Casual Talks on Tao Te Ching 013｜Alarm at Favor and Humiliation, Discern the Coexistence of Yin and Yang

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Brief Recap of Previous Chapter
Chapter Twelve expounds that external vanities disturb the original mind, advising people not to indulge in superficial material temptations. This chapter takes favor, humiliation and great disasters rooted in the self as entry points, elaborating the dialectical truth of interdependent Yin and Yang in all creation. Cultivating a steady mind is the fundamental foundation for accomplishing great things.
Original Text of Silk Manuscript Vernacular Translation
Original Text from Silk Manuscript Version
Favor and humiliation both bring alarm; great troubles attach to one’s self.
What does “favor and humiliation both bring alarm” mean? Favor is a lowly status. One trembles when gaining it, and panics when losing it — this is what it means for favor and humiliation to alarm the heart.
What does “great troubles attach to one’s self” mean? I bear great troubles only because I possess a self. If I had no self, what troubles could trouble me?
Therefore, he who values nurturing his own nature above governing the world may be entrusted with the world. He who cherishes his authentic self above all secular gains may be given charge of the world.
Plain Vernacular Translation
Receiving favor or suffering humiliation alike stirs unease within the heart. All profound troubles in life stem from clinging to one’s personal gains and losses.
Why are favor and humiliation equally unsettling? Favor relies entirely on the mercy of others, inherently a humble position. When such favor arrives, one grows anxious; when it fades away, one falls into panic — this is the alarm brought by both favor and humiliation.
Why do all great troubles arise from attachment to the self? Countless worries haunt humans simply because we stubbornly cling to the idea of “me”. If we let go of such self-centered discrimination, no worldly hardship can bind us.
Thus, those who prioritize cultivating their inner nature over ruling the realm are worthy to hold the world’s trust. Those who treasure their innate authenticity and refuse to be swept away by external circumstances can shoulder the world’s burdens.
Summary of Traditional Classical Interpretations
Commentary by Heshang Gong: Both favor and humiliation agitate the spirit; all afflictions spring from clinging to the ego. Only by seeing past honor and disgrace and letting go of the self can the mind find peace.
Commentary by Wang Bi: Favor and humiliation coexist as two sides of one whole; where favor exists, humiliation lurks. Obsession with gain and loss stirs anxiety, and forgetting the self aligns with the natural Dao.
Popular worldly interpretation: In life, view gains and losses with indifference. Cultivate a calm mind to gain the stability needed to shoulder important responsibilities.
Personal Cultivation Insights
This chapter centers on Laozi’s dialectical thought of Yin and Yang, explained in three layers supported by historical examples:
All things feature interdependent Yin and Yang; every event holds two sides. Existence and absence arise together, glory and disgrace accompany one another, and they cannot be separated in isolation.
Every life circumstance is dual-natured: favorable fortune belongs to Yang, while hardships belong to Yin. Though seemingly opposite, they always emerge side by side. Behind every blessing and success lie hidden setbacks and trials; within every disaster and low point reside opportunities for self-reflection and growth. Interpreting events from only one angle is not wrong, yet it remains shallow, failing to grasp the dialectical logic hidden in Laozi’s writing.
We need not fall into extreme cynicism, suspecting malice in everything we encounter. Still, we must maintain clear discernment, understanding that fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and we cannot judge matters merely by superficial appearances.
Historical Example: Nian Gengyao Ruined by Blind Arrogance Amid Imperial Favor
Nian Gengyao pacified the northwest frontier and won unparalleled favor from Emperor Yongzheng, with all officials scrambling to curry favor with him. Perched at the peak of Yang-style prosperity, he failed to see the hidden Yin misfortune lurking within his glory. Overconfident and overstepping imperial boundaries, he lived without caution. As the emperor’s suspicion deepened, his military power was stripped away overnight. His former glory vanished completely, and he was charged with ninety-two capital crimes, ultimately committing suicide in prison. Elated by favor and terrified by its loss, he perfectly embodied the line “trembles when gaining it, panics when losing it”. Blind to the coexistence of glory and disgrace, he was destroyed by empty prestige.
Circumstances shift between high and low, strong and weak. When good fortune arrives, uphold a peaceful mind and prepare mentally, so you will not be controlled by surging emotions.
People grow wildly joyful when blessed with good luck, yet once circumstances fade and prosperity recedes, they sink into loss and sorrow — this is the root of “alarm at favor and humiliation”. When fortune smiles, stay humble, recognizing the natural cycle where excess Yang inevitably turns to Yin. Maintain inner calm in advance, and when times decline, you will not create unnecessary sorrows out of nowhere.
Historical Example: Guo Ziyi Remains Equanimous Through Glory and Disgrace
Guo Ziyi quelled the Anshi Rebellion and rescued the Tang Dynasty, reaching the pinnacle of merit, holding military power and earning universal respect. Soon after, slanderous rumors led the court to strip him of all troops and leave him idle at home. Through extreme highs and lows, he felt no wild joy nor bitter resentment. He opened his mansion’s gates to all visitors without defense, accepting both glory and humiliation calmly. Aware that hidden suspicion always accompanies supreme prestige, he steadied his heart beforehand, dispelling the emperor’s doubts, preserving his entire clan, and living out his days safely. He is a model of understanding the wax and wane of Yin and Yang.
When Laozi teaches us to release obsession with the self and rise above favor and humiliation, he does not advocate passive retreat and abandoning all action. Instead, this mental state is the core capability required to achieve great things.
Many misread this chapter as a call to purify the heart and withdraw from the world, yet this is entirely incorrect.
If your heart is constantly swayed by favor and humiliation — ecstatic in prosperity, dejected in adversity — emotions will cloud your judgment in critical moments, making it impossible to stabilize the overall situation. Only by comprehending the interdependence of fortune and misfortune, and looking past honor and disgrace, can you maintain unchanging inner stability to assess all situations rationally. This unshakable mental poise is the essential inner foundation for bearing great responsibilities and accomplishing extraordinary feats. Cultivating tranquility of mind is not idly surrendering to inaction; it is forging a steady inner core to navigate worldly affairs.
Contrasting Positive and Negative Historical Examples
Positive Example: King Goujian of Yue suffered humiliation as a servant under King Fuchai of Wu. He set aside royal pride and endured disgrace without self-destruction. After returning to Yue, he endured hardship day and night, never growing impetuous over future glory, nor sinking into despair over present shame. His stable mind allowed him to revitalize his state and defeat Wu in the end.
Negative Example: Zhou Yafu of the Western Han suppressed the Seven States Rebellion and rendered unmatched service, rising to the position of prime minister. Yet his character was rigid and unyielding. He grew arrogant when treated well by the emperor and bitter when slighted, unable to let go of obsession with personal honor. Emotions governed his every decision, lacking balanced judgment of advance and retreat. He fell out of imperial favor, was falsely accused, and starved himself to death in prison. One who cannot release the ego cannot bear long-term heavy responsibilities.
Full Text Summary
Favor, humiliation, fortune and misfortune are dual sides of the same Yin-Yang whole; no worldly circumstance stays unchanging forever.
Judge all events with discernment: do not overcelebrate good times, nor sink into despair in low moments. Accept life’s fluctuations in advance, and you will avoid countless unnecessary sorrows.
Transcending obsession with honor and disgrace and releasing the ego is not passive escapism. It is tempering the inner stability to handle worldly matters. Only those who steady their minds against external ups and downs possess the vision and fortitude to shoulder great missions. This is the wisdom of self-cultivation and achievement passed down in this chapter of the Tao Te Ching.
Notes
All insights recorded here are personally realized and comprehended by the author. This chapter only interprets Laozi’s dialectics of Yin-Yang and life cultivation, for reference and verification by fellow seekers of the Dao.
I live by writing, seek peace and blessings

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