Daodejing Chapter 36 breakdown: the magic of reversion

3 min readJan 10, 2024

Chapter 36 of the Daodejing shows how you can use the magic of reversion to your own advantage by acting counterintuitively when faced with a challenging situation. The principle of reversion is based on the idea that when something reaches its extreme it automatically transforms into its opposite. The text describes understanding how to harness it to achieve a favourable outcome as “subtle enlightenment.”

Although some commentators argue that the final two lines of this chapter are out of place, a more plausible interpretation is that the text is advising the ruler of a small and weak state to keep a low profile to avoid attracting the attention of a much larger and more powerful adversary. By concealing his wealth and military capabilities, the ruler can avoid being identified as a juicy target or a potential threat.

Section 1
To shrink something,
Stretch it first.
To weaken something,
Strengthen it first.
To destroy something,
Raise it up first.
To take something,
Give it away first.
This is called
Subtle enlightenment.

The chapter begins with four examples of opposites or dualities that show how you can harness the process of reversion to influence an outcome by engaging in the opposite action. By stretching cloth, for example, you weaken the fibres so that the material becomes easier to shrink later. Or by praising an opponent or competitor to the skies you can set them up for a fall by making them overconfident.

The text describes recognising and harnessing the deeper, often non-obvious relationships between forces and actions as “subtle enlightenment.” It calls for you to move beyond superficial understanding and simplistic notions of causality and embrace a more nuanced and deeper understanding of the paradoxical ways in which the world works.

Section 2
Soft and weak overcome
Hard and strong.

The passage repeats a recurrent theme in the Daodejing that the soft and weak overcome the hard and strong, emphasizing that true strength is not about brute force but flexibility, adaptability, and resilience. Just as water erodes even the mightiest rock and a slender reed outlasts a rigid oak in a heavy storm, the soft and weak have an enduring power that the hard and strong lack.

Section 3
Never remove a fish
From deep water
Never show the
Sharp weapons of a state.

The final section of the chapter highlights the importance of preserving things in their natural environment and concealing your true capabilities. By keeping fish in deep water and your weapons hidden from others, you can quietly build up your resources and strength without drawing unwanted attention from a much larger opponent that may begin to perceive you as an attractive target or emerging threat that needs to be taken care of.

Daodejing Chapter 36 breakdown: the magic of reversion

Written by Richard Brown