What does inaction mean?

Inaction refers to the term of Taoist thought in China's pre-Qin period. The attitude of "inaction" is used in political policy, government inaction and people's autonomy; Finally, doing nothing and doing nothing. Governing by doing nothing is Laozi's warning to the monarch, which means that the monarch does not argue with the people. [ 1]

Chinese name

Do nothing

source

Tao Te Ching

think

Taoist thought

presenter

Laozi

meaning

Taoism warned the king not to argue with the people.

nature

govern by non-action ［doing nothing that goes against nature］

quick

navigate by water/air

Scholar analysis

Warlock inaction

Positive meaning

Yang Zhu's philosophy

Wuwei Youwei

way of thinking

Noun source

Inaction is an important concept in Tao Te Ching. The "inaction" advocated by Taoism is nothing more than Lao Zi's admonition to the monarch, not a universal moral code, which means that the monarch does not compete with the people for profit.

There are twelve references to inaction in Tao Te Ching. The third chapter is called "inaction, no governance". There are sixty-eight references to inaction in the South China Classic. "Emperor Zhuangzi" said that "conform to the nature of things, there is no room for privacy".

The inaction of Taoism means that the monarch should not compete with the people for profits, conform to the people's feelings and not act rashly. Du Guangting's Notes on the Tao Te Ching said: "Doing nothing is great. Doing nothing doesn't mean attracting but not coming, pushing but not going, forcing but not answering, feeling but not moving, being trapped but not flowing, and sticking to it. It is said that his private ambition is not right, his lust is not white, he acts according to reason, and he has made achievements because of his capital. He does not cut his body when he finishes his work, and his name is not justified. "

It can be seen that the inaction of Taoism does not mean that the monarch does not want to do something, but only that the monarch should "conform to the weather and the people's heart" in everything, and does not want the monarch to violate "the weather, the land and the people's heart" and cannot act only on subjective wishes and imagination.

"Seven words and seven signs" quoted an anecdote of Jing: "If you want to do nothing, avoid harm first. who is it? Far suspicion, far villain, far profit, far line; Watch your mouth, your tongue, your troubles, your strength. Always think about mistakes and change them to good ones. I can also understand astronomy, geography, personnel, ghosts and gods, fortune and numbers. If so, work with the holy spirit, just like the sky. "

Taoism's "inaction" does not mean that the monarch mainly avoids the world passively, but that he should study hard, be active, be familiar with nature and society, and be good at dealing with interpersonal relationships.

Therefore, "inaction" does not mean that the monarch does nothing and does nothing; Instead, the monarch should follow the Tao and make a living on earth. The monarch must abandon self-immorality, be cautious when encountering disasters, and pursue the realm of simplicity, frugality, quietness and no desire.