Daodejing Chapter 25 breakdown: nebulous yet whole

3 min readDec 29, 2023

Chapter 25 of the Daodejing presents a meditation on the nature of the Dao as the eternal, ineffable force that underlies and sustains all things. It highlights the interconnectedness and hierarchical order of the cosmos and invites you to reflect on the mysteries of existence and the path to living in harmony with the fundamental principle of the universe.

Section 1
There is something
Nebulous yet whole,
That was born
Before heaven and earth.
Silent and formless,
Alone and unchanging,
All-pervading and inexhaustible,
It may be considered the
Mother of all-under-heaven.

The chapter opens with a description of a “nebulous yet whole” entity existing before heaven and earth. This is of course the Dao, the ultimate principle that underlies all creation and reality. The text describes it as silent, formless, alone, and unchanging, emphasizing its mysterious and eternal nature.

The passage also reminds you of the feminine essence of the Dao, describing it as the “mother of all-under-heaven” to highlight its role as the source and sustainer of all things. Just as a mother gives life and nourishment to an infant, the Dao gives rise to the complexity and diversity of the universe without effort or intent.

Section 2
I do not know its name.
I just call it the Dao.
If I must give it a name,
I call it great.
Great means
It is boundless.
Boundless means
It reaches everywhere.
Reaches everywhere means
It returns to itself.
The Dao is great,
Heaven is great,
Earth is great,
Humanity is great.

While admitting that he has no idea of the true name of the Dao, the author remarks that if pressed to give it one he would (rather unimaginatively) call it “great.” This is because the Dao is so infinite and pervasive that it is beyond human language and comprehension, reaching everywhere yet always returning to its source in a constant cycle of reversion.

Section 3
Within the realm,
There are four great things.
Humanity is one of them.
Humanity models itself on earth.
Earth models itself on heaven.
Heaven models itself on the Dao.
The Dao models itself
On what is naturally so.

The greatness of the Dao is reflected in the cosmic hierarchy where humanity models itself after the earth, the earth after heaven, heaven after the Dao, and the Dao models itself on what is naturally so. This hierarchy mirrors a natural order and harmony where each level takes its cues from a higher, more fundamental principle, leading back to the Dao.

The Dao itself is aligned with the inherent nature of things (自然/zìrán). It does not force or contrive but flows in accordance with the intrinsic qualities and tendencies of the natural world.

This description fits with the underlying theme of interconnectedness and harmony in the chapter. Everything is seen as part of a greater whole, with the Dao as the unifying force. Humanity, heaven, earth, and the Dao are all interconnected, each reflecting the qualities and virtues of the others in a cosmic symphony of balance and order.

Daodejing Chapter 25 breakdown: nebulous yet whole

Written by Richard Brown

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