Taoism’s contribution to Chinese culture is equally important as Confucianism, but the difference is that one is expressed and the other is hidden in political thought. The depth and dialectical nature of Taoism's theoretical capabilities provide a source of creativity for all other traditions in Chinese philosophical thought.
Laozi (about 600 BC - 500 BC) was a thinker in the Spring and Autumn Period and the founder of Taoism. One theory is that Lao Dan, whose surname was Li Ming'er and whose courtesy name was Boyang, was from Qurenli, Li Township, Ku County, Chu State (now east of Luyi, Henan Province). He served as the historian of the Zhou Dynasty (the historian who managed the collection of books). Confucius once asked him After asking for courtesy, he retreated into seclusion and wrote "Laozi". When it comes to Laozi, he means Taishi Dan, or Lao Laizi. There has always been controversy over whether the book "Laozi" was written by Laozi. "Laozi" uses Tao to explain the evolution of all things in the universe. He believes that Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things. Tao, Tao follows nature. Tao is an objective natural law, and at the same time it has the eternal significance of being independent, unchangeable, and everlasting.
The book "Laozi" contains a large number of simple dialectical views, such as the belief that everything has positive and negative sides, and the opposite is the movement of the Tao, and can be transformed by opposition, and the good can be transformed into the strange, and the good can be transformed into the demon. , Misfortune lies where blessing lies, blessing lies where misfortune lies. He also believes that everything in the world is the unity of existence and non-being, and existence and non-being are interdependent, and non-being is the basis. Everything in the world is born from existence, and existence is born from non-being. The way of heaven is to make up for the deficiency when there is excess damage, but this is not the way of man. The loss is not enough and there is more than enough to serve; the people are hungry because of the high food and tax; the people despise death because of the wealth of the people who seek to survive; the people are not afraid Death, why should we be afraid of death? .
Taoism’s contribution to Chinese culture is equally important as Confucianism, but the difference is that one is expressed and the other is hidden in political thought. The depth and dialectical nature of Taoism's theoretical capabilities provide a source of creativity for all other traditions in Chinese philosophical thought. The following words are the essence of "Laozi".
1. When success is achieved, people say it is natural for me.
Lao Tzu said: The work is done, everything is done, and the people think that it is natural for me. In other words, it is human nature to not feel forced by others in the process of completing your homework. Human beings have the nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages; have the nature to be influenced by habits; have the nature to rely on popular cultural customs for survival; have the nature to innovate and change their habits and customs in a timely manner to adapt to the external environment. By following these instincts to complete your achievements, people will feel that it is just the way it is and that it is very smooth, without any feeling of being far-fetched or forced or dissatisfied. Completing your homework will come naturally. This is the basis for humanized management to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
2. The way of a saint is to work without fighting. My husband does not fight, so no one in the world can fight with him.
Lao Tzu said: The principle of a leader is to do without competing. Precisely because we don’t compete for it, no one in the world can compete with it. As Lao Tzu said: The best is like water. Water is good for all things and does not compete with it. It is disliked by everyone, so it is close to the Tao. The way of heaven is to benefit without harm; the way of saints is to work without fighting. Even the masters of the market do not fight for their own sake. The reason why a person who does not fight wins is precisely because his actions are in line with human nature, benefit others without harming others, and are good at getting help from others, so he can win without fighting.
3. You can avoid danger if you know how to stop. The husband is not full, so he can cover it and make it new.
Lao Tzu said: If you know to terminate at the right time, you can avoid falling into a dangerous situation. Because it has not reached the level of fullness, it can be reborn from the ashes when things tend to become worn out. Lao Tzu believes that things grow old when they are strong, which is called immorality, and immorality has already existed. When things develop and grow and reach fullness, they will inevitably gradually move towards aging and death, which means that they will gradually no longer be close to the Tao. If they are not close to the Tao, they will die prematurely. Therefore, leaders should not pursue growth excessively, causing things to become full and die prematurely. Instead, we should pay attention to controlling development to a certain extent and maintaining it to a degree that does not lead to premature fullness, so that we can calmly innovate, so that things can be reborn from the ashes before they are worn out and die, and be reborn and in a new state with sufficient room for development. Therefore, can continue to develop.
4. He who knows others is wise, and he who knows himself is wise. He who conquers others is powerful, and he who conquers himself is strong.
Lao Tzu said: He who knows others is wise, and he who knows himself is considered wise. He who is able to conquer others is called powerful, and he who is able to conquer himself is called powerful. Therefore, Lu Shi's Spring and Autumn Annals Chapter says: Therefore, those who conquer others must first conquer themselves; those who wish to understand others must first understand themselves. The chapter on self-knowledge says: For survival and safety, don’t look to outsiders, it’s all about self-knowledge. …There is no greater failure than not knowing. If a manager lacks self-awareness and the ability to succeed, it will be difficult for him to know people well and carry out effective management.
*** He once said: Among my neighbors, I only admire Zeng Wenzheng; Chiang Kai-shek also regarded Zeng Guofan as his role model in life and imitated him everywhere. Zeng's unique learning is the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese fine culture, and is the condensation of his great wisdom in cultivating one's family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world. Zeng Guofan's life was marked by victory if he used generals, but he was defeated if he used generals himself. Zeng Zhi relied on the two words of respect and sincerity to recruit talents. Once entrusted with full power, he used his generals properly and made great achievements many times. When he won, he was proud of himself and tried his own skills. He was defeated repeatedly in battles, and even attempted suicide several times. It was these hardships and experiences that made him gradually understand that one who knows others is wise, and one who knows oneself is wise.
The philosophy of "those who conquer others are powerful, and those who conquer themselves are strong" can reach a state of life in which the sky illuminates the sea with countless flowers, and the mountains and rivers are self-aware. You can conquer yourself and have a strong personality.
5. Do nothing but do everything.
Lao Tzu said: If you do not violate the rules and act recklessly, there is nothing that cannot be done well. Lao Tzu also said: To conquer the world, it is always necessary to have nothing to do, and even if there is something to do, it is not enough to conquer the world. In other words, when managers govern an enterprise, they must not violate the rules and cause trouble. If managers often act boldly and cause trouble to demonstrate their power, the enterprise will be difficult to govern. Lao Tzu concluded that by doing nothing, everything will be cured. Managers' behavior should comply with the laws of nature, not act arbitrarily, and seek realistic and feasible paths in a pragmatic manner, so that all can be cured.
Lao Tzu also emphasized: A sergeant who hears the Dao must practice it diligently. Once you have grasped the rules, use them to guide practice rather than empty talk.
Laozi believes that man follows the earth, the earth follows the sky, heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature. The ultimate requirement of inaction is to follow the laws of nature, which is the so-called letting nature take its course and making the best use of the situation.