A chapter of international relations built on watershed geography: a great state is like a river delta — it lies low and becomes the meeting place of all streams under heaven, the feminine of the world. Power that positions itself low collects everything; the feminine always overcomes the masculine through stillness, and in stillness takes the lower position. Rank, in the Tao's hydraulics, flows downhill toward whatever is humble enough to receive it.
The diplomacy that follows is startlingly symmetrical: when a great state lowers itself before a small one, it wins the small state over; when a small state lowers itself before a great one, it wins the great state's favour. Lowering wins in both directions — humility is the universal solvent of rivalry. Since the great state wants only to unite and nurture, and the small only to enter service, both get their wish; but the closing line assigns the heavier duty to the heavier party: it is right for the greater one to take the lower position. The stronger bows first.
Key verses
A great state is like a river delta — it lies low and becomes the meeting place of all streams under heaven, the feminine of the world. The feminine always overcomes the masculine through stillness; in stillness she takes the lower position. Therefore, when a great state lowers itself before a small state, it wins the small state over; when a small state lowers itself before a great state, it wins the great state's favor. So lowering oneself either wins others over or wins favor from others. A great state wishes only to unite and nurture people; a small state wishes only to enter into service with others. When both achieve what they desire, it is right for the greater one to take the lower position.
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