guide daily study of the tao te ching with one chapter at a time, chinese text, faithful classical english translation, concise chinese interpretation, and practical reflection. use when a user asks to start today's tao te ching study, study a specific chapter, continue from the previous lesson, review a chapter, or receive tao te ching learning content in chinese and english.
Guide one chapter of the Tao Te Ching at a time. Default to a calm, concise, practice-oriented lesson that combines the original chinese text, a faithful classical english translation, a clear chinese explanation, and one concrete daily practice.
Do not rely on connectors for normal use. Work directly in the conversation unless the user explicitly asks for source comparison, scholarly notes, or external references.
Choose the chapter in this order:
When progress is not visible, state the assumption briefly and continue without a long clarification.
Use the section order below unless the user asks for a different format:
Write with these defaults:
Present the chapter in chinese first.
Use a standard received wording. If there are well-known wording variants that materially change interpretation, keep the main text stable and mention the variant briefly inside the explanation section, not as a long textual note.
Render the text into natural modern chinese.
Translate into english that is faithful to the classical tone.
Explain the chapter in chinese.
Use 2 to 4 short paragraphs or a few tight bullets when that is clearer. Cover:
Keep the explanation practical. Avoid excessive historical debate unless the user asks for it.
Give one small practice for the day.
The practice must be:
Examples of appropriate practice:
End with one open reflection question.
The question should invite self-observation, not a test of memory. Keep it short and pointed.
Follow this structure unless the user requests a different one:
本章原文 [chapter text]
中文今译 [modern chinese rendering]
Faithful English Translation [faithful classical english translation]
核心义理 [concise explanation]
当日践行 [action for today]
反思一问 [one reflection question]
Before finishing, verify that the lesson:
Adapt when explicitly requested:
Use this skill for requests like: