How does the Taoist way of thinking affect China's traditional way of thinking?

The remarkable contribution of Taoism to China's traditional way of thinking mainly lies in the dialectical way of thinking with complementary opposites and its related "inaction" methodology.

The so-called dialectical way of thinking is embodied in a profound grasp of the dialectical relationship of interdependence and mutual transformation between contradictory opposites. This so-called model can make it difficult for people to go to the absoluteness of metaphysics when looking at problems, and avoid stubbornness, rigidity and dogmatism.

"Inaction" is not only an ideological proposition, but also a way of thinking with methodological significance. The method of "inaction" teaches people to be good at letting nature take its course when looking at problems and handling things.

Don't be reckless and play hardball, learn to think from another angle, take a step back, be good at guiding the situation, be firm in softness, and make progress by retreating. This so-called way constitutes an important part of China's cultural wisdom.

Laozi and Zhuangzi believe that simplicity is the most beautiful, and the so-called "simplicity is uncontested beauty". Establish "nature" and "simplicity" as the highest aesthetic principles. Laozi said "speechless" and Zhuangzi said "get carried away", which made literature often pursue "implication" and "inexhaustible words".

People are always in nature, and the emotions of people are also complementary to the changes of natural movements. Poetry has always been the mainstream of China literature, from The Book of Songs and Songs of the South to the splendor of Tang and Song poetry.

The lyrical object of China literati is not the emotion between people, but the grander existence-nature. His creative space is within the framework of "the world is beautiful and the laws are four distinct seasons". What he wrote will always be: braving the wind and waves, picturesque scenery, spring flowers and autumn moon, sheep falling and falling red. The highest realm of China's poetry is: keen insight, capturing the instantaneous communication between nature and people.

The Taoist concept overthrew the rulers' "reward" law and the people's top-down operation order, but fully affirmed the people's ability to promote social harmony from bottom to top with "self-equality", "self-correction" and "self-determination".

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The mainstream schools of Taoist thought are: Huang Lao Liezhuang and Huang Lao School, Strategist, Fix the Truth School, Legalist School, Metaphysics and Yang Zhu School, which may have an influence on Zhuangzi. The legalist schools under the Qi Mausoleum, such as Shinto and Tian Wen, also developed on the basis of Taoist thought, and the thoughts of military strategists were deeply influenced by Taoist thought.

Governing by doing nothing is Laozi's warning to the king, not competing with the people for profit. Ancient emperors always attached great importance to Taoism, and anyone who ruled the country with Taoist thoughts would be rich and strong. Modern people say that home is the superficial impression of calming the mind, doing nothing for nature or keeping in good health in traditional Chinese medicine. True Taoism is far more impressive than these surfaces.

Emperor Wen of Han and Emperor Jing of Han ruled the country with Taoist thought and became powerful. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty worshiped Taoism, and Confucian Dong Zhongshu put forward the idea of promoting Confucius and suppressing a hundred schools of thought. Since then, Taoism has escaped into the undercurrent of the people, but it continues to play an important role in promoting the development of China's ancient thoughts.

Baidu encyclopedia-Taoist thought