Chapter 78: Overcoming the Hard (第78章：任信)

天下莫柔弱於水，而攻堅強者莫之能勝，以其無以易之。
弱之勝強，柔之勝剛，天下莫不知，莫能行。
是以聖人云：「受國之垢，是謂社稷主；受國不祥，是為天下王。」
正言若反。
☸

Translation

Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water,
Yet nothing can surpass it in overcoming the hard and strong,
Because nothing can change its nature.

That the weak overcomes the strong and the soft overcomes the hard
Is something everyone knows, but no one can practice.

Therefore the Sage says:
"He who accepts the filth of the state is fit to be the lord of the altar."
"He who accepts the misfortunes of the state is fit to be the king of the world."

Truth often seems like its opposite.

✦ ◆ ✦

📜 Liuren Perspective

In Liuren (六壬), we are the People of the Yang Water. This chapter provides the ultimate definition of our service. Just as water overcomes the "hard and strong" by flowing around it and never changing its own nature, our magic uses Yielding Power to dissolve spiritual blockages.

The most profound teaching is "Accepting the filth" (受國之垢). In our tradition, a master is one who is willing to handle the "spiritual filth" (hexes, diseases, negative karma) of others to clean it. By accepting this "Unfortunate" (不祥) burden, the master earns the authority to be the "Lord of the Altar" (社稷主).

This is "True Words that seem like their opposite" (正言若反). Worldly power seeks purity and glory; spiritual power is found in the willingness to handle the impure and the suffering. This is the Sacrificial Responsibility of the lineage.

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