The One
Tao Te Ching: Chapter 22
Grammatically, Chapter 22 of the Tao Te Ching is simpler and more straightforward than the last few chapters have been. Semantically, however, things are a bit more obscure, with several key words having multiple meanings. That said, the overall embrace of “the One” is clear enough. The theme of the unity of opposites, first explicitly introduced in Chapter 2, thus returns in full force.
The Translation
Break to become whole. Bend to become straight. Empty to become full. Decay to become new. Decrease to become rich. Increase to become confused. Thus, the Sage embraces the One as the model under Heaven. Not seeing himself, he is clear-sighted. Not full of himself, he is distinguished. Not boasting of himself, he is successful. Not pitying himself, he is preeminent. Because he does not contend, Nobody under Heaven can contend with him. The ancient saying "Break to become whole": How could this be an empty phrase? Sincerity is wholeness and returning.
The Original
Wang Bi’s prose original:
曲則全，枉則直，窪則盈，弊則新，少則得，多則惑。是以聖人抱一為天下式。不自見，故明；不自是，故彰；不自伐，故有功；不自矜，故長。夫唯不爭，故天下莫能與之爭。古之所謂曲則全者，豈虛言哉！誠全而歸之。
Our poetic reformatting:
曲則全， 枉則直， 窪則盈， 弊則新， 少則得， 多則惑。 是以聖人抱一為天下式。 不自見，故明； 不自是，故彰； 不自伐，故有功； 不自矜，故長。 夫唯不爭， 故天下莫能與之爭。 古之所謂曲則全者， 豈虛言哉！ 誠全而歸之。
Terminology
A couple of key phrases, also first introduced in Chapter 2, reappear here in Chapter 22:
聖人 (Shèngrén) - “the Sage”
天下 (Tiān xià) - “under Heaven”
New concepts not mentioned previously (to the best of my recollection) include:
曲 (qū) - here translated as “break” (Ursula K. Le Guin agrees with this interpretation), but it can also mean “bent,” “crooked”
全 (quán) - here translated as “whole” (Derek Lin and Ursula K. Le Guin both agree with this interpretation), but it can also mean “complete,” “entire,” “plenary”
誠 (chéng) - here translated as “sincerity,” but it can also mean “honest,” “actually,” “really,” “frankness”
Notes
Now that I think about it, the emphasis on “wholeness” with the repetition of 全 (quán) fits nicely with this notion of “the Sage embracing the One” (聖人抱一).