The Center
Tao Te Ching: Chapter 21
Chapter 21 of the Tao Te Ching—another tough nut to crack, but crack it we did—features the character 中 (zhōng), meaning “center,” “middle,” “mean,” “within,” “while.” According to Laozi, the “center” of Tao contains an “image” (象, xiàng), a “substance” (物, wù), an “essence” (精, jīng), and a “sign” (信, xìn). Make of this what you will.
The Translation
Great Virtue's appearance Is merely Tao's accessory. Tao's apparent substance Is evasive and elusive. Being elusive and evasive, Its center contains an image. Being evasive and elusive, Its center contains a substance. Being dark and dim, Its center contains an essence. Its essence being very real, Its center contains a sign. From ancient times to today, Its name has not been abandoned, So it observes everything. How can I know everything's condition? By means of this.
The Original
Wang Bi’s original prose version:
孔德之容，惟道是從。道之為物，惟恍惟惚。惚兮恍兮，其中有象；恍兮惚兮，其中有物。窈兮冥兮，其中有精；其精甚真，其中有信。自古及今，其名不去，以閱衆甫。吾何以知衆甫之狀哉？以此。
Our poetic reformatting:
孔德之容， 惟道是從。 道之為物， 惟恍惟惚。 惚兮恍兮， 其中有象。 恍兮惚兮， 其中有物。 窈兮冥兮， 其中有精。 其精甚真， 其中有信。 自古及今， 其名不去， 以閱衆甫。 吾何以知衆甫之狀哉？ 以此。
Terminology
中 (zhōng) - see above; also note the Chinese name for China: 中國 (Zhōngguó) = “Middle Kingdom”
象 (xiàng) - “image” (as above) or “appearance,” but also, interestingly, “elephant”
物 (wù) - “substance” (as above), but also “thing,” “matter,” “object”
精 (jīng) - “essence” (as above), but also “energy,” “spirit,” “semen, “vitality”
信 (xìn) - “sign” (as above), but also “letter,” “message,” “confidence,” “trust,” “faith”
Notes
Aleister Crowley entitled this chapter “THE INFINITE WOMB.”
Derek Lin: “‘Indistinct’ and ‘unclear’ [恍 and 惚, here translated as ‘evasive’ and ‘elusive’] are used several times in this chapter. They refer to the mysteries of the Tao. We find the Great Unknown at the heart of existence. No matter how we probe it, total understanding eludes us. Every time we solve one puzzle, another presents itself.”
Ursula K. Le Guin: “Mysticism rises from and returns to the irreducible, unsayable reality of ‘this.’ ‘This’ is the Way. This is the way.”
All three of the translators mentioned above translate 其中 (qí zhōng) as “within it” or “in it.” I alone say “its center.” Prove me wrong.