Philosophy
Traditionally 6th century BCE, ancient China (a legendary, likely composite figure)
The nameless Dao, wu wei, and the strength of water - a philosophy of yielding, simplicity, and governing by not-forcing.
Start learning Laozi →The opening riddle of the Tao Te Ching : the Dao that can be put into words is not the eternal Dao. The nameless source of all things lies before and beneath language, and every name we give it carves the seamless whole…
Laozi’s paradox of action: wu wei , usually translated ‘non-action,’ does not mean passivity or laziness but action without forcing - moving with the grain of things rather than against it, so that the…
Laozi’s great reversal of common sense: the soft, weak, and yielding defeat the hard, strong, and rigid. Water - the lowest and most pliant of things - is his model of power, wearing down stone precisely because i…
Laozi’s ideal of pu , the ‘uncarved block’ - the natural simplicity of raw wood before the craftsman’s knife. Against a civilization of endless refinement, learning, and desire, he prizes plainne…
Laozi’s political vision: the best government governs least. Rule a great state as you cook a small fish - with the lightest touch, for too much poking ruins it. The finest ruler is the one the people barely know…
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