A chapter of paired knowings and keepings: know the masculine, yet keep to the feminine, and become the valley of the world; know the white, yet keep to the black, and be the world's model; know glory, yet keep to humility. The formula is subtler than renunciation — you are to know strength, brightness, and honour, be fully capable of them, and then deliberately dwell in their opposites. Power held from the low position, competence worn as plainness.
Each keeping carries a homecoming: to the state of the infant, to the limitless, and finally to the uncarved block (pu) — the book's great image of original simplicity, wood before the carver imposed a purpose on it. The chapter ends with what happens after the carving: the uncarved block, when scattered, becomes vessels — useful, specialised things — and the sage, using them, becomes chief of the officials. But the final line holds the ideal above all specialisation: great governance does not divide. Wholeness outranks any of the excellent pieces it can be cut into.
Key verses
Know the masculine, yet keep to the feminine, and become the valley of the world. Being the valley of the world, eternal virtue will never leave you, and you will return to the state of the infant. Know the white, yet keep to the black, and be the model for the world. Being the model for the world, eternal virtue will not falter, and you will return to the limitless. Know glory, yet keep to humility, and become the valley of the world. When you are the valley of the world, eternal virtue is sufficient, and you return to the uncarved block. The uncarved block, when scattered, becomes vessels; the sage, using them, becomes the chief of all officials. Thus great governance does not divide.
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