Thirty spokes converge on the wheel's hub. But the center emptiness of the hole which allows the wheel to function.
We make a vessel from a lump of clay; It is the empty space within the vessel that makes it useful.
We cut out doors and windows to make a house; and it's on inner spaces where there's nothing that the usefulness of the house depends.
Thus, while the tangible has advantages, It is the intangible that is for usefulness.useful.
三十辐,共一毂,当其无,有车之用。埏埴以为器,当其无,有器之用。凿户牖以为室,当其无,有室之用。故有之以为利,无之以为用。
三十根辐条连接一个车毂之上, 有了车毂中空的部分,才有车的使用。和泥制成器皿,也恰恰是由于有器皿其中空部分,才有器皿的使用。建造房屋,开凿门窗,亦是由于门窗及四壁构成的空间,才有房屋供人使用。
因此,显现有形的宇宙万物给人带来便利,而无形的空才是获得使用价值的基础。