The 81 Chapters of the Daodejing Regrouped by Meaning-Topics

DaoDeJing ReGrouped

• Topic 1: The Nature of the Ineffable Dao
• This topic explores the origin, character, and paradoxical nature of the Dao itself—the unnameable, eternal source of all things.
• Core Idea: The Dao is empty, yet inexhaustible; it is the mother of the universe; it is nameless and beyond full human comprehension. It acts without acting (wuwei), and all things return to it.
• Chapters: 1, 4, 6, 14, 21, 25, 32, 34, 35, 40, 42, 62
• Uncovering the Mystery of Dao De Jing - The Discovery of Truth C1
• The Way is the Son said Lao Zi (DaoDeJing 4)
• The Secret of an Easy & Refreshing Life - Let Mother Nature Do the Work Lao Zi (6)
• The Way(Dao) is the Invisible Power Keeping the Creation in Order says Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 14
• The Big Bang Theory, DNA and Lao Zi's Dao in DaoDeJing 21
• Genesis - The Origin & Four Greats by Lao Zi in DaoDejing 25
• Knowing When to Stop - DaoDeJing 32
• The Truly Great Freely Gives and Demands Not - DaoDeJing 34
• A Problem Free World from Following Dao - DaoDeJing 35
• The Visible Comes from the Invisible - There is more to it - DaoDeJing 40
• The Creative Process of Dao and the Secret to Abundance - DaoDeJing 42
• Dao is Giving and Forgiving - Good to Great - DaoDeJing 62
• Topic 2: The Practice of Wuwei (Effortless Action)
• This is the practical application of the Dao. It focuses on how to align one's actions with the natural flow of the world, achieving more by doing less.
• Core Idea: Do not force, control, or interfere. By being soft, receptive, and without excessive desire, one can accomplish everything. True mastery comes from letting go of conscious striving.
• Chapters: 2, 10, 37, 43, 47, 48, 63, 64
• The Power of Yin-Yang and the Teaching of Lao Zi C2
• What is the Greatest Virtue? How does it look? Lao Zi tells us in DaoDeJing 10
• Natural vs Cancerous Growth - Self-Transformation - DaoDeJing 37
• The Most Powerful Force is Gentleness - E=mc^2 - DaoDeJing 43
• Learning is by Reflection - Mind-mapping & Scientific Methods - DaoDeJing 47
• Skill vs Wisdom - Doing Things vs Becoming a Mature Man - DaoDeJing 48
• 5 Principles for Success in Life According to Lao Zi C63
• Seven Easy Steps to Great Success According to Lao Zi C64
• Topic 3: The Power of Softness and Humility
• This topic contrasts conventional values of strength and aggression with the superior, enduring power of softness, flexibility, and humility.
• Core Idea: Water, which is soft, wears away rock. The flexible tree branch survives the storm. By being lowly, one becomes a valley where all things flow. The soft and weak overcome the hard and strong.
• Chapters: 8, 22, 28, 36, 43, 52, 55, 61, 66, 76, 78
• Seven Attributes for Greatness without Fault by Lao Zi (DaoDeJing 8)
• 8 Keys for Sustainable Success by Lao Zi in Dao DeJing 22
• A Leader Holds Things in Balance and Reject Not -- DaoDeJing 28
• The Invert Strategy - DaoDeJing 36
• The Most Powerful Force is Gentleness - E=mc^2 - DaoDeJing 43
• Stress-free Life comes from following the Manufacture's Handbook - DaoDeJing 52
• Dao is like a Baby - Be Born Again to Good Fortunes -DaoDeJing 55
• Harmony of Great and Little - Respecting Each Other- DaoDeJing 61
• The Greatest shall Serve All - DaoDeJing 66
• Happiness is Being Gentle & Flexible - DaoDeJing 76
• The Most Powerful Force and Leadership - Adaptive like Water - DaoDeJing 78
• Topic 4: Governance and the Sage Ruler
• This is a large section applying Daoist principles to leadership and ruling a state. The ideal ruler is humble, non-interfering, and puts the people's well-being first.
• Core Idea: The best ruler is one the people barely know exists. They govern by emptying hearts and filling bellies, avoiding war, laws, and taxes. By not exalting the worthy, they prevent contention.
• Chapters: 3, 7, 17, 29, 30, 31, 38, 39, 49, 57, 58, 59, 60, 65, 72, 74, 75, 80
• The Problems and Answers for Men According to Lao Zi C3
• The Way to Everlastingness is Selflessness - Lao Zi (7)
• Levels of Leadership - Can We Measure Leadership? C17
• Conquering the World vs Self-Control - DaoDeJing 29
• The Greatest Power in the World - DaoDeJing 30
• What is a Bad Omen? Lao Zi tells us in DaoDeJing 31
• Pretend Not and You don't have to Act - DaoDeJing 38
• You Only Need this One to Succeed - DaoDeJing 39
• Transformation by Love – Beyond Conqueror C49
• Self Management Comes from Non-Interference - DaoDeJing 57
• Dao is Just Right - not under nor over - DaoDeJing 58
• Dao is like Farming - Follow the Seasons to Abundance - DaoDeJing 59
• Dao Brings Harmony - DaoDeJing 60
• Wisdom of Dao vs Wisdom of the World - More is Not Better - DaoDeJing 65
• The Dao of Humility - DaoDeJing 72
• Judging & Punishing Rightly according to Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 74
• Human as Resources or as Assets - Lao Zi explains how to have staff engagement in DaoDeJing 75
• Heaven on Earth - The Ideal Small Community of Love - DaoDeJing 80
• Topic 5: Simplicity, Contentment, and Knowing When to Stop
• This theme warns against the dangers of excessive knowledge, desire, and ambition, advocating for a return to a simple, contented life.
• Core Idea: Chase after money and security, and you will never have enough. Be content with what you have, and you are truly rich. Banish "knowledge" and cleverness to return to primal simplicity.
• Chapters: 9, 12, 18, 19, 20, 44, 46, 53, 56, 80
• Stress Comes from Resisting the Way of Dao (DaoDeJing 9)
• Choose Wisely - Feed the Needs and Not the Greed says Lao Zi in DaoDeJing12
• Moral Laws are for the Sinners says Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 18
•  Better Life is to Go for Simplicity & Purity says Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 19
• Bee Gee's 'I started a joke' resonates with Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 20
• A Happy Long Life is as Simple as 123 - DaoDeJing 44
• The Greatest Sin is Greed - DaoDeJing 46
• Am I a robber? Exploitation is not Dao - DaoDeJing 53
• Dao is incorruptible - Lose not Your Identity - DaoDeJing 56
• Heaven on Earth - The Ideal Small Community of Love - DaoDeJing 80
• Topic 6: The Paradoxical Nature of Reality
• The Daodejing is filled with paradoxes that jolt the mind out of conventional thinking. This topic groups chapters that highlight these reversals.
• Core Idea: The greatest straightness seems crooked; the greatest skill seems clumsy. Because the sage does not compete, no one can compete with them. Emptiness (the space in a vessel) is what makes it useful.
• Chapters: 5, 7, 11, 13, 22, 26, 39, 41, 45, 58, 69, 81
• Who is the Greatest? The Unsung Hero and Lao Zi C5
• The Way to Everlastingness is Selflessness - Lao Zi (7)
• The Power of Void - Emptiness is Useful said Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 11
• Greatness is Not About Emptying but Extending says Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 13
• 8 Keys for Sustainable Success by Lao Zi in Dao DeJing 22
• Anchoring & Reflecting to Master Change and Stress DaoDeJing 26  
• You Only Need this One to Succeed - DaoDeJing 39
• Reality is the Opposite, So Cheer-up - DaoDeJing 41
• The Best is Yet to Be - DaoDeJing 45
• Dao is Just Right - not under nor over - DaoDeJing 58
• Winning Strategies for War - Caution & Surprises DaoDeJing 69
• The Dao of Heaven is Abundance From Giving - DaoDeJing 81
• Topic 7: Cultivating Inner Power (De) and Longevity
• This final topic focuses on the personal cultivation of "De"—the virtue or power that manifests from aligning with the Dao. It touches on nurturing life, mastering the mind, and understanding the cycle of life and death.
• Core Idea: By being serene, one can see into the eternal. By nurturing the "mother" (the Dao) within, one can live a long and vital life. The sage embraces the One and becomes a model for the world.
• Chapters: 15, 16, 23, 24, 27, 33, 50, 51, 54, 55, 59, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 77, 79
• The 9 Attributes of The Way of Dao - DaoDeJing 15
• Be True to Your Calling says Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 16
• Going against the Law of Entropy to build Lastingness by LaoZi in DaoDeJing 23
• Pride is Getting Ahead of Ourself - DaoDeJing 24
• How Wise Are You? Lao Zi can tell in DaoDeJing 27
• The Great Wisdom for Living - DaoDeJing 33 or The Principles for Greatness C33
• Living a Long Life - Not Giving Any Opportunity to Death - DaoDeJing 50
• Dao gives life, love and freedom - The Parenting Model - DaiDeJing 51
• The Scalability of Dao - DaoDeJing 54
• Dao is like a Baby - Be Born Again to Good Fortunes -DaoDeJing 55
• Dao is like Farming - Follow the Seasons to Abundance - DaoDeJing 59
• Three Treasures for Your Greatness - DaoDeJing 67
• The Utmost Winner - More than a Conqueror - DaoDeJing 68
• Blind to True Wisdom - The Gospel According to LaoZi -DaoDeJing 70
• The Meaning of Steve Job's "Stay Foolish" - DaoDeJing 71
• Success with Ease and Free of Stress C73 & Easy Going and Yet Productive and Without Errors - DaoDeJing 73
• How to have a Better World with No Lacks - DaoDeJing 77
• Forgiveness makes no demand and is of Dao - DaoDeJing 79