天下皆知

Chinese Text

天下皆知美之為美，斯惡已； 皆知善之為善，斯不善已。 故有無相生，難易相成，長短相形，高下相傾，音聲相和，前後相隨。 是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教。 萬物作焉而不辭，生而不有，為而不恃，功成而弗居。 夫唯弗居，是以不去。

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Translation

天下皆知美之為美，斯惡已 When the distinction “beautiful” is drawn, “not-beautiful” co-emerges at that instant.

皆知善之為善，斯不善已 When the distinction “good” is drawn, “not-good” co-emerges at that instant.

故有無相生 Therefore: being and non-being co-generate each other.

難易相成 Difficult and easy co-complete each other.

長短相形 Long and short co-define each other.

高下相傾 High and low co-incline toward each other.

音聲相和 Organized tone and raw sound co-harmonize.

前後相隨 Before and after co-follow each other.

是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教 This is why the sage abides in non-forcing action and practices wordless teaching.

萬物作焉而不辭 The ten thousand things arise, and there is no refusing them.

生而不有 Generating without possessing.

為而不恃 Acting without relying on the result.

功成而弗居 Achievement complete, not dwelling in it.

夫唯弗居，是以不去 Precisely by not dwelling, it does not depart.

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Key Terms

Character	Pinyin	Structural Reading
美	měi	beautiful (pole created by distinction)
惡	è	not-beautiful (complement co-created)
善	shàn	good (pole created by distinction)
相	xiāng	mutual, reciprocal, each-other
生	shēng	generate, birth, arise
成	chéng	complete, accomplish
形	xíng	shape, form, define
傾	qīng	incline, lean toward
和	hé	harmonize, blend
隨	suí	follow, accompany
無為	wú wéi	non-forcing action (not inaction)
弗居	fú jū	not dwelling (enables return)

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RSM v0.988 Mapping

DDJ Element	RSM Mapping	Principle
Drawing distinction	名 = i	Orthogonal cut creates both poles
相生 (mutual arising)	Postulate 4: X·Y=k	Reciprocal constraint
Six pairs	Same structure, different domains	Universal pattern
弗居→不去	反 = +1	Return enables persistence

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The Six Demonstrations

All six pairs use 相 (mutual/reciprocal) + bidirectional verb:

Pair	Verb	Structure
有/無	相生	co-generate
難/易	相成	co-complete
長/短	相形	co-define
高/下	相傾	co-incline
音/聲	相和	co-harmonize
前/後	相隨	co-follow

Each demonstrates: draw boundary → both sides co-emerge → neither exists independently.

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What This Is NOT Saying

❌ “Beauty doesn’t exist” ❌ “Good and evil are illusions” ❌ “Nothing matters because it’s all relative” ❌ “Don’t make distinctions”

What This IS Saying

✓ Every distinction creates both poles simultaneously ✓ Neither pole exists independently of the other ✓ Both poles are real once the boundary is drawn ✓ The boundary itself is a generative act ✓ This is mechanics, not morality

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The Closing Formula

弗居 (not dwelling) → 不去 (not departing)

Release completion → Pattern persists through transformation
Grip completion → Collapse

Consistent with 反 = return. The tree releases its leaves; spring returns.