《道德经》英译（第二十五章）

有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，独立不改，周行而不殆，可以为天下母。吾不知其名，强字之曰道，强为之名曰大。大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。

故道大，天大，地大，人亦大。域中有四大，而人居其一焉。

人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。

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Chapter 25

There was a chaotic lump that had been formed prior to the Heaven and the Earth. It is soundless and shapeless, but it exists independently for long and would never stop. It moves in endless cycles, and can be the origin of everything in the universe. I do not know its name, and make do with the mark the Dao, or the Way, and name it Da, or the Great. It is vast and flows round without stopping, and extends to the farthest, and then returns to its origin. Da is also called Shi (i.e. constantly on the move). Shi is also called Yuan (i.e. far-reaching), and Yuan is also called Fan (i.e. returning to the very beginning).

Therefore, the Way is great, the Heaven is great, the Earth is great, the Man is also great. In the universe there are four greats, and the Man is one of the four.

The Man copies the Earth as example, the Earth copies the Heaven as example, the Heaven copies the Way as example, and the Way just copies the Great Nature.