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Small Seal Script

Wang Bi Original Character Translation

Modified

1

(1) great (2) wholeness (3) appears (4) lacking.

Great wholeness appears lacking

2

(5) it is (6) in use (7) in- (8) corruptible

it is in use in-corruptible

3

(1) great (2) fullness (3) appears (4) overflowing

Great fullness appears overflowing

4

(5) it is (6) in use (7) without (8) limit

it is in use without limit

5

(1) great (2) stature (3) appears (4) humbled

Great stature appears humbled

it is in use undiminished

6

(5) great (6) timing (7) appears (8) clumsy

Great timing appears clumsy

it is in use not imperfect

7

(9) great (10) debate (11) appears (12) inarticulate

Great debate appears inarticulate

it is in use never devolving

8

(1) agitation (2) overcomes (3) the cold

Agitation overcomes the cold

9

(4) stillness (5) overcomes (6) heat

Stillness overcomes heat

10

(7) clarity (8) [in] tranquility (9) the activity (10) [in] heaven (11) below (12) to right things

Clarity [in] tranquility the activity [in] heaven below to right things