道德经上篇：《道经》
第一章
【原文】
道可道①，非常道②；名可名，非常名③。无，名天地之始④；有，名万物之母⑤。故常无，欲以观其妙；常有，欲以观其徼(jiào)⑥。此两者，同出而异名，同谓之玄⑦。玄之又玄，众妙之门。
【注释】
①道：构成宇宙的实体与动力。
②道：用语言表达出来。
③常：恒久不变。
④名：这里指道的名称，文化思想。
⑤名：用语言表达出来。
⑥徼(jiào)：通“窍”，踪迹的意思。
⑦玄：幽昧深远。
【译文】
可以用语言表达出来的道，就不是永恒不变的“道”；可以用语言表达出来的名，就不是永恒不变的“名”。无，是天地的开端，有，是万物的根源。所以，常从“无”中观察天地的奥妙；常从“有”中寻找万物的踪迹。有和无，只不过是同一来源的不同名称罢了。有和无都是幽昧深远的，它们是一切变化的总门。
English Translation
Version 1：by Daniel Baida Su and Shangyu Chen
Tao can be spoken of, but is not the Tao of whom we commonly speak;
A name can be given, but not a common name.
He can be called non-being,
because he preceded Heaven and earth;
He can be called pre-being, because he gave birth to all that is.
Therefore, since he is non-being, his wonders can be meditated upon;
Since he is being, his track can be seen.
Non-being and being are merely two terms for the one source.
That the two are one is a mystery.
Mystery upon mystery—the gateway to all wonders!
A name can be given, but not a common name.
He can be called non-being,
because he preceded Heaven and earth;
He can be called pre-being, because he gave birth to all that is.
Therefore, since he is non-being, his wonders can be meditated upon;
Since he is being, his track can be seen.
Non-being and being are merely two terms for the one source.
That the two are one is a mystery.
Mystery upon mystery—the gateway to all wonders!
Version 2：by John C. H. Wu
