谦德第六十一

守中阁

通行本(简)：

大邦者下流，天下之牝，天下之交也。牝常以静胜牡，以静爲下。

故大邦以下小邦，则取小邦；小邦以下大邦，则取大邦。故或下以取，或下而取。大邦不过欲兼畜人，小邦不过欲入事人。夫两者各得所欲，大者宜为下。

通行本(繁)：

大邦者下流，天下之牝，天下之交也。牝常以静勝牡，以静爲下。

故大邦以下小邦，則取小邦；小邦以下大邦，則取大邦。故或下以取，或下而取。大邦不過欲兼畜人，小邦不過欲入事人。夫兩者各得所欲，大者宜為下。

白话文解释：

大国,理应处于江河下流,处于天下阴柔处,处于天下交汇处。阴柔常常以安静胜过刚强,就是因为它静静地处于下方。因此大国如果能以谦下的态度对待小国,那就能取信小国;小国如果能以谦下的态度对待大国,那也能取信大国。总之,只要谦下,或者取信,或者被取信。大国不要过于引领,小国不要过于奉承。那么,两者都能各得所欲。相比之下,大国更应该谦下。

英文翻译：

Submission

A nation is like a hierarchy, a marketplace, and a maiden.

A maiden wins her husband by submitting to his advances;

Submission is a means of union.

So when a large country submits to a small country

It will adopt the small country;

When a small country submits to a large country

It will be adopted by the large country;

The one submits and adopts;

The other submits and is adopted.

It is in the interest of a large country to unite and gain service,

And in the interest of a small country to unite and gain patronage;

If both would serve their interests,

Both must submit.

马王堆帛书本(繁)：

大邦者，下流也，天下之牝也。天下之郊（同交，交合，乙本作交）也，牝恒以靚（乙本作静，下同）勝（乙本作朕）牡。為其靚（静）也，故宜為下也。

大邦以下小邦，則取小邦；小邦以下大邦，則取於大邦。故或下以取，或下而取。

故大邦者，不過欲兼（乙本作并）畜人；小邦者，不過欲入事人。夫皆得其欲，則大者宜爲下。