Stanza 15 of the Tao Te Ching offers a portrait of the ancient masters: the subtle, powerful sages and warriors of old who embodied the Tao not through dominance or display but through depth, restraint, humility, and harmony. Laozi acknowledges that such individuals are difficult to describe, for they were as mysterious as they were wise. Yet, he makes an attempt, through metaphor and paradox, to give us a glimpse into their nature.
This stanza is a guide to virtuous leadership, spiritual cultivation, and the art of living without striving. It is a meditation on the qualities of stillness, openness, and subtle action, qualities often undervalued in a noisy, aggressive world.
The Mysterious Power of the Ancients
"Skilled warriors of old were subtle, mysteriously powerful, so deep they were unknowable. Just because they were unknowable, I will try to describe them."
Laozi opens with a reverent tone, speaking of the ancient ones who truly embodied the Tao.
They were subtle (Wei 微): not flashy or showy, but deeply aware and inwardly powerful.
They were mysteriously effective (Xuan De 玄德): their influence came not from overt action but from alignment with natural forces.
They were deep (Shen 深): their inner life was profound, and their wisdom could not be easily explained or understood.
True sages leave no trace of their virtue, yet their presence transforms everything. Their power lies in their humility, selflessness, and ability to act without ego. Because they were difficult to describe in ordinary terms, Laozi uses poetic imagery to hint at their qualities.
Describing the Undescribable
"Their wariness was as that of one crossing a river in winter; their caution was as that of one in fear of all around; their gravity was as that of a guest; their relaxation was as that of ice at the melting point."
These metaphors speak to attitude, presence, and awareness:
"Crossing a river in winter"
- Careful, deliberate, mindful of danger.
- The sage moves with sensitivity, not recklessness.
- Every step is placed with awareness of the whole.
"In fear of all around"
- Not paranoia, but reverence for the forces of nature and life.
- An awareness that everything has power and nothing should be taken for granted.
"As a guest"
- Humble, respectful, never assuming ownership or control.
- The sage sees themselves as a temporary presence, not a master of the world.
"As ice at the melting point"
- Relaxed, yielding, right at the edge of transformation.
- This is a poised openness, soft yet full of potential.
These qualities reflect the Taoist ideal of presence without force, of being deeply aware yet without tension or assertion.
Natural Simplicity and Openness
"Simple as uncarved wood, open as the valleys, they were inscrutable as murky water."
Laozi continues with three powerful Taoist images:
Uncarved wood (Pu 朴)
- Represents original simplicity, a state of potential, untouched by ambition or artifice.
- The sage does not seek refinement for show; they preserve their naturalness.
The Valley
- Always low, receptive, and nourishing.
- A metaphor for humility, openness, and the capacity to hold all things.
Murky water
- Mysterious, unclear, yet not chaotic.
- The sage may appear enigmatic or slow to act, but they are governed by deep clarity beneath the surface.
These metaphors challenge our usual ideals of brilliance, charisma, and clarity. Instead of shining, the sage absorbs. Instead of standing above, the sage goes low. Instead of rushing, the sage waits for the moment to arise.
Stillness and Movement
"Who can, in turbidity, use the gradual clarification of stillness? Who can, long at rest, use the gradual enlivening of movement?"
Here, Laozi asks two rhetorical questions:
Can you wait in murky water until it clears?
- The sage does not stir or force clarity but allows stillness to settle the mud.
- This reflects trust in the process, patience, and faith in the natural return to order.
Can you move gracefully after long stillness?
- When it's time to act, the sage acts effortlessly, without stiffness or delay.
- Stillness prepares movement; rest empowers flow.
The sage knows how to use stillness to clarify and movement to enliven, each at the right time. This is the Taoist understanding of timing: that wisdom is not in constant motion or stillness but in knowing when and how to shift between the two.
Avoiding Fullness
"Those who preserve this Way do not want fullness. Just because of not wanting fullness, it is possible to use the full and not make anew."
This stanza ends with a paradoxical teaching about emptiness and endurance.
To be full is to be at the point of decline. When a cup is full, it spills.
Those who seek the fullness of wealth, ego, knowledge, or control set themselves up to lose it.
But, those who avoid fullness, who remain open, spacious, and unpossessive, can enjoy and use what is full without having to refill or replace it. This is Wu Wei again: using without clinging, having without hoarding, acting without overreacting. Because the sage doesn't overfill their life, they never exhaust it. They know when to stop, yield, rest, and return.
Practical Application
Move Carefully, Like in Winter Waters
- Cultivate awareness in your daily actions.
- Don't rush; be deliberate and attentive, especially when the path is uncertain.
Embrace Humility
- Be like a guest: respectful, observant, and not entitled.
- Don't assume control; live with reverence and restraint.
Return to Simplicity
- Value naturalness over perfection.
- Choose to be whole and real, not polished and over-refined.
Allow Stillness to Clarify
- When things are murky or unclear, be still rather than reactive.
- Trust that patience reveals what haste obscures.
Don't Overfill Your Life
- Avoid excess in ambition, consumption, and emotion.
- Leave space in your schedule, your mind, and your relationships.
- Let things flow through you rather than trying to own them.
Stanza 15 celebrates the ancient way, which does not shout, push, or strive.
The sage is not easily seen or known, yet their presence is deeply felt.
They are humble, cautious, still, soft, powerful, enduring, and transformative.
Their virtue is not in dominance but in subtlety, not in fullness but in openness.
This is the Taoist warrior: one who leads by yielding, influences without imposing, and transforms the world by embodying stillness, simplicity, and trust in the Tao.