Popularization of traditional culture: Taoism and Laozi are the best in the world 04-"Weakness overcomes strength"

Laozi has a famous proposition, which is called "the weak wins the strong".

Our usual mindset is "the strong wins the weak", or relying on the strong to bully the weak, that is, the strong wins the weak. We can find many such examples from history and real life. For example, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the powerful countries invaded the weak countries, attacked the city slightly, merged and eroded, and Qiang Qin successively destroyed six countries; For example, in the contemporary economic field, large companies merge small companies and so on, which fully proves this truth. It seems that being stronger than being weak is a normal state.

Is Lao Tzu wrong? Don't forget, what is Lao Tzu? Lao Tzu is the best in the world! As a great philosopher in ancient times, he naturally looked at the problem better and deeper. He opened a door of wisdom for us from another angle of thinking, which made us realize.

It is normal to be stronger than weak, but I want to reveal a problem that has been ignored by people. It is not necessary to be stronger than weak. For example, in sports competitions, there are countless examples in which the weak side attacks the strong and finally wins. Weakness and strength are contradictory. "Stiffness" and "softness", "strength" and "weakness" refer to the superficial form of things, but they contain the inherent ability, potential and vitality of things. For example, in nature, water drops wear through stones, stones grow trees, and ant nests destroy dikes. "Weakness is better than strength" is not a coincidence or accident of things, but a fate and necessity. Look at Lao Tzu's ideological track.

On the one hand, Lao Tzu emphasized that things developed from weakness. Without weakness, where does the strength come from? A baby is weak enough, but it can grow into a tough guy or a plump woman. This growth process is also a process of defeating the strong with the weak.

On the other hand, Laozi put forward the view that "the strong things make the old". This is very interesting. In other words, once things reach a strong level, it is a sign of aging and decline. Adults can be said to be very strong, but various physical diseases will follow, and they will start to get old. The so-called extremes meet, extremes meet. This is Laozi's dialectics. In the process of weakness gradually overcoming strength, strength is also declining and weakening.

There are many dialectical thoughts of extreme opposition between yin and yang in the Book of Changes. As clearly indicated, Yang's development reached its peak in the Ninth Five-Year Plan, so people called it the Ninth Five-Year Plan Supreme. If it continues, it will be the sixth five-year plan. Although it was above the ninth five-year plan, it showed signs of decline and began to decline. Therefore, "Kang Long has regrets". This is the truth that prosperity will decline.

The powerful things gradually decline, and the weak things gradually progress. This is Laozi's philosophy, the truth of Laozi's "weakness conquers strength" and the true meaning of "treating strength as weakness".

Among the sixty-four hexagrams in Zhouyi, most of which are yin hexagrams are auspicious hexagrams; Most of them are fierce. It also expresses the concept of luck in the case of the weak and the strong.

Some experts say that Laozi's theory is a feminist philosophy, and there is still some truth. Because Laozi's philosophy advocates that all human behaviors do not conflict with nature or society, but seek survival and happiness in the law of the jungle nature and society, this philosophy of life is full of women's humility and forbearance, as well as maternal warmth and wisdom.

The softness and calmness of Taoism contrasts with the masculinity and hyperactivity of Confucianism. One is yin, the other is yang, and the other is rigid and soft, which complement each other and show two ways of thinking of the Chinese nation to understand the world from different philosophical angles.

It is a natural law that "the strong points are below and the weak points are above" is "Tao". Laozi said that "only the Tao is obedient" and advocated that people should follow the laws of nature, conform to nature, and be soft and tough. In the words of literature, it is to combine rigidity with softness, and to overcome strength with weakness. In popular words, don't try to be brave, but show weakness in life.

Confucius taught his disciples to actively join the WTO with a fearless spirit. Be the best in the world. Confucianism has a high sense of historical and social responsibility and a political impulse to "do my duty", so it wants to be the first in everything. The bigger the officer, the better, and the greater the contribution.

Let's look at the history after the Han Dynasty. Because Confucianism is the only respect, imperial examinations and bureaucratic recommendations have provided a large number of talents for the ruling class in past dynasties. The whole intellectual class has basically become the talent pool and think tank of the country. All kinds of social talents rushed into the imperial examination, even if there were no folk talents who set foot on the official career with the imperial examination, they were all eager to try and try to knock on the door of official career in various ways.

For example, the famous poet Li Bai once wrote a book with Han Jingzhou and recommended himself, expressing his strong desire to enter the national management system of the Tang Dynasty and display his life ambitions. The article said: "Why not cherish the land in front of the steps, so as not to be proud and excited?" I can't wait. After all, it is to recommend important officials for others, which is somewhat embarrassing and to hit people when they are down.

I don't approve of this. Lao Tzu said that he has three treasures, one of which is "not daring to be the first in the world".

Laozi resolutely opposes being brave and thinks that "the girders will not die." What do you mean? In other words, people who try to be brave will come to no good end. Go to hell.

When I was a child, I loved to watch the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which the two armies often confronted each other. There is always a brave general who shouts "I will leave at the end" and takes the lead in flattery to meet the enemy. As a result, he is often beheaded in a few rounds. This shocked me and made me feel a little tragic.

We are noncommittal about their martial arts, but this so-called bravery deserves our suspicion. On the one hand, they died of mutual contempt, and they were "strangers"; On the other hand, it is "no confidant" to exaggerate yourself and die. Between the two, the more crucial reason is the latter. Although it is an era of heroes in troubled times, even if it is possible to knowingly commit crimes, isn't this heroism itself a "girder"?

The story of Lost Street Pavilion can be said to be a tragedy. Ma Su was beheaded, because he was too confident and brave, in fact, he couldn't shoulder the heavy responsibility of guarding the street kiosks. Finally, I made a painful explanation for my overreaching life. In other words, you should adapt to nature, adapt to the situation, assess the situation, do what you can, and don't force yourself. This is not only bad for yourself, but also bad for your reputation and life, and it will also hurt your career.

From this point of view, trying to be brave often pays a heavy price. Therefore, the expression of "dare not be the first in the world" is not to deny courage, but to deny courage. It is not so much a low-key humility as a wise attitude towards life and a true master.

We often say two idioms, one is called "the hero is short of breath" and the other is called "be immersed in love".

Xiang Yu is good enough! Li Qingzhao, a poetess in the Song Dynasty, admired him and said, "I miss Xiang Yu so far and refuse to cross Jiangdong." Xiang Yu did not return to Jiangdong, but committed suicide in Wujiang. Why? You could have made a comeback! Just because he is too strong, too strong-willed, good-looking, afraid of fall in price, ashamed to see Jiangdong's elders. In fact, it was this heroism that killed him.

There is also Zhou Yu in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, who is also a strongman. He doesn't want to be repeatedly defeated by Kong Ming. He looked up at the sky and sighed: "You are a self-metaphor, how can you have a good life!" Finally, he died of anger, which is all heroic shortness of breath. In ancient Greek mythology, there was a famous monster called the Sphinx. It had a girl's face and a lion's body was the Sphinx. It ate all the people who didn't guess the riddle it gave, hurting one side. Finally, a young hero named Oedipus solved the mystery. The Sphinx let out a cry of shame and jumped off the cliff to die. This is also shortness of breath. I feel smart and can't lose face.

In love, men and women are lingering, which is called "be immersed in love", but it is also "the hero is sad and beautiful." Xiang Yu, an all-powerful hero, showed how affectionate he was in front of concubine Yu! Must not be simply understood as a man's lust, very shallow. Now, from the perspective of Laozi's philosophy, it can be understood that this is the lingering love, and it is also the feminine charm of women, that is, it is necessary to be soft and firm.

"Flexibility" is an important category of Laozi's philosophy, and "weakness overcomes strength" is a strategic thought. It is the implementation of the concepts of "Tao is natural" and "doing nothing without doing anything".

The essence of Laozi's philosophy is to conform to nature. You overemphasize subjective initiative, emphasize the power of personal struggle, ignore or underestimate the power of nature, and go against nature, and you will be punished by nature. And "weak wins strong" lies in respecting natural attributes and relying on natural forces.

Laozi's thought of "weakness conquers strength" has important practical and behavioral significance.

In dealing with people, gradually cultivate kindness, convergence and modesty, and don't try to be brave and impulsive. Being able to show weakness and keep a low profile does not mean low, let alone low, but reflects a generous character. Too ostentatious, too high-profile, too strong "strong beam" performance can only harm yourself.