First, the' Book of Changes' the main idea of governing the country
1, pay attention to governing the country by virtue.
The thought of being a man in the Book of Changes pays attention to morality. Kun Gua in the Book of Changes said: "A gentleman carries things with virtue". In other words, being a man should learn the virtue that the earth nourishes and carries all things, and be a man should benefit others. As the king of a country, it should be.
The Book of Changes said: "Virtue is thin and respectful, knowing small and seeking big, and strength is small and heavy, which is rarely inferior." That is to say, people with shallow virtue are in high positions, people with shallow knowledge have achieved great things, and people with weak strength have shouldered heavy responsibilities. Few people do not encounter disasters.
In history, many people who lived in the throne were shallow and immoral, and were finally overthrown, resulting in tragic results. There are also many kings who are worthy of the position of king because of their virtue, so the country has been well governed and will be remembered by future generations.
I Ching
Therefore, the Book of Changes says: "A gentleman takes inspiration as his virtue". If you want to govern the country well, you must have virtue commensurate with the throne.
2. Pay attention to change
The Book of Changes says: "Heaven and earth change at four times, and the Tang-Wu revolution depends on heaven and people." In other words, Tang Cheng destroyed the Xia Dynasty and established a prosperous Shang Dynasty. Zhou Wuwang destroyed the Shang Dynasty and established a prosperous Zhou Dynasty. The Tang Wu Revolution complied with the will of God and public opinion. This shows that the Book of Changes is a revolutionary action in favor of overthrowing the corrupt old dynasty and establishing a new dynasty, and it is in favor of change.
The Book of Changes says, "If you are poor, you will change, and if you change, you will pass, and the general rules will last for a long time." In other words, when things develop to the extreme, changes will occur, and the changes will be smooth and smooth for a long time.
It can be seen that the Book of Changes believes that change is beneficial to social development.
3. Pay attention to innovation
I ching highly advocates the spirit of innovation. The Book of Changes says that "a new day is called Shengde". In other words, it is a noble virtue that heaven and earth can be renewed.
It is because of constant change and innovation that the world will remain dynamic forever.
Yijing believes that in order to maintain vitality, the country should also constantly innovate.
4. Be prepared for danger in times of peace.
The Book of Changes Cohesion Biography says: "Those who are in danger are also in their place. If you can keep it, you can keep it. Chaos has its own solution. Therefore, a gentleman is safe and does not forget danger, but does not forget death and chaos. It is for security and the country can be protected. "
This passage embodies the sense of hardship that the monarch should have in governing the country in the Book of Changes. It means thinking that your situation will always be safe and you will be in danger. Those who try their best to keep themselves intact can't. Where there is governance, there is bound to be unrest. When you are safe, don't forget that there will be danger in the future. When the country exists, don't forget the possibility of national subjugation in the future. After the country is well governed, don't forget that there will be chaos in the future.
These three things are the sense of hardship in the thought of governing the country in the Book of Changes. With such a sense of urgency, the country can really govern well.
Laozi
Second, Lao Tzu's "inaction" method of governing the country
"Inaction" means that the monarch does nothing and does not interfere in the work of ministers. The development of the country depends entirely on the ministers and the people themselves, allowing the country to develop naturally.
Laozi's "inaction" thought of governing the country is China's three great thoughts of governing the country in ancient times, and it is the simplest among Taoists, Confucianists and Legalists. This is the embodiment of Laozi's thought of "Avenue to Simplicity". In other words, the greatest Tao is the simplest.
Laozi's Tao Te Ching says, "Know from above and know from below. Secondly, kiss and praise. " In other words, the superior monarch highly trusts his subordinates, does not act, does not interfere with their work, and lets them make their own decisions. So the following people only know his existence and don't know what contribution he has made. The monarch at the second level actively acts for the development of the country. So the following people praised him and were willing to get close to him.
In the history of our country, the early Han Dynasty, the early Tang Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty all mainly adopted the "inaction" thought close to Laozi to govern the country, which became the three most prosperous periods in the history of China. Practice has proved that Laozi's "inaction" method of governing the country is the most effective.
govern by non-action ［doing nothing that goes against nature］
The law of governing the country in the Book of Changes belongs to the law of governing the country by the second-class monarch. Zhou Wenwang, Zhou Wuwang, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and some emperors of the Song and Qing Dynasties all used the Book of Changes to govern the country, and the effectiveness of governing the country was not as good as Lao Zi's "inaction" method.
Laozi's "inaction" is the first-class method of governing the country in Tao Te Ching, and the first-class method of governing the country in Yijing belongs to the second-class method of governing the country in Tao Te Ching. Judging from the actual effect of China's thought of governing the country in history, Laozi's thought of "inaction" is superior to the Book of Changes. It can be said that Laozi's "inaction" method of governing the country is by going up one flight of stairs.