Laozi

Laozi (about 600 BC - about 470 BC) is an ancient Chinese thinker. The surname is Li Minger and the name is Boyang. Some people say it is also called Laodan. According to the legend, when Laozi was born, he had white eyebrows and beard, so he was later called Laozi.

It is said that he lived in the Spring and Autumn Period.

Laozi, the author of the Tao Te Ching, is the founder of the Taoist school, and his theory was later developed by Zhuang Zhou. Descendants of Taoism regard Laozi as a master. Compared with Confucius of Confucianism, Confucius has learned from Laozi in history. In Taoism, Lao Tzu is a very important immortal, known as the Supreme Lord and respected as the Taoist Ancestor. From the "Biography of Immortals", Lao Tzu was listed as an immortal. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Wang Fu, a native of Chengdu, wrote the Monument to the Virgin of Laozi, which combines Laozi and Taoism and regards Laozi as the god of heaven and earth. It has become the rudiment of Taoist creation theory. In the reign of Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty offered sacrifices to Lao Tzu personally, and regarded Lao Tzu as the ancestor of immortality.

The idea is "inaction", and Laozi's ideal political realm is "the neighbors look at each other, the sound of chickens and dogs hear each other, and the people do not communicate until they die"

His posthumous title is Dan, his surname is Li Minger, and his name is Boyang. He is from Qurenli, Li Xiang, in Kuxian County of the State of Chu (today's Taiqinggong Town in the east of Luyi, Henan Province, which was originally located in Qiaocheng, Bozhou). He was once the "history of keeping the library" (the historian in charge of the library) of the Zhou Dynasty. Confucius once saluted him, retreated, and wrote "Laozi".

Lao Tzu is Taishidan, or Lao Laizi. There has always been controversy about whether the book "Laozi" was written by Laozi. Lao Tzu explains the evolution of all things in the universe with "Tao", thinking that "Tao generates one, two, three, and three". "Tao" is "Fu Mo's destiny (command) and always natural", so "man follows the earth, the earth follows the sky, the heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows the nature". "Tao" is an objective natural law, and at the same time, it has the eternal meaning of "independent and unchangeable".

Laozi contains a large number of simple dialectic views, such as thinking that everything has both positive and negative sides, "the opposite is the movement of the way", and can be transformed from the opposite, "the right and the right are strange, the good and the right are evil", "the misfortune is the reliance of the good, and the misfortune is the ambush of the good". He also thinks that everything in the world is the unity of "being" and "nothing", "being and nothing are born together", and "nothing" is the basis, "everything in the world is born of being, and being is born of nothing". "The way of heaven is to lose more and make up for less, while the way of man is not to lose enough to serve more"; "The hunger of the people depends on the food tax"; "The light death of the people, the thick survival on it"; "The people are not afraid of death. How can they fear death?".

His theory has a profound impact on the development of Chinese philosophy, and its content is mainly shown in Laozi. His philosophical thought and the Taoist school founded by him not only made important contributions to the development of ancient Chinese ideology and culture, but also had a profound impact on the development of Chinese ideology and culture over the past 2000 years.

Lao Tzu's values consist of "nothing", "Tao" and "virtue".

Laozi said "nothing", which means: "Everything in the world is born of something, and something is born of nothing." When the universe has not yet formed, everything will not exist, so it is called "nothing". The universe was formed when heaven and earth began to open, so it was called "there". "Everything" derives from "being", and "being" derives from "nothing". Everything in the world starts from "being" and ends in "nothing".

Lao Tzu said "Tao", which means: "There is a mixture of things, born naturally, lonely, independent and unchangeable, traveling around without danger, and can be the mother of the world. I don't know its name. The word is Tao, which is stronger than its name." Lao Tzu believed that "Tao" is the essence of the universe and the root of all things, so he said: "Tao generates one, one, two, three, and three things." "Tao" is born before all things in heaven and earth, and exists independently of all things, It circulates continuously, covering all things in the world and never stops. Lao Tzu also believed that "Tao" was untouchable and inexplicable, so he said: "formless form, formless spring." It can only be represented by "Tao", which can also be called "Da" reluctantly. Therefore, it is said that "the Tao can be said, the unusual Tao can be said, the name can be said, the unusual name. None, the name of the beginning of heaven and earth; there, the name of the mother of all things." It means that "the Tao" is mysterious and profound, which is difficult for ordinary people to understand and describe. If words can be used to describe "Tao", it is not really "Tao". When everything in the universe is formed, human beings will name everything, but they are not the real names of things, because everything in the universe is derived from "Tao". Man is one of the natural things, so he must abide by the laws of nature. Therefore, it is said that "man follows the earth, the earth follows the heaven, the heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows the nature." The "Tao" gives all things vitality and makes them come into being. Therefore, Laozi believes that "Tao" is the master of all things.

Lao Tzu said "virtue", and thought that "virtue" is the embodiment of "Tao", and "virtue" should be subject to "Tao", so he said: "The appearance of Confucius' virtue is the only way to follow." The Taoist school stressed that people should practice the Tao well, with the purpose of helping themselves to cultivate and avoid mistakes.

Keep soft

Lao Tzu said "keep soft", which means "the most soft in the world, and the most rigid in the world." The reason why "Tao" can cycle is because "Tao" has the characteristic of softness, Therefore, "The weak can use the way." Lao Tzu used "water" as a metaphor: "The world is weak, no more than water, and the winner of the attack is not able to win, and it is not easy." It also said: "The weak can win the strong, the soft can win the hard, the world can not know, and can not do it." Lao Tzu stressed that "the strong beam can not die", and the purpose is to teach people to be humble and to retreat for progress. If a person is like this, he can be wise and keep himself safe. Therefore, he said: "Know the male, keep the female, and be open-minded for the world; be open-minded for the world, and remain virtuous, and return to the baby." This means that a person can have ambitions, but not be aggressive, and should hold the path of weakness and humility, and maintain his simple nature. Lao Tzu emphasized "keeping softness" because he believed that everything in the world would fall apart from "Tao". Therefore, it is said that "the wind does not end the day, and the rain does not end the day." Lao Tzu also believes that the world is unpredictable, so he said: "Happiness depends on misfortune, and misfortune depends on misfortune." Lao Tzu emphasizes "keeping soft", and requires people to be modest and self-reliant, not strong and competitive, or they will not end well.

Don't argue after

Lao Tzu believes that people should have the heart of "staying behind and not fighting", which means: "I have three treasures to hold and protect; one is kindness, the other is thrift, and the third is not dare to be the first in the world. Being kind leads to courage, thrift leads to breadth, and not dare to be the first in the world, so we can become powerful." Only those who are kind, thrifty, and modest can have moral courage, and then give to others, and be respected and supported by others to become great tools. Lao Tzu once said, "The sage should be the first, and the body should be the first. It is not because of his selflessness that he can be the private." As long as one can give up the desire to compete for the first and win, he understands the principle that "holding and gaining is not as good as his own. Holding and sharpening are not guaranteed for a long time. There is no way to keep them when they are full of gold and jade. Wealth and pride are the only way to blame themselves". Don't rely on your intelligence and show your sharpness. You should take a retreating attitude to the world, so as to reach the realm of "the only way is not to compete, so the world can not compete with it".

have few desires

Laozi said that people should have "few desires", so he said: "sin is greater than desire, evil is greater than discontent, and guilt is greater than desire. Therefore, contentment is always sufficient." If a person has the heart of "desire" and discontent, then greed is born. Only the satisfaction brought by "contentment" is real satisfaction. Lao Tzu pointed out that "five colors make people blind, five tones make people deaf, and five flavors make people happy." Indulging in lust and lust and appetite for material things will make people dizzy and confused, and damage the body's senses and spirituality. So Lao Tzu asked people to "have no desire" and "have no desire", so he said: "The sage should go to extremes, go to extravagance, and go to Thailand." It also said: "A good scholar should not be martial. A good fighter should not be angry. A good winner of the enemy should not fight. A good use of people should be the next." In living and dealing with people, we should "be simple and modest, less selfish and less lustful", to achieve the realm of "contentment without humiliation, knowledge without danger, and can last".

Political outlook

Inaction

"If the people are not virtuous, they will not fight; if they are not precious and rare, they will not steal; if they are not able to see their desires, they will not be confused. The sage's governance: empty their hearts, strengthen their stomachs, weaken their wills, and strengthen their bones. It often makes the people ignorant and have no desires, and if the wise dare not do it, it will not be cured."

"Inaction" cannot be understood as inaction. "Huainanzi · The Original Doctrine of Taoism": "inaction is combined with the Tao". The "inaction" of Taoism is the meaning of quiet and self-restraint, and the ideal state of "harmony with the Tao" that Taoism wants to achieve by virtue of "Tao". If we can reach this ideal state, we can do nothing.

Be kind to others

"In ancient times, those who are good at fighting do not fight, those who are good at fighting do not fight, and those who are good at winning the enemy do not fight, and those who are good at using the enemy do not fight. This is the virtue of not fighting. It is the power of using people, and it is the extreme of ancient times."

Epistemology

"Those who know others are wise, those who know themselves are wise, those who win others are powerful, and those who win themselves are strong. Those who are satisfied are rich, and those who have the will will will be strong. Those who do not lose their place for a long time, and those who do not die will live long." "To know without knowing is to be superior; to know without knowing is to be ill. To be ill is to be not ill."

Note: Laozi is also called Tao Te Ching. (Tao Te Ching is a later title. At first, the book of Lao Tzu was called "Lao Tzu" instead of "Tao Te Ching". The date of its writing was controversial in the past, but it is still uncertain. However, according to the age of "Lao Tzu" in Guodian Chu slips unearthed in 1993, the date of its writing was at least in the middle and early period of the Warring States.

老子

  老子（传说前600年左右—前470年左右），中国古代思想家。姓李名耳，字伯阳，有人说又称老聃。在传说中，老子一生下来时，就具有白色的眉毛及鬍子，所以被后来称为老子。

  相传生活在春秋时期。

  老子著有《道德经》，是道家学派的始祖，他的学説后被庄周发展。道家后人将老子视爲宗师，与儒家的孔子相比拟，史载孔子曾学于老子。在道教中，老子是一个很主要的神仙，被称为太上老君，尊为道祖。从《列仙传》开始，把老子列为神仙。东汉时期，成都人王阜撰《老子圣母碑》，把老子和道合而为一，视老子为化生天地的神灵。成为了道教创世说的雏形。而在汉桓帝时，汉桓帝更是亲自祭祀老子，把老子作为仙道之祖。

   思想主张是"无为"，老子的理想政治境界是是"邻国相望,鸡犬之声相闻,民至老死不相往来"
   谥曰聃，姓李名耳，字伯阳，楚国苦县 （今河南鹿邑东太清宫镇，古属亳州谯城）厉乡曲仁里人，做过周朝“守藏室之史”（管理藏书的史官），孔子曾向他问礼，后退隐，著《老子》。
    一说老子即太史儋，或老莱子。《老子》一书是否为老子所作，历来有争论。《老子》以“道”解释宇宙万物的演变，以为“道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物”，“道”乃“夫莫之命（命令）而常自然”，因而“人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然”。“道”为客观自然规律，同时又具有“独立不改，周行而不殆”的永恒意义。

   《老子》书中包括大量朴素辩证法观点，如以为一切事物均具有正反两面，“反者道之动”，并能由对立而转化，“正复为奇，善复为妖”，“祸兮福之所倚，福兮祸之所伏”。又以为世间事物均为“有”与“无”之统一，“有、无相生”，而“无”为基础，“天下万物生于有，有生于无”。“天之道，损有余而补不足，人之道则不然，损不足以奉有馀”；“民之饥，以其上食税之多”；“民之轻死，以其上求生之厚”；“民不畏死，奈何以死惧之？”。

   其学说对中国哲学发展具深刻影响，其内容主要见《老子》一书。他的哲学思想和由他创立的道家学派，不但对我国古代思想文化的发展，作出了重要贡献，而且对我国2000多年来思想文化的发展，产生了深远的影响。
  老子的价值观由「无」、「道」、「德」三者所构成。
  老子言「无」，尝谓：「天下万物生於有，有生於无。」当宇宙尚未形成，万物不会存在，故称「无」。天地初开，形成宇宙，故称「有」。「万物」由「有」所衍生，而「有」从「无」所衍生，天下万物均起於「有」而终於「无」。
   老子言「道」，尝谓：「有物混成，先天地生，寂兮寥兮，独立而不改，周行而不殆，可以为天下母，吾不知其名，字之曰道，强为之名曰大。」老子认为「道」是宇宙本体，乃万物之根源，故谓：「道生一、一生二、二生三、三生万物。」「道」生於天地万物之先，独立长存於万物之外，不断循环运行，遍及天地万物，绝不止息。老子又认为「道」不可触摸、莫可名状，故谓：「无状之状，无物之泉。」只能用「道」来代表，亦可勉强称为「大」。故谓：「道可道，非常道，名可名，非常名。无，名天地之始；有，名万物之母。」意谓「道」是玄妙深奥的，常人难以理解及形容。若可用言语来描述「道」，就不是真正的「道」了。当宇宙万物形成之际，人类会给万物命名，但都不是事物真正的名字，因为天地万物都是由「道」衍生出来的。人为自然万物之一，故须遵守自然法则，故谓：「人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。」「道」赋予万物生机而使各遂其生，故老子认为「道」是万物的宗主。
   老子言「德」，认为「德」乃「道」之体现，而「德」应服从於「道」，故谓：「孔德之容，惟道是从。」道家强调人应当好好行道，目的是助己之修养，避免犯过。
  守柔
  老子言「守柔」，尝谓：「天下之至柔，驰聘天下之至刚。」「道」之所以能循环不息，因为「道」具备了柔弱的特质，故言：「弱者道之用。」老子以「水」作喻：「天下柔弱，莫过於水，而攻坚胜者，莫之能胜，其无以易之。」又谓：「弱之胜强，柔之胜刚，天下莫不知，莫能行。」老子强调以柔制刚，认为「强梁者不得其死」，目的在教人谦卑逊让，以退为进。人若如此，方可明哲保身，故谓：「知其雄，守其雌，为天下豁；为天下豁，常德不离，復归於婴儿。」意谓人可有雄心壮志，但不可逞强好胜，应抱持柔弱谦下之道，保持质朴本性。老子强调「守柔」，皆因认为除了「道」之外，世间万物总有没落的一日。故谓：「飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日。」老子又认为世事难测，故谓：「福兮祸所倚，祸兮福所伏。」老子强调「守柔」，要求人清虚自守，勿刚强好胜，否则不得善终。
  居后不争
  老子认为人应有「居后不争」之心，尝谓：「我有三宝，持而保之；一曰慈，二曰俭，三曰不敢为天下先。夫慈故能勇，俭故能广，不敢为天下先，故能成器长。」只有仁慈、俭朴、谦让不争的人，方能具备道德勇气，进而博施於人，受人尊敬拥护而成大器。老子尝谓：「圣人后其身而身先，外其身而身存。非以其无私耶，故能成其私。」只要人能捨弃争先争胜之心，深明「持而盈之，不如其己。揣而锐之，不可长保。金玉满堂，莫之能守。富贵而骄，自遗其咎」之理。莫自恃聪明，锋芒太露，应抱持以退为进的处世态度，从而达致「夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争」的境界。
  寡欲
  老子谓人应「寡欲」，故谓：「罪莫大於可欲，祸其大於不知足，咎莫大於欲得。故知足之足，常足。」人若怀有「可欲」、不知足」之心，则贪念自生。只有「知足」带来的满足感，才是真正的满足。老子指出：「五色令人目盲，五音令人耳聋，五味令人口爽。」沉醉於声色犬马和口腹物慾会使人神昏意乱，使身体的感官和灵性受损。故老子要求人「无欲」、「去欲」，故谓：「是以圣人去甚、去奢、去泰。」又谓：「善为士者不武。善战者不怒。善胜敌者不争。善用人者为之下。」於生活起居、待人处事应「见素抱朴，少私寡欲」，达致「知足不辱，知止不殆，可以长久」的境界。
  政治观
  无为
  “不上贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不盗；不见可欲，使心不乱．圣人治：虚其心，实其腹，弱其志，强其骨．常使民无知无欲，使知者不敢为，则无不治．”
  “无为”，不能理解为无所作为。《淮南子·原道训》：“无为为之而合于道”。道家的“无为”，是清静自守之义，是道家以“道” 修身所要达到的“合于道” 的理想境界。能达到这种理想境界便无所不能为（无为而不无为）。
  善为下
  “古之善为士者不武，善战者不怒，善胜敌者不争，善用仁者为下．是谓不争之德，是以用人之力，是谓配天古之极．” “用兵有言：「吾不敢为主而为客，不敢进寸而退尺．」是谓行无行，攘无臂，仍无敌，执无兵．祸莫大於轻敌，轻敌几丧吾宝．故抗兵相加，则哀者胜．”
  知识论
  “知人者智，自知者明．胜人有力，自胜者强．知足者富，强行有志．不失其所者久，死而不亡者寿．”“圣人无心，以百姓心为心．善者吾善之，不善者吾亦善之，得善．信者吾信之，不信者吾亦信之，得信．圣人在天下，怵怵；为天下，浑其心．百姓皆注其耳目，圣人皆孩之．” “知不知，上；不知知，病．是以圣人不病．以其病病，是以不病．”

  注：《老子》一书也称《道德经》。（《道德经》是后来的称谓，最初老子书称为《老子》而无《道德经》之名。其成书年代过去多有争论，至今仍无法确定，不过根据1993年出土的郭店楚简“老子”年代推算，成书年代至少在战国中前期。

(This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

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