What does inaction mean in Tao Te Ching?

"Inaction" is a philosophical concept, which cannot be understood literally.

Nothing, in philosophy, refers to invisibility, namelessness, nothingness and so on. , or refers to the subtle state of matter, refers to things that are invisible and intangible. For example, Laozi said: "Everything in the world is born with something, and it is born with nothing." It means that everything in the world comes from visible tangible quality, and tangible quality comes from invisible intangible quality. It can be seen that "nothing" does not mean "nothing".

For, refers to behavior, such as.

Inaction refers to an act of "conforming to nature". After thinking in a hopeful way, according to the judgment of the present situation and trend, we should follow the trend, that is, conform to the changing law of nature, so that things can maintain their natural nature without artificial affectation, thus achieving the realm of "doing nothing without doing anything"

Take calligraphy art as an example. Calligraphers have worked hard all their lives, which is "promising". When he has mastered the rules and the artistic level is enough to master calligraphy, his works will be "natural" only if they stop deliberately "acting" in terms of "techniques" and follow the "brushwork".

In the process of transforming nature and changing society, people should also conform to the development laws of nature and society and act subjectively. If they should not do it, they will fail. Inaction is the negation of promising, and it is also a higher level of promising.

Inaction and action are the unity of opposites. If we blindly emphasize inaction, we will fall into the negative mud pit of nihilism.