Wu Wei

By: Susan Lo

What "Wu-Weites" Believe:

THANK YOU

WU-WEI?

SUCCESS WITHOUT EFFORT?

What is WU-WEI?

Passive Action:

A Deeper Examination

"Action of passivity".

Not Acting :

Common explanations and interpretations

-Eliminate the sense of self.

-Knowing when to stop.

General Definition

Natural:

The Origin of Wu- Wei

Paradoxical arguments

The natural is sufficient. If one strives, he fails.

Wu Wei is an important concept in Taoism that literally mean non-doing or non-acting.

Examples

:

Wu-Wei is the goal of spiritual practice for the human being is, according to Lao Tzu.

Examples:

Wu- Wei, “ the action of nonaiction,” is the central paradox of Taoism. There are a number of interpretations of Wu-Wei, but non of which will be complete without the more radical understanding of Wu-Wei as nondual action- that is action in which there is no bifurcation between subject and object: no awareness of an agent that is believed to do the action as being dissent from an objective action that is done.

Examples:

Connection with the Five Elements :

IMPORTANT:

In the original Taoist texts, Wu-Wei is often associated with water and its yielding nature. In illustration, it can assume any form or shape it inhabits.

Wu- Wei is all about consciously experiencing ourselves as part of the unity of life that is the Tao.

Wu-Wei Often Refers To:

1. Spontaneous action

2. Effortless flow

3. Acting without purpose

4. Relying on intuition as connection to Tao

Wu-Weites claim that Wu-Wei is not motivated by a sense of separateness, but rather a sense of oneself as connected to others and to one's environment.

Conclusion

Wu-Wei

Wu-Wei in Confucianism

Understanding remains strongly tied to realm of human action.

Embodiment of Wu-Wei in Chinese History

Citation

Taoism - The Wu-Wei Principle - Part 4. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2016, from

http://www.jadedragon.com/archives/june98/tao.html

Wei-wu-wei: Nondual action. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2016, from

http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/loy3.htm

Wu Wei - Success without Effort? (2012). Retrieved April 26, 2016, from

http://www.myrkothum.com/wu-wei/

Wu-wei. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2016, from

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Wu-wei#Confucian_and_Legalist_Conceptions

Wu-Wei in Legalism

Wén Jing Zhī Zhì

Wen (5th) of Han and Jing (6th) of Han,

a period known for the benevolence and thriftiness of the emperors.

Photo Citation

Wu- Wei was only considered practicable by the ruler.

http://www.gotomuseum.com.cn/upload/2015_04_1515_56_51

http://link.photo.pchome.com.tw/s08/jc1966/9/124572480550/

http://s5.sinaimg.cn/orignal/5922c71e07a9c52194784&690

http://n.sinaimg.cn/translate/20151209/Pu7o-fxmifys6877627.jpg

http://www.517dv.com/upload/editorpic/13/67/45/93/23/2531/f8f27bf818181dc79f69d5c397cadac8.jpg

http://www.zen-mama.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/upanga.jpg

http://www.taichimaster.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Huxisanxiaotu.jpg

http://encyklopediaksiazek.cba.pl/Wiki/images/1/14/Han_fei.jpg

"Smiling-color" figurines of Han v.s. Terracotta Worrier of Qin Shui Huang

Drawbacks