1, grasp from the theme:
The theme of Tao Te Ching: Taoism is natural. "Taoism is natural" is the essence of Laozi's thought in Tao Te Ching. As the most abstract concept category in Tao Te Ching, "Tao" is the source of power to create everything in the world. "Virtue" is the development and expression of "Tao" in the field of ethics. "Tao" and "law" have similarities in rules and common sense, but they are different from western natural law. "Law" should imitate the way of nature and play a role in the reverse transformation of syndrome differentiation. Philosophically, "Tao" is the mother of the beginning of all things in heaven and earth, the unity of opposites of Yin and Yang is the essential embodiment of all things, and the extremes of things are the law of the evolution of all things. Ethically, Laozi advocates simplicity, selflessness, serenity, humility, gentleness, weakness and indifference. Politically, Lao Tzu advocates doing nothing at home, not disturbing the people, living in peace with foreign countries and opposing war and violence. These three levels constitute the theme of Tao Te Ching, and at the same time make the book go through the logical level of "physics to philosophy to ethics to politics", from the way of nature to the virtue of ethics, and finally settle in the idea and governance of ideal politics. That is, looking for the bright right path to the ideal social order from the natural order.
2. Grasp from the literary characteristics:
The language of Tao Te Ching is very artistic, and various rhetorical methods are used to make the text accurate, vivid, well-founded and infectious. Extensive use of antithesis, metaphor, parallelism, rhetorical questions, couplet beads. The use of these rhetorical love techniques has enhanced the image of language and deepened the impression of readers; Make the article closely structured and better reflect the organic connection of things; Language ups and downs, gripping, played a striking and thoughtful effect.
3. Grasp from the creative background:
Laozi was born in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. At that time, the environment was weak in the Zhou Dynasty, and various governors constantly competed for hegemony. The violent turmoil and changes made Lao Tzu witness the sufferings of the people, which was regarded as the Tibetan history of the Zhou Dynasty, so he put forward a series of thoughts on governing the country and protecting the people.
Yin Zhen's guarding of Hanguguan also played a great role in the compilation of Tao Te Ching. When he was young, he was fond of astronomy, reading ancient books, and had a profound cultivation. Yin moved Lao Tzu, who traced his life experience, the success or failure of the dynasty and the safety of the people, and wrote two books, Tao Te Ching, with five thousand words.
4, grasp from the content:
The text takes "virtue" in the philosophical sense as the key link, and discusses the ways of self-cultivation, governing the country, using troops and keeping in good health, but most of them focus on politics. It is the so-called "inner sage and outer king" theory, which has profound meaning and is inclusive.