DAO DE JING CHAPTER 36 — ORIGINAL READING WORKSHEET

RECEIVED CHINESE
將欲歙之，必固張之；
將欲弱之，必固強之；
將欲廢之，必固興之；
將欲奪之，必固與之。
是謂微明。
柔弱勝剛強。
魚不可脫於淵，
國之利器不可以示人。

OUR WORKING TRANSLATION
If you intend to draw it together, you must first let it spread out.
If you intend to weaken it, you must first let it grow strong.
If you intend to remove it, you must first let it rise.
If you intend to take it away, you must first give it.
This is called subtle illumination.
The soft and weak overcome the hard and strong.
Fish must not leave the deep pool;
the state's effective instruments must not be displayed to people.

CHAPTER 36 — QUOTATION AND CONTEXT RECORD
Edition and chapter:
Chinese line I am quoting:
The clauses immediately before and after it:
My working translation; supplied English words:
What the repeated “it” refers to, or leaves unspecified:
Fish, deep pool and state-instrument ending included:
Text, Wang Bi note or my own analogy — label the layer:
One reading that fits; one limit it does not settle:

CHAPTER 36 AND CHAPTER 78 — KEEP THE REFERENCES SEPARATE
Chapter 36: four reversals, subtle illumination, fish and state.
Chapter 78: water, weak/strong pairs and burdens of rule.
Exact Chinese wording and source location:
What a shortened English slogan drops:
What the full ending changes in my interpretation:
Commentator and the words actually supporting that reading:
Modern example is an analogy, not a promise from Laozi:

WANG BI NOTE REFERENCES
因物之性，不假刑以理物
示人者，任刑也。
These are commentary, not extra chapter lines.

ANSWERED CHECKS

1. Someone quotes “the soft and weak overcome the hard and strong” from chapter 36. Which parts should a full contextual explanation also read?
The four reversals before it, and the fish and state-instrument lines after it.
The received chapter gives the contrast a sequence and an ending. A shortened quotation can be labeled as a fragment, but it should not silently stand in for the whole chapter.

2. Our English first line includes “first let it spread out.” Are “first” and “let” independent extra Chinese words that every translator must use?
No. They are choices in this working rendering of the clause.
The English clarifies an order and favors an allowing reading. A translator who supplies a more forceful action can change the emphasis; identify that choice instead of treating the English as the untouched original.

3. Wang Bi explains showing the instruments in terms of relying on punishment. May that note be inserted into the chapter as another sentence by Laozi?
No. Label it as Wang Bi's commentary and separate its translation.
The note supports a particular political reading. It is valuable because it shows an interpretation, not because the commentator's words are interchangeable with the received chapter.

4. A modern card says that giving will always bring a larger reward and attributes the promise to Laozi. Does the giving/taking clause establish that guarantee?
No. The guaranteed reward is an added modern claim.
The chapter pairs intended taking with prior giving, without stating that every act of generosity produces a gain. Label a modern reflection as your own and do not manufacture a sourced quotation.

5. Which chapter begins with the familiar line “天下莫柔弱於水,” chapter 36 or chapter 78?
Chapter 78. Chapter 36 opens with four reversals.
Related soft/weak and hard/strong words do not erase their different sequences. Cite the correct chapter and retain its ending when explaining the passage.

6. Does the fish-and-state ending settle every question as a simple instruction to hide your personal talents?
No. That is a modern analogy, not a complete reading of the political wording.
The received text names the state's instruments, and Wang Bi interprets their display through coercive rule. Explain your chosen connection rather than turning a career slogan into the only meaning.

Sources:
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E7%B6%93_(%E7%8E%8B%E5%BC%BC%E6%9C%AC)
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/laozi/