• It also exerts a direct impact on the characteristics, trends of thought and aesthetic sensibilities of the Chinese nation and is still playing a role in the development of Chinese thinking.
Naturalness and Non-action
• Following the way of nature is the way to resolving conflicts between humans and the world.
Naturalness and Non-action
Non-action (无为)
• Non-action is the guarantee of “naturalness”.
Naturalness and Non-action
“(Dao or the Way ) acts through non-action (无为而 无不为).” —Selected from Laozi How do you understand this line? • By saying “(Dao or the Way ) acts through nonaction”, Laozi did not mean that one should do nothing and passively wait for something to be achieved. Neither did he deny human creativity. • What he meant is that human enterprises should be built on the basis of naturalness, not on any attempts to interrupt the rhythm of nature. Human creativity should be in compliance with the ways of nature.
Introduction
Laozi
• Laozi (《老子》), also known as Classic of the Way and Virtue (Dao De Jing. • The author is generally believed to be Laozi. • It consists of just over 5,000 Chinese characters. Its 81 chapters are divided into two parts, Dao (the Way) and De (Virtue).
Unit 2 Laozi’s Philosophy of Non-action
Content
Lead-in
Text study
Exercises
Lead-in
“The Dao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Dao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name. (Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things.” What’s the Chinese version of these lines?
• Therefore, Laozi’s philosophy is based on “noncontention”.
• Human striving and competitive strife is the root cause of decline; desiring nothing is the natural way of life.
Introduction
The influence of Laozi
• The book has played a tremendous role in the development of Chinese culture.
• It became the basis of Daoism, the school of philosophy parallel to Confucianism in ancient China. • The thought of Laozi formed the foundation of Daoism, the most influential indigenous school of religion in China.
Text study
Introduction
Naturalness and Non-action
The Philosophy of Non-contention Returning to Newborn State
Introduction
Laozi
• Laozi (about 571-471 BC), also called Laodan, surname Li, given name Ran and alias Boyang.
The Philosophy of Non-contention
Overcoming the strong by being weak
• On the basis of “naturalness” and “non-action”, Laozi proposed the view of “overcoming the strong by being weak (以柔克刚)”. • The era Laozi lived in was replete with endless war. • War was an important theme for Laozi, and antiwar thinking was the norm.
The Philosophy of Non-contention
• According to Laozi, war springs from humanity’s bloated desires. Conflicts arises out of people’s struggle to satisfy their desires, and conflict escalates into war.
Naturalness and Non-action
“Great ingenuity appears to be stupidity (大智若愚).” —Selected from Laozi
How do you understand this line? • “Great ingenuity” refers to the highest level of ingenuity, arising so naturally that it does not resemble ingenuity at all. • Ingenuity can be achieved through human effort, but “great ingenuity” is superior to ordinary ingenuity.
Naturalness and Non-action
Naturalness (顺应自然)
• It refers to a natural state of being, an attitude of following the way of nature. • • Everything in the world has its own way of being and development. Natural phenomena occur independently and naturally without following any human will, and humans should not try to change anything natural.
Why is Li Ran known as Laozi rather than Lizi? There are two explanations as to the source of “Laozi”. Some say during the period when Li Ran was alive, Lao and Li were pronounced in the same way. So “Laozi” actually sounded the same as “Lizi” at that time. The second legend is that Li Ran was born with white eyebrow and white beard like an old man. Thus he was called “Laozi”.
Introduction
Laozi in the world
• It is first introduced into Europe possibly as early as the 15th century • It has become one of the most translated philosophical works of ancient China.
• Famous versions of its translation include that of James Legge and that of Stephen Mitchell.