Heavy is light’s root, still is restless’s master. Thus a person of no
重德 · Zhòng Dé
Classical Chinese Text
重为轻根，静为躁君。是以君子①终日行不离辎重，虽有荣观，燕处超然。奈何万乘之主⑥，而以身轻天下？轻则失根，躁则失君。
Translation & Meaning
Heavy is light’s root, still is restless’s master. Thus a person of noble characters never moves without her impedimenta, even with beautiful scenery, linger leisurely carefree. So what can (we) do when the master of ten thousand chariots rules all that is under heaven with a light body? Lightness loses the root, restlessness loses the master.
Linguistic & Character Analysis
- 重 (zhòng): classical character (zhòng)
- 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
- 轻 (qīng): classical character (qīng)
- 根 (gēn): classical character (gēn)
- 静 (jìng): classical character (jìng)
- 躁 (zào): classical character (zào)
- 君 (jūn): classical character (jūn)
- 是 (shì): this / therefore
- 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
- 子 (zǐ): child / progeny
- 终 (zhōng): classical character (zhōng)
- 日 (rì): classical character (rì)
- 行 (xíng): practice / teach / walk
- 不 (bù): not / un- / without
- 离 (lí): classical character (lí)
- 辎 (zī): classical character (zī)
- 虽 (suī): classical character (suī)
- 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
- 荣 (róng): classical character (róng)
- 观 (guān): observe / contemplate essence
- 燕 (yàn): classical character (yàn)
- 处 (chù): stays / dwells / position
- 超 (chāo): classical character (chāo)
- 然 (rán): classical character (rán)
- 奈 (nài): classical character (nài)
- 何 (hé): classical character (hé)
- 万 (wàn): ten thousand / myriad / all
- 乘 (chéng): classical character (chéng)
- 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
- 主 (zhǔ): classical character (zhǔ)
- 而 (ér): yet / and / but
- 身 (shēn): classical character (shēn)
- 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
- 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
- 则 (zé): classical character (zé)
- 失 (shī): classical character (shī)