中国文化英语课件Unit2LaozisPhilosophyofNon-action

Unit2Laozi’sPhilosophyofNon-action2ContentLead-inTextstudyExercises“TheDaothatcanbetroddenisnottheenduringandunchangingDao.Thenamethatcanbenamedisnottheenduringandunchangingname.(Conceivedofas)havingnoname,itistheOriginatorofheavenandearth;(conceivedofas)havinganame,itistheMotherofallthings.”Lead-inWhat’stheChineseversionoftheselines?IntroductionNaturalnessandNon-actionThePhilosophyofNon-contentionReturningtoNewbornStateTextstudyIntroductionLaozi(about571-471BC),alsocalledLaodan,surnameLi,givennameRanandaliasBoyang.Hewasarecluse(隐居者)wholivedduringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod.Hewassaidtohaveonceheldalowcivilpositionintheroyalcourt,inchargeofarchivalrecordsoftheZhouDynasty.LaoziLaoziwasamanofgreatlearning.EvenConfuciuswassaidtohavetraveledmilestoconsulthim.

ConfuciusconsultingLaoziaboutli

Introduction子曰：'鸟，吾知其能飞；兽，吾知其能走；走者可以为罔，游者可以为纶，飞者可以为矢曾。至于龙，吾不能知其乘风云而上天。吾今日见老子，其犹龙邪！'"AdditionalInfoWhyisLiRanknownasLaoziratherthanLizi?Therearetwoexplanationsastothesourceof“Laozi”.SomesayduringtheperiodwhenLiRanwasalive,LaoandLiwerepronouncedinthesameway.So“Laozi”actuallysoundedthesameas“Lizi”atthattime.ThesecondlegendisthatLiRanwasbornwithwhiteeyebrowandwhitebeardlikeanoldman.Thushewascalled“Laozi”.IntroductionLaozi(《老子》),alsoknownasClassicoftheWayandVirtue(DaoDeJing.TheauthorisgenerallybelievedtobeLaozi.Itconsistsofjustover5,000Chinesecharacters.Its81chaptersaredividedintotwoparts,Dao(theWay)andDe(Virtue).IntroductionLaozi道德经主要说的是道和德的关系、表现，所以被后人分为道经和德经两部分，总称为道德经，一说是道经在前，一说古本是德经在前。其实二者是互为体用，不可分离。道是一切精神本质的起源和基础，德是道的具体化现和应用，没有道的理解就不会有德的化现，没有德的培养训练也不可能认识大道的自然无为。所以说道为德之基，德为道之用。单独谈任何一面都会造成道或德的缺失。ThebookhasplayedatremendousroleinthedevelopmentofChineseculture.ItbecamethebasisofDaoism,theschoolofphilosophyparalleltoConfucianisminancientChina.ThethoughtofLaoziformedthefoundationofDaoism,themostinfluentialindigenousschoolofreligioninChina.IntroductionTheinfluenceofLaoziItalsoexertsadirectimpactonthecharacteristics,trendsofthoughtandaestheticsensibilitiesoftheChinesenationandisstillplayingaroleinthedevelopmentofChinesethinking.IntroductionFamousversionsofitstranslationincludethatofJamesLeggeandthatofStephenMitchell斯蒂芬·米歇尔.Laoziintheworld

ItisfirstintroducedintoEuropepossiblyasearlyasthe15thcenturyIthasbecomeoneofthemosttranslatedphilosophicalworksofancientChina.AdditionalInfoIntroductionThecoreofLaozi’sphilosophyManyofLaozi’senlighteningviewsarebasedonhisphilosophyofnaturalnessandnon-action.IntroductionNaturalnessandNon-actionNaturalness(顺应自然)Itreferstoanaturalstateofbeing,anattitudeoffollowingthewayofnature.Everythingintheworldhasitsownwayofbeinganddevelopment.Naturalphenomenaoccurindependentlyandnaturallywithoutfollowinganyhumanwill,andhumansshouldnottrytochangeanythingnatural.Followingthewayofnatureisthewaytoresolvingconflictsbetweenhumansandtheworld.NaturalnessandNon-actionNon-actionistheguaranteeof“naturalness”.Non-action(无为)NaturalnessandNon-action

相传古时一棵很大的栎树，枝叶能遮荫上千条牛；树干有百尺围。看的人很多，但有一个姓石的匠人不去看。他的徒弟问他为什么这样好的木材却不去看一看。他说，这是散木。做船船会沉，做棺材会很快腐烂，做用具会坏得决，做门户会吐脂，做屋柱会蛀，做什么都不行。Bysaying“(DaoortheWay)actsthroughnon-action”,Laozididnotmeanthatoneshoulddonothingandpassivelywaitforsomethingtobeachieved.Neitherdidhedenyhumancreativity.Whathemeantisthathumanenterprisesshouldbebuiltonthebasisofnaturalness,notonanyattemptstointerrupttherhythmofnature.Humancreativityshouldbeincompliancewiththewaysofnature.NaturalnessandNon-action“(DaoortheWay)actsthroughnon-action(无为而无不为).”—SelectedfromLaoziHowdoyouunderstandthisline?“Greatingenuityappearstobestupidity(大智若愚).”—SelectedfromLaoziHowdoyouunderstandthisline?“Greatingenuity”referstothehighestlevelofingenuity,arisingsonaturallythatitdoesnotresembleingenuityatall.Ingenuitycanbeachievedthroughhumaneffort,but“greatingenuity”issuperiortoordinaryingenuity.NaturalnessandNon-actionDeceitToLaozi,resortingtodeceitistruefutilityandwouldaccomplishjusttheoppositeresult.Thosewhointendtoplaytricksarenotgenuineandthereforearenotnatural.Deceitisdetrimentaltonaturalnessandtotheharmonyoflife.NaturalnessandNon-actionThePhilosophyofNon-contentionOnthebasisof“naturalness”and“non-action”,Laoziproposedtheviewof“overcomingthestrongbybeingweak(以柔克刚)”.TheeraLaozilivedinwasrepletewithendlesswar.OvercomingthestrongbybeingweakWarwasanimportantthemeforLaozi,andanti-warthinkingwasthenorm.ThePhilosophyofNon-contentionAccordingtoLaozi,warspringsfromhumanity’sbloateddesires.Conflictsarisesoutofpeople’sstruggletosatisfytheirdesires,andconflictescalatesintowar.Humanstrivingandcompetitivestrifeistherootcauseofdecline;desiringnothingisthenaturalwayoflife.Therefore,Laozi’sphilosophyisbasedon“non-contention”.ThePhilosophyofNon-contention“Thegreatestvirtueislikewater.”Laozicomparedhisphilosophyof“non-contention”towater,todistinguishitfromthelawofjungle.ThePhilosophyofNon-contention“Thegreatestvirtueislikewater.”

上善若水，水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，

故几于道。

居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，事善能，

动善时，夫惟不争，故无尤。

——《老子·八章》AdditionalInfoThePhilosophyofNon-contention上善若水，水善利万物而不争，处众人之所恶，故几于道。Legge:Thehighestexcellenceislike(thatof)water.Theexcellenceofwaterappearsinitsbenefitingallthings,andinitsoccupying,withoutstriving(tothecontrary),thelowplacewhichallmendislike.Hence(itsway)isnearto(thatof)theTao.AdditionalInfoThePhilosophyofNon-contentionMitchell:Thesupremegoodislikewater,whichnourishesallthingswithouttryingto.Itiscontentwiththelowplacesthatpeopledisdain.ThusitisliketheTao.居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，事善能，动善时，Legge:Theexcellenceofaresidenceisin(thesuitabilityof)theplace;thatofthemindisinabysmalstillness;thatofassociationsisintheirbeingwiththevirtuous;thatofgovernmentisinitssecuringgoodorder;thatof(theconductof)affairsisinitsability;andthatof(theinitiationof)anymovementisinitstimeliness.Mitchell:Indwelling,liveclosetotheground.Inthinking,keeptothesimple.Inconflict,befairandgenerous.Ingoverning,don’ttrytocontrol.Inwork,dowhatyouenjoy.Infamilylife,becompletelypresent.ThePhilosophyofNon-contention夫惟不争，故无尤。Legge:Andwhen(onewiththehighestexcellence)doesnotwrangle(abouthislowposition),noonefindsfaultwithhim.Mitchell:Whenyouarecontenttobesimplyyourselfanddon’tcompareorcompete,everybodywillrespectyou.ThePhilosophyofNon-contentionThephilosophyofLaoziisbynomeansweak.Onthecontrary,itisfullofstrength.Waterisatypicalexampleoftheweakwinningoverthestrong.Waterisinvinciblebecauseitdesiresnothingandcontendsfornothing.“Nothingintheworldisweakerthanwater.Yetnothingisstrongerthanwaterwhenitcomestobreakingsomethingstrong(天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜。).”—SelectedfromLaoziThePhilosophyofNon-contention“人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。草木之生也柔弱，其死也枯槁。故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。强大处下，柔弱处上。”(选自《老子·七十六章》)Manathisbirthissuppleandweak;athisdeath,firmandstrong.(Soitiswith)allthings.Treesandplants,intheirearlygrowth,aresoftandbrittle;attheirdeath,dryandwithered.Thusitisthatfirmnessandstrengtharetheconcomitantsofdeath;softnessandweakness,theconcomitantsoflife.Thereforetheplaceofwhatisfirmandstrongisbelow,andthatofwhatissoftandweakisabove.ThePhilosophyofNon-contentionAdditionalInfoThePhilosophyofNon-contentionReturningtoaNewbornStateLaozisawtheworldasamaddingcrowdofvanity.Hechosetoliveasimple,quietlife,andtokeephismindundisturbedinthefaceoftemptation.Hesaidhewouldratherremaina“newbornbaby”.AnewbornstateHowdoyouunderstandLaozi’s“newbornbaby”state?ReturningtoaNewbornStateThestateofthenewbornisfreeofanyknowledge,desire,impurityorfalsehood.Whenhumanbeingscomeintotheworld,thegraduallyacquireexternalknowledgeandacceptsocialnorms.Ashumansmature,theybecomemoreandmorehypocritical.Theprocessofacculturationistheprocessoflosingone’strueself.ThisdoesnotmeanLaoziwantedtoremainchildishlyignorant.Laozi’sstateofthenewbornrefersto“completeinnocence”.Laozibelievedthatsages—peoplewiththehighestvirtue—allresemblednewborns.Thehighestlevelofone’scultivationwastoreturntothe“completeinnocence”ofanewbornbaby.ReturningtoaNewbornStateToLaozi,civilizationistoacertaindegreeadeparturefromthe“trueself”.Thedevelopmentofhumancultureisaprocessof“decoration”.Such“decorations”oftenturnintobloateddesires.Desire-driven,humanbeingsfightanddeceiveoneanother,leadingtowar.ReturningtoaNewbornStateDesiredisturbspeaceofmind.Ifimmersedinaseaofdesire,intheendhumanswouldbesubmerged.“Beautifulcolorsblindtheeyes,complexmusicharmstheears,richflavorsnumbtaste,whileridingandhuntingmaddenthemind(五色令人目盲；五音令人耳聋；五味令人口爽；驰骋畋猎tiánliè，令人心发狂。).”—SelectedfromLaoziBloateddesirehasdamagedtheexternalworldaswellaspoisonedthehumanmind.ReturningtoaNewbornStateReturningtoaNewbornStateExercisesComprehensionCommunicationApplicationComprehensionl.SkimmingandScanning

Gothroughthepassagequicklyandjudgewhetherthefollowingstatementsaretrue(T)orfalse(F)accordingtothepassage.___1)LaoziisalengthybookontheWayandVirtue,whichhasplayedanimportantroleinChineseculture.___2)AccordingtoLaozi'sphilosophyofnaturalness,manshouldnotattempttomanipulatenature.___3)Laozi'sphilosophyofnon-actionadvocateshumansactfollowingthelawsofnature.FTT___4)AccordingtoLaozi,whenitcomestobreakingthestrong,thestrengthofwaterissuperiortoanythingelse.___5)Thebasicwaytoprosperityistokeepsuperiorineveryway.___6)Laoziwouldratherremaina“newbornbaby”,becauseithasnothingtoworryabout.___7)AccordingtoLaozi,theprocessofaman'sgrowingupisthatoflosinghistrueego.TFFTComprehensionOther

name(s)Time

of

writingLengthSignificanceInternational

influenceII.CarefulReading1.ReadthefirsttwoparagraphsandfillinthefollowingtablewiththeinformationaboutthebookLaozi.ComprehensionClassicoftheWayandVirtue(DaoDeJing)Aroundthe6thcenturyBCAbout5,000Chinesecharactersin81chaptersAdirectimpactonthecharacteristics,trendsofthought,

andaestheticsensibilitiesoftheChinesenationFirstintroducedintoEuropeasearlyasthe15thcenturyandoneofthemosttranslated

philosophicalworksofancientChina2.Readthepassagecarefullyandfillinthefollowingblankswiththemissinginformation.1)Laozi’sthoughthasagreatinfluenceonthe

,

and

oftheChinesepeople.

2)Theexamplesofbirds,fish,cloudsandflowersareusedtoillustrate

that

.3)Thedifferencebetweengreatingenuityandordinaryingenuityliesinthefactthat_________________________________________________________.Comprehensioncharacteristicstrendsofthoughtaestheticsensibilitieseverythingintheworldhasitsownwayofbeinganddevelopment

thelatter

canbeachievedthroughhumaneffort,buttheformerissuperiortothelatter4)Inordertobecomestrong,oneshould

insteadof

.6)Thehighestlevelofone’scultivationistoreturntothestateofanewbornbaby,whoisfreeofanyknowledge,

,

7)Peoplefightanddeceiveoneanotheroutof

.5)InLaozi’sopinion,

isthesymboloflife.8)Accordingtothelawsofnature,peopleshouldnot

thepoorand

theweak.Comprehensionstartwithone’sownweakpointsoppressingtheweakfragilitydesireimpurityorfalsehooddesireroboppress1)顺应自然。5)不战而屈人之兵。2)无为而无不为。3)大巧若拙。4)以柔弱胜刚强。Followthewayofnature.Actthroughnon-action.Greatingenuityappearstobestupidity.Overcomethestrongbybeingweak.Winawarwithoutfightingit.3.PuteachofthefollowingintoEnglishandthencompareyourtranslationwiththatinthepassage.Comprehension

6)兼爱。Loveforall.7)上善若水。8)人往高处走，水往低处流。9)无欲则刚。Thegreatestvirtueislikewater.

Humanstendtoseekhigherpositionswhilewateralwaysflowstolowerplaces.

Oneisinvinciblebecausehedesiresnothingandcontendsfornothing.10)返璞归真。Returntothestateofanewbornbaby.Compr