成象

原文

谷神不死，是谓玄牝。玄牝之门，是谓天地根。绵绵若存，用之不勤。

王弼注

谷神不死，是谓玄牝。玄牝之门，是谓天地根。绵绵若存，用之不勤。谷神，谷中央无。谷也，无形无影，无逆无违，处卑不动，守静不衰，谷以之成而不见其形，此至物也。处卑而不可得名，故谓天地之根，绵绵若存，用之不勤。门，玄牝之所由也，本其所由，与极同体，故谓之天地之根也。欲言存邪，则不见其形，欲言亡邪，万物以之生。故绵绵若存也，无物不成，用而不劳也。故曰，用而不勤也。

英文 · James Legge

(The completion of material forms) The valley spirit dies not, aye the same; The female mystery thus do we name. Its gate, from which at first they issued forth, Is called the root from which grew heaven and earth. Long and unbroken does its power remain, Used gently, and without the touch of pain.