Taoism as a Philosophy by Dr. Meng Xiangchun

H.D. Thoreau (1817-1862)Walden Pond

Lead -in

1. The First Phase of Taoism: Yang Chu

Hermit Yang Chu (?-?)

The Fundamental Ideas of Yang Chu: Extreme hedonism

Each one for himself Despising things and valuing life

“The principle of Yang Chu is ‘each one for himself ’. Though he might have benefited the whole world by plucking out a single hair from his shank, he would not have done it.” (Mencius VIIa, 26)

“Name or person, which is more dear? Person or fortune, which is more important?” (Tao-te Ching: Chapter 44)

“When you do something good, beware of the reputation; when you do something evil, beware of the punishment. Follow the middle way and take this to be your everlasting principle. Then you can guard your person, nourish your parents and complete your natural term of years.” (Chuang Tse: Cultivation of Life)

2. The Second Phase of Taoism: Lao Tse

2.1 Cosmology: The Taoist Genesis

“Tao gave birth to the One; the One gave birth successively to two, three, up to all things.” (Tao-te Ching: Chapter 42)

“All things under heaven are products of Being, and Being itself is the product of Non-being.” (Chapter 40)

2.2 Taoist Epistemology: Idealist Opriorism

/Transcendentalism “Without leaving his door, he knows everything

under heaven…Therefore the Sage arrives without going, Sees all without looking, Does nothing, yet achieves everything.” (Chapter 47)

“Learning consists in adding to one’s stock day by day; the Practice of Tao consists in subtracting day by day.” (Chapter 48)

2.3 Taoist Dialectics: the Unity and

Transformation of Opposites

“Reversal or returning is the motion of Tao.” (Chapter 40)

“Being and Not-being grow out of one another; difficult and easy complete one another. Long and short test one another; High and Low determine one another...” (Chapter 2)

“It is upon bad fortune that good fortune leans; and upon good fortune that bad fortune rests.” (Chapter 58)

An Illustration To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower. To hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.

By William Blake (1757-1827)

2.4 Political Philosophy: Governance by

Non-doing/Inactivity “Governing a large country is like cooking a sm

all fish”. (Chapter 16)

“Tao never does; yet through it all things are done.” (Chapter 37)

“It acts without action, does without doing, finds flavor in what is flavorless.” (Chapter 63)

2.5. Ideal Society: A Small Country with Few Inhabitants

“Given a small country with few inhabitants… there might be still weapons of war but no one would drill with them…(people) should be contented with their food, pleased with their clothing, satisfied with their homes, should take pleasure in their rustic tasks.” (Chapter 80)

I rise in the morning with the sunrise, And nestle down with the sunset. I dig a well for drinking water,

And till the land for food. I see not the use

of the king.

(A Poem of the Ancient Times)

2.6. Idea about Life Maintenance and Nourishment

“ Quietness is the lord of master of activity.” (Chapter 55)

Non-contention Doing subtraction Contentment (“To know contentment is to have

wealth.”)

III. The Third Phase of Taoism: Chuang Tse

“In a society of great virtue, men inhabit along with all creatures and things, without any distinction between gentlemen and small men, equally ignorant, free from earthly desires, and equally primitive.” (Chuangtse:Volume 4b)

Anecdote (1)

“To be, or not to be. That is the Question”

Zhuang Zhou? or

A butterfly?

Anecdote (2)

IV. The Influence of Taoism

We took the road blazed by Taoists and that partly made the Chinese Chinese!

4.1. “Never Go to Extremes” Mentality

“The Sage eschews excess, extravagance, and pride.” (Tao-te Ching: Chapter 30)

4.2. Nature Aesthetics: The Void, the Quiet and the Natural

“Push far enough towards the Void, and hold fast enough to Quietness.” (Chapter 16)

4.3. Oneness of Man and Nature: A Smaller Self and a Bigger Nature

River SnowLiu Zongyuan (773-819)

From hill to hill no bird in flight,

From path to path no man in sight.

A lonely fisherman afloat,

Is fishing snow on lonely boat.

(Translated by Xu Yuanchong)

4.4. Other Influences

*Literature & art *Music *Architecture *Folklore *TCM *Tea ceremony

*…

4. Wrap-up

Origin The three phases Fundamental ideas Influences

Taoism is of special value today!

Thank You!