but I value the nursing-mother (the Tao).Some people look at Taoism and feel uncomfortable with the all too stereotypical gender assignments in terms of yin (female) and yang (male). As with most writers throughout history, people generally utilize the mores and motifs of their own culture. Ancient China was no different in this respect than other civilizations of that general era.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~
I am nourished by the great mother.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~
And value the nourishing mother
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~
I'm getting right with Tao.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~
Because [human] females are the ones who give birth, it is natural to view the act of nurturance as a female trait. Yet, as Lao Tzu makes abundantly clear throughout the Tao Te Ching, each person -- regardless of our gender -- beholds both yin and yang.
In other words, any person can choose to be a nurturer. All it takes is a reverence of life and a deep caring for the various manifestation -- straw dogs -- of Tao.
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This has been one of the things that made a little uncomfortable with Taoism.
ReplyDeleteI'm a woman but I'm childless by choice. Nurturing is so tied up with taking care of children that it's hard for me to separate the two. Because of this I don't necessarily see myself as nurturing.
The point is, one is nurtured by the Tao, and by nurturing (developing) oneself (i.e., your body, your heart-mind) you get closer to the nurturing Tao.
ReplyDeleteIt has nothing to do with gender roles.