1
The Dao that can be spoken
is not the eternal Dao.
The Name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.
The Nonbeing which cannot be named
is the origin of creation.
The Being which can be named
is the mother of all things.
Being absent of desire
we see the essence of the mystery.
Being full of desire
we see the boundaries of its manifestations.
These two come forth simultaneously
but they are given different names.
The different names point to the same reality.
O mystery of mysteries
the door to all wonders.
一
道可道，非恒道。名可名，非恒名。无名，万物之
始。有名，万物之母。故恒无欲，以观其妙。恒有
欲，以观其徼。两者同出，异名同谓。玄之又玄，
众妙之门。
