Translation: When the people no longer fear the (minor) oppressive authority of their rulers, then great calamity is about to descend.
Analysis: A political interpretation. When the ruler's oppression has pushed the people beyond fear — because the oppression is so deep they have nothing left to lose — this signals that earth-shattering upheaval is imminent. Wang Bi's commentary profoundly reveals this vicious cycle: when rulers abandon clarity and stillness and non-action (无为), indulge in restless desires, and rely on authoritarian power, then "things become chaotic and the people become deviant," ultimately leading to "total collapse from top to bottom."
Similar views: Wang Bi ("民不能堪其威，则上下大溃矣，天诛将至。" — "When the people can no longer endure the ruler's authority, then top and bottom collapse entirely, and Heaven's punishment is about to arrive.")
Translation: When people do not fear small harms, then great harm is about to descend.
Analysis: Heshang Gong's self-cultivation interpretation. Here "威" (wēi) is glossed as "harm." When people do not fear everyday small harms (indulging desires, neglecting the spirit), small harms accumulate into great harm, ultimately bringing death. "Great calamity arrives" means one's final hour is at hand. This interpretation serves as a warning from the perspective of nourishing life to cherish one's existence.
Similar views: Heshang Gong ("人不畏小害则大害至。大害者，谓死亡也。" — "When people do not fear small harms, great harm arrives. Great harm refers to death.")
Translation: Do not encroach upon the people's dwellings; do not oppress the people's livelihoods.
Analysis: A political interpretation. An admonition to rulers — do not infringe upon the people's living space, do not exploit the people's livelihoods. Laozi holds that the root cause of tyranny lies in the ruler's ceaseless encroachment upon the people's remaining space. Wang Bi's commentary goes a layer deeper: "清静无为谓之居，谦后不盈谓之生" — "Clarity, stillness, and non-action (无为) is what is meant by 'dwelling'; humility, yielding, and non-excess is what is meant by 'livelihood'" — the true meanings of "dwelling" and "livelihood" are states of the Tao (道).
Similar views: Wang Bi ("言威力不可任也。" — "This says that coercive power must not be relied upon.")
Translation: Do not make the dwelling-place of the mind-spirit cramped and constricted; do not reject the spirit that nourishes life.
Analysis: Heshang Gong's self-cultivation interpretation. "Dwelling" refers to the mind; "life" refers to the spirit. The self-cultivator should not make the mind agitated and narrow (it should be broad and gentle), nor indulge desires to reject the spirit (one should remain clear and still). This interpretation transforms the political admonition into guidance for inner cultivation.
Similar views: Heshang Gong ("谓心居神，当宽柔，不当急狭也。" — "The mind is where the spirit dwells; it should be broad and gentle, not rushed and cramped." "饮食不节，忽道念色，邪僻满腹，为伐本厌神也。" — "Immoderate eating and drinking, neglecting the Tao to dwell on sensual desires, filling oneself with depravity — this is to attack the root and reject the spirit.")
Translation: Precisely because (the ruler) does not oppress (the people), therefore (the people) do not reject (the ruler).
Analysis: The core proposition of the political interpretation. When the ruler does not oppress the people, the people will not revolt against the ruler — this is the foundation of governance. Wang Bi comments: "不自厌，是以天下莫之厌" — "He does not himself oppress, therefore none under Heaven reject him." You do not reject others, and others will not reject you. A simple causal relationship, yet it is the most fundamental political wisdom.
Similar views: Wang Bi ("不自厌，是以天下莫之厌。" — "He does not himself oppress, therefore none under Heaven reject him.")
Translation: Precisely because (the cultivator) does not reject the spirit, therefore the spirit does not abandon (the cultivator).
Analysis: Heshang Gong's self-cultivation interpretation. When the cultivator cherishes the spirit and maintains clarity with few desires, the spirit is content to dwell within the body and does not depart. Conversely, indulging in desires causes the spirit to scatter. This interpretation embodies a rudimentary view of spiritual nourishment.
Similar views: Heshang Gong ("不厌精神之人，洗心濯垢，恬泊无欲，则精神居之不厌也。" — "One who does not reject the spirit, who cleanses the mind and washes away impurities, who is tranquil, detached, and free of desires — the spirit will dwell within and not depart.")
Translation: Thus the Sage (圣人) knows himself but does not display himself, cherishes himself but does not regard himself as exalted. Therefore, he discards those (self-display and self-exaltation) and adopts these (self-knowledge and self-cherishing).
Analysis: The conclusion of the entire chapter. "Self-knowledge" and "self-display," "self-cherishing" and "self-exaltation" form two exquisitely crafted contrasts: self-knowledge is introspection, self-display is outward showing-off; self-cherishing is an authentic care for oneself, self-exaltation is a vain elevation of oneself. The Sage (圣人) chooses inner authenticity and discards outward pretense. This is consistent with Chapter 22's "He does not display himself, and so he shines."
Similar views: Heshang Gong ("去彼自见、自贵，取此自知、自爱。" — "Discard the self-display and self-exaltation; adopt self-knowledge and self-cherishing.") Wang Bi ("不自见其所知，以光耀行威也。自贵则物狎厌居生。" — "He does not display what he knows in order to shine his brilliance and exercise authority. Self-exaltation leads to the encroachment and oppression of dwelling and livelihood.")
This chapter contains 7 interpretation combinations.
[Core Divergences]
Chapter 72 opens with the warning "When the people do not fear authority, then great calamity arrives," constituting Laozi's sharp critique of tyranny. Wang Bi's commentary is the most profound — he traces tyranny to its root: when rulers "abandon their clarity and stillness, indulge their restless desires, cast aside their humility and yielding, and rely on their authoritarian power," the ultimate result is "total collapse from top to bottom, and Heaven's punishment is about to arrive." "Do not encroach upon their dwellings; do not oppress their livelihoods" is the prescription for rulers — do not infringe upon the people's basic living space. The final line, "knows himself but does not display himself, cherishes himself but does not exalt himself," presents the Sage's (圣人) path of introspection, echoing the four "does not self-" principles of Chapter 22. Heshang Gong, meanwhile, transforms the entire chapter into teachings on self-cultivation and nourishing life, creating a unique parallel dimension of interpretation.