The Three Treasures or Three Jewels are basic virtues in
Taoism. They first appear in
Tao Te Ching chapter 67, which
Lin Yutang (1948:292) says contains
Laozi's "most beautiful teachings." Every one under heaven says that our Way is greatly like folly. But it is just because it is great, that it seems like folly. As for things that do not seem like folly — well, there can be no question about their smallness! [我有三寶持而保之一曰慈二曰儉三曰不敢為天下先] Here are my three treasures. Guard and keep them! The first is pity; the second, frugality; the third, refusal to be 'foremost of all things under heaven'. For only he that pities is truly able to be brave; Only he that is frugal is able to be profuse. Only he that refuses to be foremost of all things Is truly able to become chief of all Ministers. At present your bravery is not based on pity, nor your profusion on frugality, nor your vanguard on your rear; and this is death. But pity cannot fight without conquering or guard without saving. Heaven arms with pity those whom it would not see destroyed. (67, tr.
Arthur Waley 1958:225)
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