To close it, (one) must open it (first); to weaken it, (one) must stre

微明 · Wēi Míng

Classical Chinese Text

将欲歙之，必固张之；将欲弱之，必固强之；将欲废之，必固兴之；将欲取之，必固与之。是谓微明，柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。

Translation & Meaning

To close it, (one) must open it (first); to weaken it, (one) must strengthen it (first); to abolish it, (one) must promote it (first); to take it, (one) must give it (first). These are called the subtle brightness, the soft and the weak better the hard and the strong. A fish cannot depart from the depth of water, a state’s sharp objects must not be seen by (other) people.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 将 (jiāng): classical character (jiāng)
  • 欲 (yù): intent / desire / craving
  • 歙 (xī): classical character (xī)
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 必 (bì): classical character (bì)
  • 固 (gù): classical character (gù)
  • 张 (zhāng): classical character (zhāng)
  • 弱 (ruò): weaken / soften / yield
  • 强 (qiáng): strengthen / firm / robust
  • 废 (fèi): classical character (fèi)
  • 兴 (xīng): classical character (xīng)
  • 取 (qǔ): classical character (qǔ)
  • 与 (yǔ): classical character (yǔ)
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 微 (wēi): classical character (wēi)
  • 明 (míng): classical character (míng)
  • 柔 (róu): classical character (róu)
  • 胜 (shèng): classical character (shèng)
  • 刚 (gāng): classical character (gāng)
  • 鱼 (yú): classical character (yú)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 可 (kě): can / capable of being
  • 脱 (tuō): classical character (tuō)
  • 于 (yú): to / at / in
  • 渊 (yuān): deepness / abyss / depth
  • 国 (guó): classical character (guó)
  • 利 (lì): benefits / nourishes
  • 器 (qì): classical character (qì)
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 示 (shì): classical character (shì)
  • 人 (rén): person / human