中国文化英语教程Unit 2.pptx

Unit 2
Laozi’s Philosophy of Non-action
Content
Lead-in
Text study
Exercises
“The Dao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Dao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name. (Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things.”
Lead-in
What’s the Chinese version of these lines?
道可道
非常道
名可名
非常名
无名
天地之始
有名
万物之母
Introduction
Naturalness and Non-action
The Philosophy of Non-contention
Returning to Newborn State
Text study
Introduction
Laozi (about 571-471 BC), also called Laodan, surname Li, given name Ran and alias Boyang.
He was a recluse (隐居者) who lived during the Spring and Autumn Period.
He was said to have once held a low civil position in the royal court, in charge of archival records of the Zhou Dynasty.
Laozi
Laozi was a man of great learning. Even Confucius was said to have traveled miles to consult him.
Confucius consulting Laozi about li
Introduction
Additional Info
Why is Li Ran known as Laozi rather than Lizi?
There are two explanations as to the source of “Laozi”. Some say during the period when Li Ran was alive, Lao and Li were pronounced in the same way. So “Laozi” actually sounded the same as “Lizi” at that time. The second legend is that Li Ran was born with white eyebrow and white beard like an old man. Thus he was called “Laozi”.
Introduction
Laozi (《老子》), also known as Classic of the Way and Virtue (Dao De Jing.
The author is generally believed to be Laozi.
It consists of just over 5,000 Chinese characters. Its 81 chapters are divided into two parts, Dao (the Way) and De (Virtue).
Introduction
Laozi
The book has played a tremendous role in the development of Chinese culture.
It became the basis of Daoism, the school of philosophy parallel to Confucianism in ancient China.
The thought of Laozi formed the foundation of Daoism, the most influential indigenous school of religion in China.