Lao Zi (LaoTzu) and Dao de jing:

Lao Zi : An older contemporary of Confucius (551-479 BC). He was born in Chu and lived in Chou. He was the founder of Daoism.

Dao de jing:

1. The characteristics of the Dao:

The important characteristic of the Dao: Dao is beyond language.

The way that can be spoken of

Is not the constant way. (1)

                    The way is for ever nameless (72)

                    The way conceals itself in being nameless (92)

 

1.1. The Dao is responsible for creating and supporting the universe.

The way begets one, one begets two; two begets three, three begets the myriad creatures. (93)

1.2. The Dao is often indicated by "Nothing."

The myriad creatures in the world are born from Something, and Something from Nothing. (89)

1.3. The Dao creates the myriad things by doing nothing.

2. The movement of the Dao:

The way is empty, yet use will not drain it (11)

It is empty without being exhausted. (14)

Better to have stopped in time (23)

 

3. The governing skills according to the Dao:

In governing the people, the sage empties their minds but fills their bellies, weakens their wills but strengthens their bones. (9)

The Sage has no mind of his own. He takes as his own the mind of the people (110)

 

4. Relative moral standards:

Something and Nothing produce each other. (5)

The whole work recognizes the beautiful as the beautiful, yet this is only the ugly; the whole world recognizes the good as the good, yet this is only the bad. (4)

Highest good is like water. (20)

 

5. Going back our original nature:

In concentrating your breath can you become as supple as babe? (24)

Are you capable of keeping to the role of the female? (24)

Are you capable of not knowing anything? (24)

 

6. No human knowledge:

The five colours make man’s eyes blind;

The five notes make his ears deaf;

The five tastes injure his palate. (28)

 

7. Politics:

When the people are not afraid of death, wherefore frighten them with death? (180)

The people are hungry;

It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes. (181)

 

Zhuang Zi:

Daoism fully developed the romantic character of Chinese culture. The theory of Daoism concentrates on individual life and tranquility. It aims to discovery the beauty of harmony between human being and nature, which only can sense through the Way (Dao). Zhuang Zi is the person who did this based on Lao Zi's work.

1. Zhuang Zi develops the theory of Daoism:

1.1.The happiest life is to be part of nature.

1.2. The position of human being in the nature is not important.

1.3. The way to be part of nature is to forget “Self.”

1.4.The way of grasping the beauty of nature is through intuition.

 

2. Moral life and life of Wu-wei
       2.1. How should one live?

2.2.1. An individual is a part of the continuous stream of nature.

2.2.2. An individual has the choice of either fighting against this stream, and thus creating disharmony both in his own life and in the lives of those around him, or of accepting being part of the stream and flowing with it, thus experiencing a life of harmony.

2.2. The doctrine of wu-wei

Developing and experiencing inner tranquillity.

2.2.1.The meaning of wu-wei: Literally means “having-no-activity” or “non-action.”

2.2.2.The three perspectives are involved:

2.2.2.1.Lesser activity or doing less.

2.2.2.2.Acting without artificiality and arbitrariness.

2.2.2.3. The essence of wu-wei: the natural way of behavior.

.Taking no action that is contrary to nature.

Letting nature take its own course.

 

3.Why should we live the life of wu-wei?

3.1. The ethical meanings of wu-wei

3.1.1.Over-doing defeats purpose.

3.1.2. Time and success are subjective feelings.

3.1.3. Passivity is the path to nature.

The qualities, which Dao exhibits, are that the weak is going to overcome the strong.

Suppleness and weakness are ways to preserve one’s own life and sources of power.

4.Daoist meditation: Yin-yang and Harmony of Life

4.1.Yin and yang as cosmological principles or forces.

4.1.1.Reality as a pair of opposites.

4.1.2.Yin-yang coordinates human and nature worlds.

On the macrocosmic level: watery underworld, earth and heaven.

On the microcosmic level: head, chest and belly. (correspond to: intellect, love and intuition)

4.2.Yin and Yang as a guiding principle of human life

4.2.1.Yin and Yang explain the interrelationships that exist between natural phenomena and human behavior in terms of an impersonal and automatic sequence of cause and effect.

4.2.2.Yin and Yang theory has put ethical and social teaching on a cosmological basis.

4.2.3. Yin and Yang theory has developed that view that things are related and that reality is process of constant transformation.