112/04/20112/04/20Prof. Frederick Hok-ming Prof. Frederick Hok-ming

CHEUNGCHEUNG

TaoismTaoism

Lao Tzu and Chuang TzuLao Tzu and Chuang TzuOnly vague & sketchy accounts Only vague & sketchy accounts

(even in Ssu-ma Ch(even in Ssu-ma Ch’’ienien’’s Shih s Shih

Chi)Chi)

Lao Tzu was of the Lao Tzu was of the surname Li, his surname Li, his formal name was formal name was Erh, and his Erh, and his courtesy name courtesy name was Tan; Lao may was Tan; Lao may have been the clan have been the clan name. name.

Lao Tzu Lao Tzu –– Tao Te Ching Tao Te ChingAuthorship was questionable (?) Authorship was questionable (?)

Yet, definitely was classic in the Yet, definitely was classic in the thought of Taoism.thought of Taoism.

It was divided into 2 books: It was divided into 2 books: Book 1 Tao Ching ( 37 Chapters)Book 1 Tao Ching ( 37 Chapters)Book 2 Te Ching (44 chapters)Book 2 Te Ching (44 chapters)Therefore, = total of 81 chapters Therefore, = total of 81 chapters

(In Dec., 1973, the discovery in a Han (In Dec., 1973, the discovery in a Han tomb at Ma Wang Tui: Book 2 was in tomb at Ma Wang Tui: Book 2 was in the front, & book 1 was after. More the front, & book 1 was after. More complicated.) complicated.)

““The Way that can be spoken The Way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way.of is not the constant Way.”” I(1) D.C. LauI(1) D.C. Lau’’s tr.s tr.

““The name that can be named The name that can be named is not the constant name.is not the constant name.””

““the Way is forever nameless,the Way is forever nameless,”” XXXII(72) D.C. LauXXXII(72) D.C. Lau’’s tr.s tr.

““The nameless was the beginning of The nameless was the beginning of heaven and earth; heaven and earth;

the named was the mother of the the named was the mother of the myriad creatures.myriad creatures.

……....These two are the same but diverge in These two are the same but diverge in

name as they issue forth. Being the name as they issue forth. Being the same they are called mysteries, same they are called mysteries, mystery upon mystery mystery upon mystery –– the gateway the gateway of the manifold secrets.of the manifold secrets.”” I(2 I(2……3) D.C. 3) D.C. LauLau’’s tr.s tr.

Because of his mastery of the ancient Because of his mastery of the ancient rites, it was said that Lao Tzu was rites, it was said that Lao Tzu was appointed keeper of the archives of the appointed keeper of the archives of the Chou court. Lao Tzu was senior in age Chou court. Lao Tzu was senior in age to Confucius, and there were reports to Confucius, and there were reports that Confucius had visited Lao Tzu to that Confucius had visited Lao Tzu to ask him about the rites. Nevertheless, ask him about the rites. Nevertheless, Lao Tzu devoted himself to the study of Lao Tzu devoted himself to the study of Tao (the Way), and its Te (the Virtue & Tao (the Way), and its Te (the Virtue & power). Then he resigned his official power). Then he resigned his official post and withdrew from the world, & post and withdrew from the world, & nothing is known of the end of his life.nothing is known of the end of his life.

Similarly, Chuang Tzu Similarly, Chuang Tzu ““lived without lived without leaving any traces.leaving any traces.”” His given name His given name was Chou.was Chou.

He was famous for his He was famous for his ““allegoricalallegorical”” (satirical) writings.(satirical) writings.

He was also a most skilful writer & user He was also a most skilful writer & user of phrases.of phrases.

Cf. PlatoCf. PlatoCf. Lu HsunCf. Lu Hsun

1.1. ““Dreaming of becoming a butterfly;Dreaming of becoming a butterfly;2.2. Jokes with the sophist: Hui ShihJokes with the sophist: Hui Shih

Cf. Confucius attempted to employ Cf. Confucius attempted to employ positive governmental methods based positive governmental methods based on benevolence and righteousness, to on benevolence and righteousness, to overcome disorder and restore things to overcome disorder and restore things to their proper functioning, thus, their proper functioning, thus, ““optimistic.optimistic.””

However, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu tended However, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu tended toward negativism, offering the methods toward negativism, offering the methods of withdrawal whereby the individual of withdrawal whereby the individual could preserve his own safety and be at could preserve his own safety and be at ease with himself, thus, ease with himself, thus, ““pessimisticpessimistic””. .

““Weakness or yielding softnessWeakness or yielding softness”” (no- (no-jo) is the function of Tao.jo) is the function of Tao.

““Men are soft and weak at birth, rigid Men are soft and weak at birth, rigid and tough in death; all plants and and tough in death; all plants and trees are yielding and tender in trees are yielding and tender in life, & stiff and brittle in death. life, & stiff and brittle in death. Therefore, unyielding strength is Therefore, unyielding strength is the companion of death, while the companion of death, while yielding softness is the companion yielding softness is the companion of life.of life.””

Cf. TCf. T’’ai Chai Ch’’I chI ch’’uanuan

JudoJudo

In KIn K’’ung-fu Fightingung-fu Fighting

Cf. Kenny RogerCf. Kenny Roger’’s s ““Coward of the Coward of the CountyCounty””

Lao Tzu believed that the causes of disorder Lao Tzu believed that the causes of disorder in the world lay, not in the shortcomings of in the world lay, not in the shortcomings of specific institutions, but rather in the fact specific institutions, but rather in the fact that institutions themselves were an that institutions themselves were an unsatisfactory method of achieving order.unsatisfactory method of achieving order.

Therefore: Therefore: The reversal or return to The reversal or return to pp’’uu ( the primitive;) ( the primitive;)

the uncarved block of wood) = the the uncarved block of wood) = the movement of movement of TaoTao..

(return to the original): (return to the original): ““let the people revert let the people revert to the use of knotted cordsto the use of knotted cords”” (to remember (to remember things) things) –– a method of recording which was a method of recording which was used before writing was invented.used before writing was invented.

““In all the world, there is nothing softer than In all the world, there is nothing softer than water, yet it attacks the unyielding and the water, yet it attacks the unyielding and the firm, nothing can prevail against it.firm, nothing can prevail against it.”” This is This is to say that water conquers through to say that water conquers through softness.softness.

WaterWaterstone into sandstone into sand

For weakness and softness can insure self-For weakness and softness can insure self-preservation, while the firm and the strong preservation, while the firm and the strong must be broken.must be broken.

Therefore Therefore ““softness and weakness conquer softness and weakness conquer firmness and strengthfirmness and strength”” = the essential art in = the essential art in dealing with lifedealing with life’’s problems.s problems.

Indeed, Lao Tzu accepted the doctrine of Indeed, Lao Tzu accepted the doctrine of yielding and humility and developed it yielding and humility and developed it further. Thus, a political philosophy of further. Thus, a political philosophy of ““inactioninaction”” ( (wu-weiwu-wei) or, of taking no ) or, of taking no purposive action was developed by Lao Tzu purposive action was developed by Lao Tzu & Chuang Tzu. Yet, this political thought is & Chuang Tzu. Yet, this political thought is not completely negative. Lao Tzu and not completely negative. Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu were skeptical about the Chuang Tzu were skeptical about the government but affirmed the value of the government but affirmed the value of the individual.individual.

Therefore, the preservation of life and the Therefore, the preservation of life and the free expression of manfree expression of man’’s nature became the s nature became the ultimate goal of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzuultimate goal of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu’’s s political philosophy.political philosophy.

Wu-wei:Wu-wei:Taking no action, yet leaving nothing Taking no action, yet leaving nothing

undone.undone.

““The Way never acts yet nothing is left The Way never acts yet nothing is left undone.undone.”” XXXVII(81) D.C. Lau XXXVII(81) D.C. Lau’’s tr.s tr.

““Do that which consists in taking no action, Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.and order will prevail.”” III (10) D.C. Lau III (10) D.C. Lau’’s s tr.tr.

““When one does nothing at all, there is When one does nothing at all, there is nothing that is undone.nothing that is undone.”” XLVIII (108), D.C. XLVIII (108), D.C. LauLau’’s tr.s tr.

““I take no action and the people are transformed I take no action and the people are transformed of themselves.of themselves.”” LVII (133) D.C. Lau LVII (133) D.C. Lau’’s tr.s tr.

The ideal state of the Taoist is one in which the The ideal state of the Taoist is one in which the people are innocent of knowledge and free people are innocent of knowledge and free from from ““desiredesire””..

““Therefore, in governing the people, the sage Therefore, in governing the people, the sage empties their minds but fills theirs bellies, empties their minds but fills theirs bellies, weakens their wills but strengthens their weakens their wills but strengthens their bones. He always keeps them innocent of bones. He always keeps them innocent of knowledge and free from desire, and ensures knowledge and free from desire, and ensures that the clever never dare to act.that the clever never dare to act.”” III (9) D.C. III (9) D.C. LauLau’’s tr.s tr.

The aim of sage is to keep the people in The aim of sage is to keep the people in a childlike state where there is no a childlike state where there is no knowledge and so no desire beyond knowledge and so no desire beyond the immediate objects of the senses.the immediate objects of the senses.

““And if I cease to desire and remain still, And if I cease to desire and remain still, the empire will be at peace of its own the empire will be at peace of its own accord.accord.”” XXXVII (81) D.C. Lau XXXVII (81) D.C. Lau’’s tr.s tr.

Lao TzuLao Tzu’’s political philosophy of inaction s political philosophy of inaction bears some resemblance to the bears some resemblance to the laissez laissez fairefaire doctrines, but it differs from doctrines, but it differs from anarchism. Because it anarchism. Because it ““takes no action takes no action yet leaves nothing undone.yet leaves nothing undone.””

““The ideal form of political The ideal form of political organization: organization: ““let there be a small let there be a small country wuth few people.country wuth few people.

Let the people revert to the use of Let the people revert to the use of knotted cords.knotted cords.

Through a neighboring state within Through a neighboring state within sight, so that they hear each othersight, so that they hear each other’’s s cocks crowing and dogs barking, cocks crowing and dogs barking, yet the people will grow old and die yet the people will grow old and die without ever visiting one another.without ever visiting one another.”” LXXX (193) MoteLXXX (193) Mote’’s tr.s tr.

Therefore, Therefore, ““Blunt the sharpness, Blunt the sharpness, untangle the knots, soften the glare, untangle the knots, soften the glare, let your wheels move only along old let your wheels move only along old ruts.ruts.”” IV (12) D.C. Lau IV (12) D.C. Lau’’s tr.s tr.

The story of The story of ““the fighting cockthe fighting cock”” ( (““as dull as dull as a wooden cockas a wooden cock””) by Chuang Tzu.) by Chuang Tzu.