一孔录The video for this chapter is still in production. For now this page gives the original text, the facsimile page, a working translation and the commentary; the full reading follows when the video is out.
大國者下流，天下之交，天下之牝。牝常以靜勝牡，以靜為下。故大國以下小國，則取小國；小國以下大國，則取大國。故或下以取，或下而取。大國不過欲兼畜人，小國不過欲入事人。夫兩者各得其所欲，大者宜為下。A great state is the lower reaches of a river, where the world meets, the female of the world. The female always overcomes the male by stillness, and by stillness takes the lower place. So a great state, by placing itself below a small state, wins the small state; a small state, by placing itself below a great state, wins over the great state. So one wins by taking the lower place, the other wins by being in the lower place. The great state wishes no more than to unite and shelter others; the small state wishes no more than to join and serve others. For both to get what they want, the great one should take the lower place.
白Plain Chinese
大国要像江河的下游，处在天下交汇的地方，做天下的雌性。雌性常以安静胜过雄性，因为安静而居于下位。所以大国对小国谦下，就能取得小国的信从；小国对大国谦下，就能被大国容纳。所以有的谦下以取得信从，有的谦下而被容纳。大国不过想兼并畜养人，小国不过想入事于人。两者都得到了各自想要的，大国更应该谦下。
Draft plain-Chinese rendering following Wang Bi; it will be checked when the chapter is taught.
看Watch this chapter
The video for this chapter is in production and will appear here. Follow Yikonglu to see it first:YouTubeBilibili
Found an error in this chapter? Email us; once checked, it goes on the errata page under your username: 
