尺蠖

尺蠖

1. (zoology) looper; inchworm; measuring worm

   • 尺蠖之屈，以求信也。龍蛇之蟄，以存身也。精義入神，以致用也。利用安身，以崇德也。過此以往，未之或知也。窮神知化，德之盛也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     尺蠖之屈，以求信也。龙蛇之蛰，以存身也。精义入神，以致用也。利用安身，以崇德也。过此以往，未之或知也。穷神知化，德之盛也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: I Ching, 3^rd – 2^nd millennia BCE

     Chǐhuò zhī qū, yǐ qiú xìn yě. Lóngshé zhī zhé, yǐ cún shēn yě. Jīng yì rù shén, yǐ zhì yòng yě. Lì yòng ān shēn, yǐ chóng dé yě. Guò cǐ yǐwǎng, wèi zhī huò zhī yě. Qióngshén zhīhuà, dé zhī shèng yě. [Pinyin]

     When the looper coils itself up, it thereby straightens itself again; when worms and snakes go into the state of hybernation, they thereby keep themselves alive. (So), when we minutely investigate the nature and reasons (of things), till we have entered into the inscrutable and spirit-like in them, we attain to the largest practical application of them; when that application becomes the quickest and readiest, and all personal restfulness is secured, our virtue is thereby exalted. Going on beyond this, we reach a point which it is hardly possible to know. We have thoroughly comprehended the inscrutable and spirit-like, and know the processes of transformation; - this is the fulness of virtue.