Chapter 24
IndexThere is a thing, formless yet complete, born before Heaven and Earth.
Silent and void, it stands alone and unchanging, operating everywhere without fail. It may be regarded as the Mother of all under heaven.
I do not know its name, so I designate it 'Dao'. Forced to give it a name, I call it 'Great'.
The Great is said to be passing, the passing is said to be far-reaching, the far-reaching is said to return.
Therefore, the Dao is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, and the Sovereign is also great.
Within the realm, there are four greats, and the Sovereign occupies one of them.
Humans model after Earth, Earth models after Heaven, Heaven models after the Dao, and the Dao models after Nature.