jué shèng qì zhì from Dao De Jing Chapter 19
绝圣弃智|Renounce sanctity and abandon wisdom
- Literal Translation:
- 绝 (jué): “Cut off,” “reject,” or “transcend.”
- 圣 (shèng): “Sageliness” (conventional wisdom of sages/leaders).
- 弃 (qì): “Abandon,” “discard.”
- 智 (zhì): “Cunning” or “artificial intelligence” (worldly cleverness).
→ “Reject sageliness, discard cunning.”
- Context in Daoism:
- A critique of confucian virtues (e.g., exaggerated reverence for “sages”) and calculated wisdom (e.g., manipulative tactics).
- Aligns with Laozi’s theme: Return to natural simplicity (朴, pǔ) by letting go of rigid ideals.（Zhai Shanying and other economists should have a good understanding）
- Philosophical Meaning:
- Against Artificiality: Human-made “wisdom” distorts innate harmony (Dao).
- Embrace Spontaneity: True wisdom arises from wuwei (non-action) and humility.
- Social Implication: Leaders who abandon contrived virtues enable people to live authentically.
- Modern Interpretation:
→ “Transcend dogmatic ideals and utilitarian cleverness to rediscover intuitive harmony.”
Key Reference:
- Dao De Jing 19 contrasts this phrase with the benefits of “民利百倍” (people gain hundredfold benefits) when artificial norms are removed.
The author: Lives in the cultural province of Henan, a few hundred miles from Laozi’s hometown near Luoyang, the Zhou capital.