have different names. They are both called Xuan. Mysterious and mysterious, the gate of Wan Qi. "
This is a general description of the concept of "Tao" by Laozi: Tao was not the general Tao in the society at that time, that is, the Tao of human relations and common sense, nor was it the Tao that people could name at that time.
"Tao" has surpassed the secular social life in Laozi, and is closer to the Tao of natural laws, because the origin and mother of all things in heaven and earth are based on "Tao". Starting from the Tao, "Tao gives birth to one, one, two, three and three things".
Therefore, Laozi used "both mysterious and mysterious" to describe the particularity and profundity of Tao. In fact, although this "Tao" is "visible", "audible" and "understandable", what I said is not far from people. Here, Lao Tzu just used "Xuan" to emphasize the difference between what he said and what the society said at that time to explain him.
About the author:
Lao Zi, surnamed Li Minger, is called Bo Yang. Huaxia nationality, a native of Qurenli, Li Xiang, an ancient county of Chu, was a great philosopher and thinker in the Spring and Autumn Period and the founder of the Taoist school. Laozi is a world cultural celebrity and one of the top 100 historical celebrities in the world.
Tao Te Ching exists in the world, and its essence is simple dialectics, which advocates inaction. Its theory has a far-reaching impact on the development of China's philosophy. In Taoism, Laozi is regarded as the ancestor of Taoism. Laozi and Zhuangzi of later generations are also called Zhuang zi.