A New Interpretation of “Xuan Zhi You Xuan” in <i>Tao </i><i>Te</i><i> Ching</i>

“玄”是老子《道德经》中的重要概念，而“玄之又玄，众妙之门”是其第一章较为深奥难懂的表述，理解其含义，对于理解老子的思想和哲学思想具有重要意义。本文对“玄之又玄”的历史解读进行梳理，对比探讨了“玄之又玄”在北大简版本、马王堆帛书与王弼注版本《老子》等不同版本的可能含义。本文认为“玄之又玄”，是对“玄”状态的强调。“玄之又玄”应直观理解为在“玄”中、又在“玄”中，即，一直在“玄”中不脱离“玄”的状态，无需刻意维持即可自如处于“玄”的状态之中。“Xuan” is an important concept in Tao Te Ching, and “xuan zhi you xuan” is a quite esoteric expression in the first chapter of the book, which is of great significance to the understanding of Laozi's thoughts and philosophical ideas. This paper summarizes the historical interpretations of “xuan zhi you xuan”, and compares and contrasts the possible meanings of “xuan zhi you xuan” in different versions of Tao Te Ching, such as the version of Western Han Bamboo Slips Collected by Peking University, the version of Mawangdui Silk Manuscripts and the version annotated by Wang Bi. It is argued that the phrase “Xuan Zhi You Xuan” is an emphasis on the state of “xuan”. It should be intuitively understood as—being in and among the “xuan”, not detached from the state of “xuan”, and free to be in the state of “xuan” without having to deliberately maintain it.