《太平經》Vol. 109

Taiping Jing (Classic of Great Peace), Scroll 109: “Essential Notes on the Two Hands and the Cezi Characters” (No. 177), A Modern Interpretation

In Heaven there are “two hands.” They must normally work together for things to be accomplished. If one hand is afflicted by illness, deviance, or evil, it becomes difficult to accomplish anything: Heaven grows deeply resentful, Earth takes offense, and disorder spreads throughout the world, leaving nothing accomplished. This often happens because one hand is deviant and the two cannot join their strength. Whenever things are out of order and the six directions are not at peace, it is often because the two hands are afflicted by illness and deviance and cannot work in harmony. Good and ill fortune, safety and danger, all depend on these two hands. Surely the Perfected Ones understand this principle deeply. If the Celestial Master does not reveal its essential meaning, people will remain lost in darkness and confusion for all time, with no way to understand it. The Celestial Master is the foundation for teaching and transforming all things in Heaven and Earth; however difficult it may be, this teaching must be spoken.

You have asked a good question, Perfected One. Heaven has appointed you to ask it, and your words are concise. I assent and sit at ease, and will explain its meaning in detail for all the Perfected Ones: if the world takes this teaching as its model and puts it into practice, there will be no more calamity or disorder. The gods in Heaven call it “Essential Notes on the Two Hands and the Cezi Characters.” If a state puts it into practice, it will endure; if ordinary people do so, they will remain prosperous for a long time. The essential Way is about to be revealed, and it lies close at hand, within the human body. I will now explain it to the Perfected Ones one point at a time.

Heaven and Earth govern the creation and birth of all things, like two hands. The four seasons govern the transmission of nourishment to all beings, like two hands. The Five Phases govern the transmission, formation, and mutual bestowal of things upon all beings, like two hands. Men and women, husbands and wives govern the transmission of the Yin-Yang of Heaven and Earth through the generations, like two hands. Teachers and disciples govern the transmission of instruction between people and the communication of all matters of documents and De, like two hands. Rulers and ministers govern the transmission of governance over the people and all matters and things, like two hands. These six examples merely outline how order is maintained; they could not all be written down. Whenever things depend on one another to be accomplished, they are like two hands. In Heaven this is called “overlapping compasses and repeated squares”: everything must correspond. If one hand is deviant and the two are unequal, nothing can be accomplished. In Heaven this is called the governance of great disorder; throughout the six directions and the eight distant regions, it is called widowhood and childlessness, with decline resounding more loudly day by day. Nothing can be accomplished, because these two hands have failed to join their strength.

Excellent, excellent. May I ask: why, in Heaven, is it so… (The text continues with a question about the principles of Heaven; the surviving scroll ends this passage with the warning that “the two hands must join their strength.”)

Taiping Jing (Scripture of Great Peace): A Plain-Language Interpretation

Main Meaning of the Scripture

“Why is it called ‘two hands’? That is a good question!

“‘Two hands’ means that both sides must act in step and work together. Neither should rush ahead alone or hold back alone. Only then can things be accomplished. Without the cooperation of the two hands, nothing can be done.

“So everything in the world should be like these two hands: each side must have the right people, and all must work together with one heart. Only then can an auspicious, peaceful Qi descend. If things do not work together as the two hands do, the Qi of the Great Peace of the August Sovereign will not appear, even after billions of years.

“The Qi of Great Peace is meant to emerge, just as Heaven is meant to operate through these two hands. But because the hands have long been out of harmony, its emergence has been blocked, leaving those who govern the age troubled in their hearts. The problem lies in the disharmony between the two hands. If they act in harmony, the Qi of the Great Peace of the August Sovereign will arrive from both before and after, with neither side failing the other.

“Good! Good! When Heaven and Earth are out of harmony, nothing can come forth among the myriad things. When the four seasons are out of harmony, the myriad things cannot grow. When the Five Phases—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—are out of harmony, the myriad things cannot come to fruition. When ruler and ministers are out of harmony, government cannot be set in order. When husband and wife are out of harmony, their descendants cannot grow and the family cannot be established. When master and disciples are out of harmony, matters cannot be resolved. De cannot flourish, confusion cannot clear, and the great transformation across the six directions and eight reaches cannot be carried out.

“Therefore, all must move forward together with one strength, like the two hands, to reach their aims. Those who do not act like the two hands invite misfortune. Even if they try to govern, it will be useless; they cannot succeed. They will only suffer long and futile sorrow, with danger growing day by day.

“So whenever something depends on two hands, those chosen for office must be the right people. If they are not, the gods in Heaven call it ‘half-dead’: with only one hand at work, how could anything be accomplished?

“The Perfected One has come on behalf of Heaven, traveling from afar to ask. Whenever something is in doubt, think deeply on this meaning: let a sincere heart, born of Fire, be entrusted to Fire as the means of governance. Take this as a symbol of the people, and you will extend your years and lengthen your life, without fail. I do not deceive you. Use this to instruct virtuous rulers and ordinary people; let the worthy each reflect on its meaning and dare not violate it. To follow this is called enriching and nurturing oneself; to neglect it is called bringing sorrow and hardship upon oneself. Divine indeed! My Dao is wholly the will of Heaven. One may only move forward; one must not turn back.”

Summary of the Core Ideas

The passage uses the “two hands” as a metaphor to emphasize harmony, joint effort, and choosing the right people. These themes run through its vision of Heaven, human affairs, and the ideal of Great Peace.

The Four Auspicious and Four Inauspicious Rules (Chapter 178)

Heaven’s will must be followed; it cannot be defied. If you follow it, you can be in complete accord with Heaven’s heart. If you go against it, everything falls into disorder, calamities arise on every side, and people are thrown into fear. When a person’s thoughts go one way and Heaven’s will another, this is called “being out of accord with Heaven’s will.”

(Heaven sighed:) Good, good. Disciple, at last you have begun to understand.

The Perfected One said to the questioner: People today recommend scholars for the ruler and present them to the state for appointment. If someone recommends an unsuitable person, this is the first great inauspicious act. If the person recommended has poor character, this is the second. If that person is wicked, then what he has learned is cast aside and defiled, bringing disgrace upon the teachings of former masters and sages and extending calamity to his teacher. This is the third. If the recommender is also dishonest and joins in deceiving the ruler, offering someone without real ability, then he disrupts the celestial patterns and defiles the constellations. Heaven falls ill and Earth bears a grievance; the ruler despises him, and the sages condemn him. Such a person is a great villain in the world, a purveyor of falsehood, and must be punished for this deed. If Heaven, Earth, and the spirits do not destroy him, people will bring him harm. He will disgrace his ancestors, and calamity will befall his wife and children and grandchildren. This is the fourth great inauspicious act. Committing these four great offenses by recommending unworthy people will bring sorrow to the ruler and disorder to the government. The evil force of calamity will rise on every side and cannot be stopped; order between past and future will be lost, and generations will wrong one another. Heaven and Earth will rage, the assembled spirits will do battle, the six directions will be unsettled, and the eight quarters thrown into disarray. For a long time, there will be no peace. In Heaven, this is called the “talisman of reduced years and shortened life.”

Why is it called the talisman of shortened life? The state ought to be well governed for a long time, yet its life is cut short; the years ought to be abundant, yet they are reduced. Such conduct brings misfortune and benefits no one. Heaven and Earth are displeased, and years are deducted from one’s allotted span. Therefore, Heaven calls it the “talisman of shortened life.”

(The questioner:) Good, good. This foolish student will obey. Your disciple may be said to have gained a little understanding of its meaning. Please carefully uphold this heavenly text and show it to virtuous rulers, worthy people, and the common folk: those in high positions who seek scholars must examine them carefully, and those below who recommend scholars must act with loyalty. Let later generations study and recite this book in detail, keeping it firmly in their hearts. If, in haste, they recommend scholars without following these rules, Heaven and Earth will no longer look upon them with favor. To knowingly offend is a graver crime. Perfected One, take care.

(The Perfected One:) Yes, yes. I sincerely accept this instruction and will not dare to violate the prohibitions. I will do my utmost in the rest. Your disciple may be said to have served carefully and received Heaven’s mandate.

At the end of the preceding text: Heaven and Earth’s Handwritten Instructions—subsequent sections on the four auspicious and four inauspicious outcomes of recommending scholars, the talisman of shortened life, the talisman of prolonged life, securing the state and gaining the hearts of Heaven and Earth, and the prophecy of the assembled spirits (titles indicated at the end of the scroll).

Brief background note: This passage belongs to the political and ethical teachings of the Taiping Jing. Through the Perfected One’s instruction of the foolish student, it argues that recommending worthy people and appointing them to office must accord with Heaven’s heart. Improper recommendations accumulate into “four great inauspicious acts,” which are said to affect celestial signs, shorten life, and bring disorder to the state. This resembles Han dynasty systems of recommending and selecting officials, as well as political ideas about disasters and omens. “Deducting one’s allotted years” and the “talisman of shortened life” are common Daoist Canon expressions for Heaven’s punishment recorded against a person. They are not directly related to Neidan practice; the passage focuses on urging rulers and officials at every level to fulfill their responsibilities.