象元
原文
有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，独立不改，周行而不殆，可以为天下母。吾不知其名，字之曰道，强为之名曰大。大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。故道大，天大，地大，王亦大。域中有四大，而王居其一焉。人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。
王弼注
有物混成，先天地生。混然不可得而知，而万物由之以成，故曰混成也。不知其谁之子，故先天地生。寂兮寥兮，独立不改，寂寥，无形体也。无物之匹，故曰独立也。返化终始，不失其常，故曰不改也。周行而不殆，可以为天下母。周行无所不至而免殆，能生全大形也，故可以为天下母也。吾不知其名，名以定形，混成无形，不可得而定，故曰，不知其名也。字之曰道，夫名以定形，字以称可，言道取于无物而不由也。是混成之中，可言之称最大也。强为之名，曰大。吾所以字之曰道者，取其可言之称最大也。责其字定之所由，则系于大，大有系，则必有分，有分则失其极矣。故曰，强为之名曰大。大曰逝，逝，行也。不守一大体而已。周行无所不至，故曰逝也。逝曰远，远曰反。远，极也。周无所不穷极，不偏于一。逝故曰远也，不随于所适，其体独立，故曰反也。故道大，天大，地大，王亦大。天地之性，人为贵，而王是人之主也。虽不职大亦复为大与三匹，故曰，王亦大也。域中有四大，四大，道、天、地、王也。凡物有称有名则非其极也，言道则有所由，有所由然后谓之为道，然则是道，称中之大也，不若无称之大也。无称不可得而名曰域也，道天地王皆在乎无称之内，故曰，域中有四大者也。而王居其一焉。处人主之大也。人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。法，谓法则也。人不违地，乃得全安，法地也。地不违天，乃得全载，法天也。天不违道，乃得全覆，法道也。道不违自然，乃得其性，法自然者。在方而法方，在圆而法圆，于自然无所违，自然者，无称之言，穷极之辞也。用智不及无知，而形魄不及精象，精象不及无形，有仪不及无仪，故转相法也。道顺自然，天故资焉。天法于道，地故则焉。地法于天，人故象焉。所以为主其一之者，主也。
英文 · James Legge
(Representations of the mystery) There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. How still it was and formless, standing alone, and undergoing no change, reaching everywhere and in no danger (of being exhausted)! It may be regarded as the Mother of all things. I do not know its name, and I give it the designation of the Dao (the Way or Course). Making an effort (further) to give it a name I call it The Great. Great, it passes on (in constant flow). Passing on, it becomes remote. Having become remote, it returns. Therefore the Dao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also great. In the universe there are four that are great, and the (sage) king is one of them. Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Dao. The law of the Dao is its being what it is.