evanescent like ice that is melting away;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~
Yielding like ice about to melt.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~
Loose, like ice about to melt
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~
They moved quickly, like melting ice.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~
You've been reading a lot lately re my thoughts on the lines in Verse 15. Let's see what
John Lash and
Derek Lin have to say about Line 8.
Snow, when melting, loses its whiteness. It becomes transparent on the outer edges. One touch of the finger and it is gone. In Tai Chi, whether in self-defence or in everyday life, as soon as you meet something hard, like another person's opinion, or when you sense antagonism and feel its pressure, you yield instantly, you disappear in order to avoid conflict. (Lash)
The masters were careful, not uptight. They went about their activities with a certain looseness, which took nothing away from their concern for others and for doing a good job. (Lin)
To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.
I love this line. In my copy's translation, by Steven Mitchell (I know it's actually an interpretation, not a translation), it says "fluid as melting ice" which I always found to be such a beautiful, poetic image. I like Lash's bit that you posted about melting snow as well. :)
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