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{{Short description|Basic virtues in Taoism}}
{{Short description|Basic virtues in Taoism}}
{{About|the "Three Treasures" in Daoism||Three Treasures (disambiguation)}}
{{Taoism}}
{{Taoism}}
The '''Three Treasures''' or '''Three Jewels'''<ref>({{zh|c={{linktext|三|寶}}|p=''sānbǎo''| w=''san-pao''}})</ref> are basic [[virtues]] in [[Taoism]]. Although the ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' originally used {{transliteration|zh|sanbao}} to mean "[[compassion]]", "[[frugality]]", and "[[humility]]", the term was later used to translate the [[Three Jewels]] ([[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], [[Dharma (Buddhism)|Dharma]], and [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]]) in [[Chinese Buddhism]], and to mean the [[Three Treasures (traditional Chinese medicine)|Three Treasures]] ({{transliteration|zh|[[Jing (Chinese medicine)|jing]]}}, {{transliteration|zh|[[qi]]}}, and {{transliteration|zh|[[Shen (Chinese religion)|shen]]}}) in [[Traditional Chinese Medicine]].
The '''Three Treasures''' or '''Three Jewels''' ({{zh|c={{linktext|三|寶}}|p=''sānbǎo''| w=''san-pao''}}) are basic [[virtues]] in [[Taoism]]. Although the ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' originally used {{transliteration|zh|sanbao}} to mean "[[compassion]]", "[[frugality]]", and "[[humility]]", the term was later used to translate the [[Three Jewels]] ([[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], [[Dharma (Buddhism)|Dharma]], and [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]]) in [[Chinese Buddhism]], and to mean the [[Three Treasures (traditional Chinese medicine)|Three Treasures]] ({{transliteration|zh|[[Jing (Chinese medicine)|jing]]}}, {{transliteration|zh|[[qi]]}}, and {{transliteration|zh|[[Shen (Chinese religion)|shen]]}}) in [[Traditional Chinese Medicine]].


==Tao Te Ching==
==Tao Te Ching==
{{transliteration|zh|Sanbao}} "three treasures" first occurs in ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' chapter 67, which [[Lin Yutang]] says contains [[Laozi]]'s "most beautiful teachings":{{sfn|Lin|1948|p=292}}
{{transliteration|zh|Sanbao}} "three treasures" first occurs in ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'' chapter 67, which [[Lin Yutang]] says contains [[Laozi]]'s "most beautiful teachings":{{r|Lin1948|p=292}}


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
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The first of the Three Treasures is {{transliteration|zh|ci}} ({{zh|c={{linktext|慈}}| p=''cí''|w=''tz'u''|l=compassion, tenderness, love, mercy, kindness, gentleness, benevolence}}), which is also a [[Classical Chinese]] term for "mother" (with "tender love, nurturing" semantic associations). ''Tao Te Ching'' chapters 18 and 19 parallel {{transliteration|zh|ci}} ("parental love") with {{transliteration|zh|xiao}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|孝}} "filial love; filial piety"). [[Wing-tsit Chan]]{{r|Chan1963_219}} believes "the first is the most important" of the Three Treasures, and compares {{transliteration|zh|ci}} with [[Confucianist]] {{transliteration|zh|ren}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|仁}} "humaneness; benevolence"), which the ''Tao Te Ching'' (e.g., chapters 5 and 38) mocks.
The first of the Three Treasures is {{transliteration|zh|ci}} ({{zh|c={{linktext|慈}}| p=''cí''|w=''tz'u''|l=compassion, tenderness, love, mercy, kindness, gentleness, benevolence}}), which is also a [[Classical Chinese]] term for "mother" (with "tender love, nurturing" semantic associations). ''Tao Te Ching'' chapters 18 and 19 parallel {{transliteration|zh|ci}} ("parental love") with {{transliteration|zh|xiao}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|孝}} "filial love; filial piety"). [[Wing-tsit Chan]]{{r|Chan1963_219}} believes "the first is the most important" of the Three Treasures, and compares {{transliteration|zh|ci}} with [[Confucianist]] {{transliteration|zh|ren}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|仁}} "humaneness; benevolence"), which the ''Tao Te Ching'' (e.g., chapters 5 and 38) mocks.


The second is {{transliteration|zh|jian}} ({{zh|c={{linktext|儉}}|labels=no|p=''jiǎn''|w=''chien''|l=frugality, moderation, economy, restraint, be sparing}}), a practice that the ''Tao Te Ching'' (e.g., chapter 59) praises. Ellen M. Chen believes {{transliteration|zh|jian}} is "organically connected" with the Taoist metaphor {{transliteration|zh|[[Pu (Daoism)|pu]]}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|樸}} "uncarved wood; simplicity"), and "stands for the economy of nature that does not waste anything. When applied to the moral life it stands for the simplicity of desire."{{sfn|Chen|1989|p=209}}
The second is {{transliteration|zh|jian}} ({{zh|c={{linktext|儉}}|labels=no|p=''jiǎn''|w=''chien''|l=frugality, moderation, economy, restraint, be sparing}}), a practice that the ''Tao Te Ching'' (e.g., chapter 59) praises. Ellen M. Chen believes {{transliteration|zh|jian}} is "organically connected" with the Taoist metaphor {{transliteration|zh|[[Pu (Daoism)|pu]]}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|樸}} "uncarved wood; simplicity"), and "stands for the economy of nature that does not waste anything. When applied to the moral life it stands for the simplicity of desire."{{r|Chen1989|p=209}}


The third treasure is a six-character phrase instead of a single word: ''Bugan wei tianxia xian'' {{lang|zh-Hant|不敢為天下先}} "not dare to be first/ahead in the world".
The third treasure is a six-character phrase instead of a single word: ''Bugan wei tianxia xian'' {{lang|zh-Hant|不敢為天下先}} "not dare to be first/ahead in the world".
Chen notes that
Chen notes that
<blockquote>The third treasure, daring not be at the world's front, is the Taoist way to avoid premature death. To be at the world's front is to expose oneself, to render oneself vulnerable to the world's destructive forces, while to remain behind and to be humble is to allow oneself time to fully ripen and bear fruit. This is a treasure whose secret spring is the fear of losing one's life before one's time. This fear of death, out of a love for life, is indeed the key to Taoist wisdom.{{sfn|Chen|1989|p=209}} </blockquote>
<blockquote>The third treasure, daring not be at the world's front, is the Taoist way to avoid premature death. To be at the world's front is to expose oneself, to render oneself vulnerable to the world's destructive forces, while to remain behind and to be humble is to allow oneself time to fully ripen and bear fruit. This is a treasure whose secret spring is the fear of losing one's life before one's time. This fear of death, out of a love for life, is indeed the key to Taoist wisdom.{{r|Chen1989|p=209}} </blockquote>


In the [[Mawangdui Silk Texts]] version of the ''Tao Te Ching'', this traditional "Three Treasures" chapter 67 is chapter 32, following the traditional last chapter (81, 31). Based upon this early silk manuscript, Robert G. Henricks concludes that "Chapters 67, 68, and 69 should be read together as a unit."{{sfn|Henricks|1989|p=160}} Besides some graphic variants and [[phonetic loan character]]s, like {{transliteration|zh|ci}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|兹}} "mat, this") for {{transliteration|zh|ci}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|慈}} "compassion, love", clarified with the "heart radical" {{lang|zh-Hant|心}}), the most significant difference with the received text is the addition of {{transliteration|zh|heng}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|恆}}, "constantly, always") with "I constantly have three …" ({{lang|zh-Hant|我恆有三}}) instead of "I have three …" ({{lang|zh-Hant|我有三}}).
In the [[Mawangdui Silk Texts]] version of the ''Tao Te Ching'', this traditional "Three Treasures" chapter 67 is chapter 32, following the traditional last chapter (81, 31). Based upon this early silk manuscript, Robert G. Henricks concludes that "Chapters 67, 68, and 69 should be read together as a unit."{{r|Henricks1989|p=160}} Besides some graphic variants and [[phonetic loan character]]s, like {{transliteration|zh|ci}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|兹}} "mat, this") for {{transliteration|zh|ci}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|慈}} "compassion, love", clarified with the "heart radical" {{lang|zh-Hant|心}}), the most significant difference with the received text is the addition of {{transliteration|zh|heng}} ({{lang|zh-Hant|恆}}, "constantly, always") with "I constantly have three …" ({{lang|zh-Hant|我恆有三}}) instead of "I have three …" ({{lang|zh-Hant|我有三}}).


===English translations===
===English translations===
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| shrinking from taking precedence of others
| shrinking from taking precedence of others
|-
|-
| Lin{{sfn|Lin|1948|p=291}}
| Lin{{r|Lin1948|p=291}}
| Three Treasures
| Three Treasures
| Love
| Love
Line 103: Line 104:
| humility
| humility
|-
|-
| Henricks{{sfn|Henricks|1989|p=38}}
| Henricks{{r|Henricks1989|p=38}}
| three treasures
| three treasures
| compassion
| compassion
Line 109: Line 110:
| not presuming to be at the forefront in the world
| not presuming to be at the forefront in the world
|-
|-
| Chen{{sfn|Chen|1989|p=208}}
| Chen{{r|Chen1989|p=208}}
| three treasures
| three treasures
| motherly love
| motherly love
Line 115: Line 116:
| daring not be at the world's front
| daring not be at the world's front
|-
|-
| Mair{{sfn|Mair|1990|p=41}}
| Mair{{r|Mair1990|p=41}}
| three treasures
| three treasures
| compassion
| compassion
Line 126: Line 127:
| frugality
| frugality
| not daring to put myself ahead of everybody
| not daring to put myself ahead of everybody
|-
| La Fargue{{r|LaFargue1992}}
| Three treasures
| gentleness
| frugality
| not presuming to act like leader of the world
|}
|}



A consensus translation of the Three Treasures could be: [[compassion]] or [[love]], [[frugality]] or [[simplicity]], and [[humility]] or [[modesty]].
A consensus translation of the Three Treasures could be: [[compassion]] or [[love]], [[frugality]] or [[simplicity]], and [[humility]] or [[modesty]].


==Other meanings==
==Other meanings==
In addition to these Taoist "Three Treasures", Chinese {{transliteration|zh|sanbao}} can also refer to the [[Three Treasures (traditional Chinese medicine)|Three Treasures]] in [[Traditional Chinese Medicine]] or the [[Three Jewels]] in [[Buddhism]]. [[Victor H. Mair]] notes that Chinese Buddhists chose the Taoist term {{transliteration|zh|sanbao}} to translate [[Sanskrit]] {{transliteration|sa|[[triratna]]}} or {{transliteration|sa|ratnatraya}} ("three jewels"), and "[i]t is not at all strange that the Taoists would take over this widespread ancient Indian expression and use it for their own purposes."{{sfn|Mair|1990|p=110}}
In addition to these Taoist "Three Treasures", Chinese {{transliteration|zh|sanbao}} can also refer to the [[Three Treasures (traditional Chinese medicine)|Three Treasures]] in [[Traditional Chinese Medicine]] or the [[Three Jewels]] in [[Buddhism]]. [[Victor H. Mair]] notes that Chinese Buddhists chose the Taoist term {{transliteration|zh|sanbao}} to translate [[Sanskrit]] {{transliteration|sa|[[triratna]]}} or {{transliteration|sa|ratnatraya}} ("three jewels"), and "[i]t is not at all strange that the Taoists would take over this widespread ancient Indian expression and use it for their own purposes."{{r|Mair1990|p=110}}


[[Erik Zürcher]], who studied influences of Buddhist doctrinal terms in Taoism, noted two later meanings of {{transliteration|zh|sanbao}}:{{r|Zürcher1980_115}} {{transliteration|zh|Tao}} {{lang|zh-Hant|道}} "the Way", {{transliteration|zh|jing}} {{lang|zh-Hant|經}} "the Scriptures", and {{transliteration|zh|shi}} {{lang|zh-Hant|師}} "the Master" seems to be patterned after Buddhist usage; {{transliteration|zh|Tianbao jun}} {{lang|zh-Hant|天寶君}} "Lord of Celestial Treasure", {{transliteration|zh|Lingbao jun}} {{lang|zh-Hant|靈寶君}} "Lord of Numinous Treasure", and {{transliteration|zh|Shenbao jun}} {{lang|zh-Hant|神寶君}} "Lord of Divine Treasure" are the {{transliteration|zh|Sanyuan}} {{lang|zh-Hant|三元}} "Three Primes" of the [[Lingbao School]].
[[Erik Zürcher]], who studied influences of Buddhist doctrinal terms in Taoism, noted two later meanings of {{transliteration|zh|sanbao}}:{{r|Zürcher1980_115}} {{transliteration|zh|Tao}} {{lang|zh-Hant|道}} "the Way", {{transliteration|zh|jing}} {{lang|zh-Hant|經}} "the Scriptures", and {{transliteration|zh|shi}} {{lang|zh-Hant|師}} "the Master" seems to be patterned after Buddhist usage; {{transliteration|zh|Tianbao jun}} {{lang|zh-Hant|天寶君}} "Lord of Celestial Treasure", {{transliteration|zh|Lingbao jun}} {{lang|zh-Hant|靈寶君}} "Lord of Numinous Treasure", and {{transliteration|zh|Shenbao jun}} {{lang|zh-Hant|神寶君}} "Lord of Divine Treasure" are the {{transliteration|zh|Sanyuan}} {{lang|zh-Hant|三元}} "Three Primes" of the [[Lingbao School]].
Line 139: Line 147:
==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
{{reflist|25em|refs=
{{reflist|25em|refs=
<ref name=trWaley1934_225>{{cite book|last=Waley|first=Arthur|year=1934|title=The Way and Its Power: A Study of the Tao Te Ching and its Place in Chinese Thought|publisher=Allen & Unwin|page=225}}</ref>
<ref name=Balfour1884_41>{{cite book|last=Balfour|first=Frederic H.|year=1884|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k4kM9E7G1CEC|title=Taoist Texts: Ethical, Political, and Speculative|publisher=Trubner|page=41|isbn=978-1-4655-7670-5 }}</ref>

<ref name=Chan1963_219>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-link=Wing-tsit Chan|translator-last=Chan|translator-first=Wing-Tsit|year=1963|title=The Way of Lao Tzu|publisher=Bobbs-Merrill|page=219}}</ref>
<ref name=Chan1963_219>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-link=Wing-tsit Chan|translator-last=Chan|translator-first=Wing-Tsit|year=1963|title=The Way of Lao Tzu|publisher=Bobbs-Merrill|page=219}}</ref>
⚫
<ref name=Chen1989>{{cite book |last=Chen |first=Ellen M. |date=1989 |title=The Te Tao Ching: A New Translation with Commentary |publisher=Paragon House}}</ref>

<ref name=Balfour1884_41>{{cite book|last=Balfour|first=Frederic H.|year=1884|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k4kM9E7G1CEC|title=Taoist Texts: Ethical, Political, and Speculative|publisher=Trubner|page=41}}</ref>
<ref name=EnglishFeng1972_NP>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last1=English|translator-first1=Jane|translator-first2=Gia-Fu|translator-last2=Feng|year=1972|title=Tao Te Ching|publisher=Vintage Books}}</ref>

⚫
<ref name=Legge1891_110>{{cite book|last=Legge|first=James|year=1891|title=The Texts of Taoism|series=Sacred Books of China|publisher=Clarendon Press|page=110}}</ref>

<ref name=Erkes1950_117>{{cite journal|author=Ho-Shang-Kung|translator-last=Erkes|translator-first=Eduard|year=1950|title=Ho-Shang-Kung's Commentary on Lao-tse|journal=Artibus Asiae|volume=8|number=2/4|page=117}}</ref>
<ref name=Erkes1950_117>{{cite journal|author=Ho-Shang-Kung|translator-last=Erkes|translator-first=Eduard|year=1950|title=Ho-Shang-Kung's Commentary on Lao-tse|journal=Artibus Asiae|volume=8|number=2/4|page=117}}</ref>
⚫
<ref name=Henricks1989>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last=Henricks |translator-first=Robert G. |date=1989 |title=Lao-tzu: Te-Tao Ching, A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts |publisher=Ballantine}}</ref>

⚫
<ref name=Wu1961_97>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last=Wu|translator-first=John C.H.|year=1961|title=Tao Teh Ching|publisher=St. John's University Press|page=97}}</ref>

<ref name=Lau1963_129>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last=Lau|translator-first=D.C.|year=1963|title=Tao Te Ching|publisher=Penguin Books|page=129}}</ref>
<ref name=Lau1963_129>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last=Lau|translator-first=D.C.|year=1963|title=Tao Te Ching|publisher=Penguin Books|page=129}}</ref>
⚫
<ref name=Legge1891_110>{{cite book|last=Legge|first=James|year=1891|title=The Texts of Taoism|series=Sacred Books of China|publisher=Clarendon Press|page=110}}</ref>

<ref name=EnglishFeng1972_NP>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last1=English|translator-first1=Jane|translator-first2=Gia-Fu|translator-last2=Feng|year=1972|title=Tao Te Ching|publisher=Vintage Books}}</ref>
<ref name=Lin1948>{{cite book |last=Lin |first=Yutang |authorlink=Lin Yutang |date=1948 |title=The Wisdom of Laotse |publisher=Random House}}</ref>
⚫
<ref name=Mair1990>{{cite book |last=Mair |first=Victor H. |date=1990 |title=Tao Te Ching: The Classic Book of Integrity and the Way, by Lao Tzu; an entirely new translation based on the recently discovered Ma-wang-tui manuscripts |publisher=Bantam Books}}</ref>

⚫
<ref name=Muller2004_NP>{{cite web|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last=Muller|translator-first=Charles|year=2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313112926/http://www.hm.tyg.jp/~acmuller/contao/daodejing.html|archive-date=2007-03-13|url=http://www.hm.tyg.jp/~acmuller/contao/daodejing.html|url-status=dead|title=Daode jing}}</ref>
<ref name=trWaley1934_225>{{cite book|last=Waley|first=Arthur|year=1934|title=The Way and Its Power: A Study of the Tao Te Ching and its Place in Chinese Thought|publisher=Allen & Unwin|page=225}}</ref>
<ref name=Wieger1984_34>{{cite book|last=Wieger|first=Léon|year=1984|title=Wisdom of the Daoist Masters|translator-first=Derek|translator-last=Bryce|publisher=Llanerch Enterprises|page=34}}</ref>
<ref name=Wieger1984_34>{{cite book|last=Wieger|first=Léon|year=1984|title=Wisdom of the Daoist Masters|translator-first=Derek|translator-last=Bryce|publisher=Llanerch Enterprises|page=34}}</ref>
⚫
<ref name=Wu1961_97>{{cite book|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last=Wu|translator-first=John C.H.|year=1961|title=Tao Teh Ching|publisher=St. John's University Press|page=97}}</ref>

⚫
<ref name="Zürcher1980_115">{{cite journal|author-link=Erik Zürcher|last=Zürcher|first=Erik|year=1980|title=Buddhsti Influence on Early Taoism: A Survey of Scriptural Evidence|journal=T'oung Pao| volume=66|number=1/3|page=115|doi=10.1163/156853280X00039 }}</ref>
⚫
<ref name=Muller2004_NP>{{cite web|author=Lao Tzu|translator-last=Muller|translator-first=Charles|year=2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313112926/http://www.hm.tyg.jp/~acmuller/contao/daodejing.html|archive-date=2007-03-13|url=http://www.hm.tyg.jp/~acmuller/contao/daodejing.html|url-status=dead|title=Daode jing}}</ref>
<ref name="LaFargue1992">{{cite book |last=LaFargue|first=Micheal |year=1992 |title=The Tao of the Tao Te Ching |publisher=SUNY| page=8}}</ref>

⚫
<ref name=Zürcher1980_115>{{cite journal|author-link=Erik Zürcher|last=Zürcher|first=Erik|year=1980|title=Buddhist Influence on Early Taoism: A Survey of Scriptural Evidence|journal=T'oung Pao| volume=66|number=1/3|page=115}}</ref>
}}

==References==
⚫
* {{cite book |last=Chen |first=Ellen M. |date=1989 |title=The Te Tao Ching: A New Translation with Commentary |publisher=Paragon House
}}
⚫
* {{cite book |last=Henricks |first=Robert G. |date=1989 |title=Lao-tzu: Te-Tao Ching, A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts |publisher=Ballantine
}}
* {{cite book |last=Lin |first=Yutang |authorlink=Lin Yutang |date=1948 |title=The Wisdom of Laotse |publisher=Random House
}}
⚫
* {{cite book |last=Mair |first=Victor H. |date=1990 |title=Tao Te Ching: The Classic Book of Integrity and the Way, by Lao Tzu; an entirely new translation based on the recently discovered Ma-wang-tui manuscripts |publisher=Bantam Books
}}
}}


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{{Virtues}}
{{Virtues}}


[[Category:Cultural lists|3 Three Treasures (Taoism)]]
[[Category:Cultural lists]]
⚫
[[Category:Taoist ethics]]
[[Category:Taoist philosophy]]
[[Category:Taoist philosophy]]
⚫
[[Category:Taoist ethics]]
⚫
[[Category:Virtue]]
[[Category:Taoist practices]]
[[Category:Taoist practices]]
[[Category:Treasures in religion]]
[[Category:Treasures in religion]]
⚫
[[Category:Virtue]]

Latest revision as of 03:34, 14 May 2024

This article is about the "Three Treasures" in Daoism. For other uses, see Three Treasures (disambiguation).
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The Three Treasures or Three Jewels (Chinese: 三寶; pinyin: sānbǎo; Wade–Giles: san-pao) are basic virtues in Taoism. Although the Tao Te Ching originally used sanbao to mean "compassion", "frugality", and "humility", the term was later used to translate the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) in Chinese Buddhism, and to mean the Three Treasures (jing, qi, and shen) in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Tao Te Ching

[edit]

Sanbao "three treasures" first occurs in Tao Te Ching chapter 67, which Lin Yutang says contains Laozi's "most beautiful teachings":[1]: 292 

天下皆謂我道大，似不肖。夫唯大，故似不肖。若肖久矣。其細也夫！我有三寶，持而保之。一曰慈，二曰儉，三曰不敢為天下先。慈故能勇；儉故能廣；不敢為天下先，故能成器長。今舍慈且勇；舍儉且廣；舍後且先；死矣！夫慈以戰則勝，以守則固。天將救之，以慈衛之。

Every one under heaven says that our Way is greatly like folly. But it is just because it is great, that it seems like folly. As for things that do not seem like folly — well, there can be no question about their smallness!
Here are my three treasures. Guard and keep them! The first is pity; the second, frugality; the third, refusal to be 'foremost of all things under heaven'.
For only he that pities is truly able to be brave;
Only he that is frugal is able to be profuse.
Only he that refuses to be foremost of all things
Is truly able to become chief of all Ministers.

At present your bravery is not based on pity, nor your profusion on frugality, nor your vanguard on your rear; and this is death. But pity cannot fight without conquering or guard without saving. Heaven arms with pity those whom it would not see destroyed.[2]

Arthur Waley describes these Three Treasures as, "The three rules that formed the practical, political side of the author's teaching (1) abstention from aggressive war and capital punishment, (2) absolute simplicity of living, (3) refusal to assert active authority."

Chinese terminology

[edit]

The first of the Three Treasures is ci (Chinese: 慈; pinyin: cí; Wade–Giles: tz'u; lit. 'compassion', 'tenderness', 'love', 'mercy', 'kindness', 'gentleness', 'benevolence'), which is also a Classical Chinese term for "mother" (with "tender love, nurturing" semantic associations). Tao Te Ching chapters 18 and 19 parallel ci ("parental love") with xiao (孝 "filial love; filial piety"). Wing-tsit Chan[3] believes "the first is the most important" of the Three Treasures, and compares ci with Confucianist ren (仁 "humaneness; benevolence"), which the Tao Te Ching (e.g., chapters 5 and 38) mocks.

The second is jian (儉; jiǎn; chien; 'frugality', 'moderation', 'economy', 'restraint', 'be sparing'), a practice that the Tao Te Ching (e.g., chapter 59) praises. Ellen M. Chen believes jian is "organically connected" with the Taoist metaphor pu (樸 "uncarved wood; simplicity"), and "stands for the economy of nature that does not waste anything. When applied to the moral life it stands for the simplicity of desire."[4]: 209 

The third treasure is a six-character phrase instead of a single word: Bugan wei tianxia xian 不敢為天下先 "not dare to be first/ahead in the world". Chen notes that

The third treasure, daring not be at the world's front, is the Taoist way to avoid premature death. To be at the world's front is to expose oneself, to render oneself vulnerable to the world's destructive forces, while to remain behind and to be humble is to allow oneself time to fully ripen and bear fruit. This is a treasure whose secret spring is the fear of losing one's life before one's time. This fear of death, out of a love for life, is indeed the key to Taoist wisdom.[4]: 209 

In the Mawangdui Silk Texts version of the Tao Te Ching, this traditional "Three Treasures" chapter 67 is chapter 32, following the traditional last chapter (81, 31). Based upon this early silk manuscript, Robert G. Henricks concludes that "Chapters 67, 68, and 69 should be read together as a unit."[5]: 160  Besides some graphic variants and phonetic loan characters, like ci (兹 "mat, this") for ci (慈 "compassion, love", clarified with the "heart radical" 心), the most significant difference with the received text is the addition of heng (恆, "constantly, always") with "I constantly have three …" (我恆有三) instead of "I have three …" (我有三).

English translations

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The language of the Tao Te Ching is notoriously difficult to translate, as illustrated by the diverse English renditions of "Three Treasures" below.

Translations of the Three Treasures
Translation Sanbao 三寶 Ci 慈 Jian 儉 Bugan wei tianxia xian 不敢為天下先
Balfour[6] three things which I regard as precious compassion frugality not venturing to take precedence of others — modesty
Legge[7] three precious things gentleness economy shrinking from taking precedence of others
Lin[1]: 291  Three Treasures Love Moderation Never be the first in the world
Erkes[8] three jewels kindness thriftiness not daring to play the first part in the empire
Waley[2] three treasures pity frugality refusal to be 'foremost of all things under heaven'
Wu[9] Three Treasures Mercy Frugality Not daring to be First in the World
Chan[3] three treasures deep love frugality not to dare to be ahead of the world
Lau[10] three treasures compassion frugality not daring to take the lead in the empire
English & Feng[11] three treasures which I hold and keep mercy economy daring not to be ahead of others — humility
Wieger & Bryce[12] three things charity simplicity humility
Henricks[5]: 38  three treasures compassion frugality not presuming to be at the forefront in the world
Chen[4]: 208  three treasures motherly love frugality daring not be at the world's front
Mair[13]: 41  three treasures compassion frugality not daring to be ahead of all under heaven
Muller[14] three treasures compassion frugality not daring to put myself ahead of everybody
La Fargue[15] Three treasures gentleness frugality not presuming to act like leader of the world


A consensus translation of the Three Treasures could be: compassion or love, frugality or simplicity, and humility or modesty.

Other meanings

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In addition to these Taoist "Three Treasures", Chinese sanbao can also refer to the Three Treasures in Traditional Chinese Medicine or the Three Jewels in Buddhism. Victor H. Mair notes that Chinese Buddhists chose the Taoist term sanbao to translate Sanskrit triratna or ratnatraya ("three jewels"), and "[i]t is not at all strange that the Taoists would take over this widespread ancient Indian expression and use it for their own purposes."[13]: 110 

Erik Zürcher, who studied influences of Buddhist doctrinal terms in Taoism, noted two later meanings of sanbao:[16] Tao 道 "the Way", jing 經 "the Scriptures", and shi 師 "the Master" seems to be patterned after Buddhist usage; Tianbao jun 天寶君 "Lord of Celestial Treasure", Lingbao jun 靈寶君 "Lord of Numinous Treasure", and Shenbao jun 神寶君 "Lord of Divine Treasure" are the Sanyuan 三元 "Three Primes" of the Lingbao School.

The use of the term San jiao in Classical Chinese thought is used to explain the relationships between the ten thousand things. From the macrocosm to the microcosm the blending of Heaven and Earth leading to the interpreted meaning by humans.

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b Lin, Yutang (1948). The Wisdom of Laotse. Random House.
  2. ^ a b Waley, Arthur (1934). The Way and Its Power: A Study of the Tao Te Ching and its Place in Chinese Thought. Allen & Unwin. p. 225.
  3. ^ a b Lao Tzu (1963). The Way of Lao Tzu. Translated by Chan, Wing-Tsit. Bobbs-Merrill. p. 219.
  4. ^ a b c Chen, Ellen M. (1989). The Te Tao Ching: A New Translation with Commentary. Paragon House.
  5. ^ a b Lao Tzu (1989). Lao-tzu: Te-Tao Ching, A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts. Translated by Henricks, Robert G. Ballantine.
  6. ^ Balfour, Frederic H. (1884). Taoist Texts: Ethical, Political, and Speculative. Trubner. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4655-7670-5.
  7. ^ Legge, James (1891). The Texts of Taoism. Sacred Books of China. Clarendon Press. p. 110.
  8. ^ Ho-Shang-Kung (1950). "Ho-Shang-Kung's Commentary on Lao-tse". Artibus Asiae. 8 (2/4). Translated by Erkes, Eduard: 117.
  9. ^ Lao Tzu (1961). Tao Teh Ching. Translated by Wu, John C.H. St. John's University Press. p. 97.
  10. ^ Lao Tzu (1963). Tao Te Ching. Translated by Lau, D.C. Penguin Books. p. 129.
  11. ^ Lao Tzu (1972). Tao Te Ching. Translated by English, Jane; Feng, Gia-Fu. Vintage Books.
  12. ^ Wieger, Léon (1984). Wisdom of the Daoist Masters. Translated by Bryce, Derek. Llanerch Enterprises. p. 34.
  13. ^ a b Mair, Victor H. (1990). Tao Te Ching: The Classic Book of Integrity and the Way, by Lao Tzu; an entirely new translation based on the recently discovered Ma-wang-tui manuscripts. Bantam Books.
  14. ^ Lao Tzu (2004). "Daode jing". Translated by Muller, Charles. Archived from the original on 2007-03-13.
  15. ^ LaFargue, Micheal (1992). The Tao of the Tao Te Ching. SUNY. p. 8.
  16. ^ Zürcher, Erik (1980). "Buddhsti Influence on Early Taoism: A Survey of Scriptural Evidence". T'oung Pao. 66 (1/3): 115. doi:10.1163/156853280X00039.
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