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.
小國寡民。使有什伯之器而不用，使民重死而不遠徙。雖有舟輿，無所乘之；雖有甲兵，無所陳之。使人復結繩而用之。甘其食，美其服，安其居，樂其俗。鄰國相望，雞犬之聲相聞，民至老死不相往來。A small state with few people. Let there be tools for tens and hundreds of men, yet not used; let the people take death seriously and not move far away. Though they have boats and carriages, they have no occasion to ride them; though they have armor and weapons, they have no occasion to display them. Let people return to knotting cords and using them. Let them find their food sweet, their clothes fine, their homes peaceful, their customs a joy. Neighboring states may be in sight of one another, and the sounds of their roosters and dogs may be heard, yet the people grow old and die without ever going back and forth.
白Plain Chinese
国家要小，百姓要少。即使有成十成百人用的器具也不使用，让百姓看重死亡而不向远方迁徙。即使有船和车，也没有地方去乘坐；即使有铠甲兵器，也没有地方去布阵。让人们回到结绳记事的时代。吃得香甜，穿得美好，住得安适，过得快乐。邻国之间互相望得见，鸡鸣狗叫的声音互相听得见，百姓到老死也不互相往来。
Draft plain-Chinese rendering following Wang Bi; it will be checked when the chapter is taught.
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