Daodejing Chapter 27 breakdown: the best traveller leaves no tracks

Chapter 27 of the Daodejing describes how the highest levels of skill and craftsmanship achieve such a seamless blend of form and function that they are the perfect fit for their target environment. Accomplishing mastery of a specific craft or skill is not just about combining deep theoretical knowledge with rich practical experience. It requires taking the next step by immersing yourself in the essential spirit of the task through a process of wuwei, or effortless action.

In the second half of the chapter, the text shifts to the sage’s role in society, emphasizing compassion and inclusiveness. The sage, abandons no one and wastes nothing, embodying the accumulated wisdom of the Dao described in the passage as the “heritage of light.” This section also highlights the interdependent nature of learning and teaching, providing a reminder that even those with vast knowledge have much to gain from teaching and sharing it with others.

Section 1
The best traveller
Leaves no tracks.
The best speaker
Makes no slips.
The best accountant
Uses no tallies.
The best fastener
Uses no latch or bolt,
But cannot be opened.
The best knot
Is not tied,
But cannot be loosened.

The chapter begins by describing how true mastery of an art or skill lies in achieving a level of subtlety and effectiveness that goes almost unnoticed, rather than in overt or forceful actions.

The best speaker makes no slips when talking because he has mastered his subject so deeply that the words come out of his mouth in a natural and harmonious flow. The best fastener is so perfectly in accord with its purpose that it is secure without the need for heavy locks and huge bolts. These examples reflect the Daoist ideal of wuwei, effortless action, where tasks and functions are carried out in complete alignment with the natural flow of the world without leaving any trace.

Section 2
The sage saves people,
Abandoning no one.
He saves things,
Wasting nothing.
This is the heritage of light.
The best teach those
Who are not-so-good.
Those who are not-so-good
Are the material the best work on.
If you do not value the teacher,
If you do not cherish the material,
No matter how knowledgeable you are,
You are greatly lost.
This is the essential marvel.

The second half of the text describes the sage as someone who saves people and things, abandoning or wasting nothing. His wisdom is not just theoretical but is applied compassionately in the world, valuing all beings and objects as part of a harmonious whole.

Like a skilled craftsman who draws on his rich expertise and experience to teach his apprentices the subtleties of his craft, the sage draws from his deep well of accumulated wisdom to teach the next generation how to engage with the world.

This dynamic cycle of teaching and learning creates a harmonious environment in which everyone has value and can contribute to and benefit from their shared wisdom. Even if you consider yourself to be deeply knowledgeable about a subject, there is always something more that you can absorb through the process of teaching and learning.

Related Articles
Daodejing Chapter 27: the heritage of light