道六 - Tao Chapter 06

谷神不死 是谓玄牝

玄牝之门 是谓天地之根

绵绵呵 其若存

用之不堇

刚从山中出洞而尚未成流的泉脉，经过谷口可以形成流域，是因为水流持续不断绝的产出，被叫做“玄牝”。 两山之间狭长而有出口的、形成流域的低地，像门一样，可以叫“玄牝之门”。水流于其间，生生不息，孕育万物，可以作为天地间生命的根源。 水流顺水道而行，连绵不绝，顺从的存在。 依靠水可以被砂石泥土阻断的特性，将泥土做成容器或沟渠（人工水道）来使用她。 堇，黏土也。

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A spring that has just come out of a cave in the mountains and has not yet formed a stream, can form a watershed by passing through a valley because of the continuous and incessant output of water, called "mysterious female."

The narrow and long lowland between two mountains that has an outlet and forms a watershed, like a gate, can be called "the gate of the mysterious female." The water flows within it, endlessly reproduces and nurtures all things, and can serve as the root of life between heaven and earth.

The water flows along the watercourse, continuously and obediently existing. By taking advantage of the characteristics of water that can be blocked by sand, rocks and mud, it can make containers or channels (artificial watercourse) to use it.