Cobie

I’m the chimera, the harmonious balance of opposites.

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That was fun, like on the old OD forum.

My own translation is of course different, as I use another script (the much older MWD). https://www.thedaobums.com/topic/57074-ddj-ch1/?do=findComment&comment=1059176

It’s all logical “that can be” The morals that can be named, gainsay what’s usually practiced.

what’s usually practiced

gainsay

One of the meanings of 名 (ming2) was the verb ‘to name’ Classical Chinese did not have verb inflections for tense, person, or number. The translator can chose (named).

Classical Chinese did not have any articles. The translator can chose which one to put in order to create meaningful and smooth English (the). Classical Chinese did not distinguish between singular and plural. The translator can chose (morals).

You seem to have skipped a few of my posts, they make for another translation.

@DynamicEquilibrium could you please answer the question from your heart in one line.

Classical Chinese was polysemic. The translator can chose which meaning to use, in order to create coherent and meaningful English . 名 (ming2) had various meanings at the time, including ‘morals’. In this context imo it means ‘morals’.

常 was a synonym of 恆 , it had the same meanings. The meanings of 恆 (heng2) had a temporal nature e.g. ordinarily; usually; what’s usually practiced.

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The characters that were translated to ‘walking in a circle’ were 走 转 中 以 空 入 定 (zǒu zhuǎn zhōng yǐ kōng rùdìng) walk | wander about | suitable for | in order to | empty | enter | meditation I.e. a [skilled] meditator need not sit to meditate; it can be throughout the day whilst walking about, going about your daily business.

That’s exactly what imo happened with Bagua Circle Walking.

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The character in the MWD is 恆 (heng2). 常 (chang2) was a later substitution (due to the taboo on the use of emperor’s names).

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Interesting

不 (bu4) not. The DDJ uses 不 for merely ‘not’. 非 (fei2) gainsay; run counter to.

The DDJ did not have any punctuation. Inserting a comma and a full stop is misleading.

My body does the breathing, I stay out of it; my natural breathing is abdominal.

This thread is not in your PPD but in ‘Daoist Discussion’’. Does that mean you are inviting comments? And if so, may those comments be of a highly critical nature?