← Chiastic Structures
The Yielding Overcomes the Hard
TaoismTao Te Ching 78
Chapter 78 forms a compact chiasm around the paradox of water overcoming stone — weakness overcoming strength, softness overcoming hardness — with the 'upright word' of paradox at the pivot.
ANothing in the world is as soft and yielding as waterA'
BYet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass itB'
XTHE SOFT OVERCOMES THE HARD — THE GENTLE OVERCOMES THE RIGID
B'Everyone knows this is true, but few can put it into practiceB
A'The upright words seem paradoxical — he who bears the nation's shame is called its masterA