My Translating Process
And a bit of fundraising...
A little insight to into how I work with the Chinese language in my articles, handouts, and translation projects. Plus, a few select ‘first-layer’ translations from one of my current projects.
This past Winter and Spring I have been translating the ‘Daodejing’ (a.k.a. Tao Te Ching) for use by taijiquan practitioners. The following video gives you—my SubStack readers—a glimpse into my process at the translation stage. It follows with an invitation to support my work in this and the library project as well.
Daodejing 道德經 Selected translations from the classic work attributed to Laozi.
Chapter One 第一章
Regarding dao: If described as dao, it is not the unbounded dao.
Regarding names: If uttered as a name, it is not the ineffable name.
道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。
That-which-is-nameless originates heaven and earth;
Possessed of names, the ten-thousand things each have a mother.
無名天地之始，有名萬物之母。
Therefore, abiding without desires allows one to witness the subtle essence.
Typically, indulging desires allows one to witness only the periphery.
故常無欲，以觀其妙；常有欲，以觀其徼。
These two turn out to be the same—although they are differently named.
They are ‘the darkness,’ and ‘the darker-than-darkness’ at the ‘gate of many wonders.’
此兩者 同出而異名，同謂之玄，玄之又玄，眾妙之門。
Chapter Eleven 第十一章
Thirty spokes share a single hub—it is that empty space that allows a cart to function.
Clay is fashioned into a pot—it is that empty space that allows the pot to function.
三十輻，共一轂，當其無，有車之用。埏埴以為器，當其無，有器之用。
Chisel out the doors and windows in a room—it is that empty space that allows the room to function.
Therefore, the something-ness makes it valuable while the nothing-ness makes it useful.
鑿戶牖以為室，當其無，有室之用。故有之以為利，無之以為用。
Chapter Sixty-three 第六十三章
Act without doing. Serve without engaging. Taste without savouring.
Whether large or small, many or few, address enmity with de.
為無為，事無事，味無味。大小多少，報怨以德。
Picture ‘difficult’ as ‘easy,’ treat ‘macro’ as ‘micro.’
One can do difficult things in the world while they are still easy.
One can affect significant events in the world while they are still trifling.
圖難於其易，為大於其細；天下難事必作於易，天下大事必作於細。
Accordingly, the wise person does not undertake the monumental and, consequently, accomplishes something substantial.
是以聖人終不為大，故能成其大。
People who make frivolous promises do not deserve trust.
An excess of ease is a harbinger of disaster.
夫輕諾必寡信，多易必多難。
Therefore, the wise person solves difficulties before they can become difficult.
是以聖人猶難之，故終無難矣。
