Judging from historical experience, Laozi's inaction mainly focuses on how to govern by doing nothing in politics. The purpose of inaction is to do everything well, and doing everything well is precisely the greatest achievement.

Zhuangzi mainly talks about inaction in life. In the fable about chaos quoted above, suddenly means quickly, implying man-made; Chaos refers to mixed state, which is a metaphor for natural inaction. Fables do bad things through sudden good deeds, emphasizing the natural inaction of heaven and opposing the imposition of human will on everything in the world.

2. Different goals:

The "inaction" in Laozi is not idle, passive, lazy, not playing dumb, but trying to rule the world through inaction. With the idea of "inaction", Lao Tzu asked the rulers not to indulge their greed, not to oppress and enslave the people, and reminded members of society not to kill each other and benefit others at the expense of greed, so that the society could be clean and peaceful.

In Zhuangzi's view, people and everything in the world have their natural nature. Zhuangzi vividly said that cattle and horses are born with four feet, which is natural; And tying a horse's head and a cow's nose with a rope is called artificial. Zhuangzi told people not to destroy nature by man, not to harm others by nature, and not to die in the name of limited income.

However, the world often runs counter to its nature, insisting on affectation, showing off cleverness, being obsessed with red tape and pursuing impetuous vanity, which not only makes things lose their truth, but also makes people lose their inherent natural nature.

In Zhuangzi's view, social phenomena, such as morality, wisdom, laws and regulations, commodities, music and crafts, which constitute the content of human civilized life, are all destructive to nature and human nature, and disturb the peaceful world.

Therefore, they should all be banned. Zhuangzi believes that the essence of inaction is to conform to the changes of nature, so that things can keep their natural nature and get rid of all man-made things.

Zhuangzi's inaction was born in troubled times, and he advocated "doing what you know you can't do, and taking harmony as your priority". He believes that inaction is harmless, inaction can avoid harm, and the result of gladiator can only be shattered.

3. Different ideas:

However, Laozi's thought of inaction also has disadvantages in politics. Han Feizi, a master of legalism, reformed Laozi's inaction thought from the perspective of conspiracy theory. He said that the ruler wants to live in the deep palace, seemingly doing nothing, but actually doing everything, and everything under his control.

In Han Feizi's view, powerful monarchs always say one thing and do another. This is called "living in the yin for the yang", which advocates that the rulers should turn hostilities into friendship and cover their hands for the rain, making the people unfathomable and fearful.

In Zhuangzi's theory of "inaction", we can see that the active and social "man" is completely swallowed up by the silent and natural "heaven", and Xunzi once criticized him for "covering the sky without knowing people".

However, we should also see that in Zhuangzi's era, the happiness brought by civilization will only be owned by the rulers, and the hard physical and intellectual labor needed to create civilization can only fall on the workers.

Zhuangzi hated this phenomenon so much that he criticized it with the theory of inaction from the standpoint of naturalism. And if we look at the broader relationship between man and nature, human beings in modern society conquer nature with science and technology.

It has brought huge material benefits and a series of negative effects. Zhuangzi's inaction thought is undoubtedly a sobering agent, which provides us with valuable ideological resources to eliminate the opposition between man and nature and realize the harmonious unity between man and nature.

Extended data:

The glorious history of "governing by doing nothing"

Laozi's "inaction" thought was used by the rulers to govern the world in the history of China, and made brilliant achievements. For example, the "rule of Wenjing" in the Han Dynasty and the "rule of Zhenguan" in the Tang Dynasty are powerful proofs.

According to historical records, Wendi still has the beauty of being close to the people and the virtues of kindness, tolerance and diligence. Take the people's heart as the heart and share the interest with the people. In the twenty-third year of Emperor Huiwen, palaces, gardens, chariots, horses and costumes were not increased at all on the basis of Liu Bang's reign, and everything that caused inconvenience to the people was abolished.

Once Emperor Wendi wanted to build a terrace. He asked a craftsman to calculate that it needed several hundred kilograms of gold. Wendi said that "this is equivalent to the property of ten families, which is too expensive", so no construction was started. Whenever there are natural and man-made disasters and the border is restless, Emperor Wen will reflect on his moral essence and pray for repentance.

He abolished the charges of corporal punishment and slander against the court and recruited people who could be trained. Emperor Wen of Han attached great importance to agricultural production. After he ascended the throne, he repeatedly issued a letter to persuade farmers to teach mulberry, set up three old people, filial piety and farmland according to the proportion of household registration, and often gave rewards to encourage farmers to develop production. At the same time, it also pays attention to reducing the burden on the people. It has twice "abolished half of the land rent tax", that is, reduced the land rent rate to 30 tax.

Since then, the Han Dynasty has customized thirty taxes. Emperor Wen also issued a decree to develop the mountains and rivers originally owned by the state, thus promoting the development of farmers' sideline business and salt and iron production, which have a great relationship with the national economy and people's livelihood.

Emperor Wendi built the mausoleum, and the sacrifices were not made of gold, silver, copper or tin, but only earthenware; There are no tall tombs, and the mountains and rivers are kept as they are. Emperor Wendi's testamentary edict said: As long as people mourn for three days, marriage, wine and meat, and sacrifice are not prohibited. All the harem families and ladies-in-waiting below the lady were dismissed and placed at home.

Emperor Wen of Han adopted the principle of moral integrity and tolerance in the general plan of governing the country, and also carried out major reforms in the criminal law since the Qin Dynasty, abolishing the crime of libel, so that envoys could boldly put forward different opinions.

The imperial edict abolished "blessing", "blessing" and "blessing" and replaced them with flogging. Emperor Jing also reduced flogging and abolished secret surveillance, so the prison affairs were simple and the oppression suffered by the people was significantly less than that in Qin Dynasty.

When Emperor Huiwen heard that the prayer officer only prayed for him and not for the people during the sacrifice, he said angrily, Isn't this aggravating my sin? In the past, the former king never asked for his own blessing when making sacrifices. Sacrifice to heaven in the future, don't pray for me

After Emperor Jing, the son of Wendi, succeeded to the throne, under the supervision of Dou Taihou, he still adhered to the theory of Huang Lao to regulate his body and mind and govern the country. At that time, people were simple and the world was rich. By the end of Emperor Jingdi and the beginning of Emperor Wudi, the society and the country were already relatively rich.

Sima Qian recorded in the Historical Records: "Unless there is a flood or drought, people will eat enough for their families, and the treasury will have more goods and wealth." There is too much money in the capital to teach. The millet in Taicang is so rotten that it can't be eaten. "This shows that.

During the Wenjing period, political clarity, economic development and people's lives were stable, which was indeed a peaceful and prosperous time. Therefore, historians call this prosperous historical period brought about by Huang Lao's theory of governing the world "cultural landscape governance"

Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, praised Laozi's "inaction" and founded the "Tang Dynasty". A book "Zhenguan dignitaries" recorded Li Shimin's valuable experience of respecting heaven and governing the country.

On one occasion, Wei Zhi played Li Shimin: "The king is highly valued by God, in charge of state power, and is highly respected. So we must be prepared for danger in times of peace, stay away from luxury and be simple. Nothing happened to the monarch and his subjects, and the piano hung down without words (quoted from Laozi).

Why bother, have a lot of things, manage a lot of things, use up all your talents, but deviate from the road of inaction? "。 Li Shimin replied, "Great! I read your letter, stayed up all night and forgot to be tired. " ("Zhenguan politician, Jundao")

Li Shimin asked Wang Jue, the minister, "The later emperors were not as good as the former emperors. Why? " Wang Jue said: "The ancient emperors wholeheartedly advocated quietness and took people's hearts as their heart (quoted from Laozi). Later emperors ignored the harm to the people in order to satisfy their own desires. " Li Shimin replied:

"Yes, what I strive for day and night is silence, so there is nothing in the world. Therefore, the corvee is not prosperous, the grain is abundant, and the people are happy. Governing a country is like planting a tree. Without shaking the roots, the branches and leaves will flourish. How can the people be unhappy when the king is quiet? " ("Zhenguan politicians are politicians")

In the second year of Emperor Taizong's Zhenguan reign, a minister said, "The summer heat has not retreated, and Qiu Lin has just begun. Please build a castle for yourself." Taizong replied, "I really can't live in lowlands and damp places, but if I agree to your request."

It is too expensive again. When Emperor Wendi wanted to build terraces, he didn't do it because he cherished material resources. My virtue is not as good as that of Emperor Wen of Han Dynasty, but it costs more than him. I think I'd better forget it. "Again and again, emperor taizong finally didn't promise.

In the second year of Zhenguan, there was a drought in Guanzhong. Emperor Taizong said to his courtiers, "The disharmony between floods and droughts is all due to the loss of virtue. If I don't repair my virtue, God should blame me. What's wrong with the people? They're poor! I heard that some people have sold their children, and I feel sorry for them. " So he sent an ancient counselor to redeem the children he sold and return them to their parents together with the gold treasures in the palace.

In the early years of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong summoned courtiers and said, "A woman is claustrophobic in the palace, and her feelings are really satisfied. I need some people to help me with some cleaning work. What's the use of having so many women? " So more than 3,000 people from the harem and the imperial court were released from the palace to choose their spouses.

According to historical records, at that time, "the east is adjacent to the sea, and the five ridges in Antarctica are not closed, and the journey does not pay for food, so it is taken by road", which is praised by most historians. Western sinologists have never criticized Emperor China much, but they almost all praised Emperor Taizong and Li Shimin. 633,390 prisoners who died were sent home.

Life comes, autumn dies, all come, so forgive it. Bai Juyi once wrote a poem praising Emperor Taizong's political integrity: "Three thousand dissatisfied wives leave the harem, and four hundred death row inmates return to prison." Du Fu also wrote a poem: "When you are in the position of Yao and Shun, make the customs mellow."

Baidu encyclopedia-Laozi

Baidu Encyclopedia-Zhuangzi

Baidu encyclopedia-inaction