No ancient text mourns victory like this one. Weapons are instruments of ill omen, the chapter begins — all creatures loathe them, and those who hold the Tao do not dwell with them. They are not the tools of a noble person; they are used only when there is no choice, and even then restraint and calm are highest. Whatever the provocation, war remains a catastrophe reluctantly administered, never a career.
Then the verse that still startles: even in victory there is nothing to celebrate — for to celebrate victory is to delight in the killing of people, and one who delights in killing cannot achieve his purpose in the world. The chapter's closing image enacts the ethic through ritual placement: in auspicious ceremonies the left is honoured, in mourning the right — and in war the supreme commander stands on the right, the mourner's side. Conduct even your triumphs as funerals: for the many killed, weep with grief and sorrow. Victory parades, in Lao Tzu's liturgy, are processions of loss.
Key verses
Weapons are instruments of ill omen; all creatures loathe them. Therefore those who hold the Tao do not dwell with them. In ordinary life the noble person honors the left; in military affairs the right is honored. Weapons are instruments of ill omen, not the tools of a noble person. They are used only when there is no choice, and even then restraint and calm are highest. Even in victory, there is nothing to celebrate — to celebrate victory is to delight in the killing of people. One who delights in killing cannot achieve his purpose in the world. In auspicious matters, the left side is honored; in mourning matters, the right. The subordinate general stands on the left; the supreme general on the right — meaning they are conducted as if at a funeral. For the many who have been killed, weep for them with grief and sorrow. Even victory in war is to be treated as a funeral rite.
Read Chapter 31 in full
Every verse with translation, word meanings, and commentary — free.
ਐਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਪੜ੍ਹੋਪਰੰਪਰਾਵਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਪੁੱਛੋ
ਇੱਕ ਸਵਾਲ। ਪੰਜ ਪਰੰਪਰਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਵਾਬ।
ਬਿਨਾਂ ਖਾਤੇ ਦੇ ਹਰ 24 ਘੰਟਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ 2 ਸਵਾਲ।