《道德真經廣聖義》Vol. 5

Broad Interpretations of the True Scripture of the Dao and De, Volume Four (A Modern Reading)

Further Discussion of the De Chapter

The sage takes De (Virtue/Power) as the guiding principle and Dao (the Way) as the foundation. De means following the natural order so that everything finds its proper place. Dao means governing through Wuwei (non-action), allowing all under Heaven to transform of themselves. Thus, when the sage governs, they do not act on private whims or rely on clever schemes and force. The people naturally turn toward them, and all things naturally grow. This is “Mystical De,” a profound and subtle virtue.

Mystical De in the Early Han

In the early Han dynasty, Gaozu, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing governed with calm restraint and Wuwei. The realm was peaceful and the people prosperous. This embodied Mystical De. Later, Emperor Wu relied on political maneuvering and pursued practical gain, and unrest gradually spread through the realm. This was a departure from Mystical De. From this we can see that calm restraint is the foundation of good government, while political maneuvering is secondary: calm restraint brings peace to the realm, and political maneuvering brings disorder.

The Meaning of Laozi’s “Do Not Elevate the Worthy”

When Laozi says, “Do not elevate the worthy, and the people will not contend,” he does not mean that worthy people should be rejected. He means that their reputations should not be deliberately exalted, lest the people compete for fame and profit. The sage governs so that people are content with their livelihoods and each finds a proper place. By not esteeming empty reputations or stirring up greed, the sage allows contention to disappear of itself. This is Mystical De put into practice in governing the people.

“Do Not Prize Rare Goods”

“Do not prize rare goods, and the people will not become thieves.” If rare and precious things are not held up as objects of admiration, the people will not steal out of greed. The sage teaches people to be content and not covet, and ensures that goods are put to proper use. Then theft disappears of itself. This, too, is Mystical De.

“Do Not Display What Stirs Desire”

“Do not display what stirs desire, and the people’s hearts will not be disturbed.” If people are not shown things that arouse desire, their hearts will remain undisturbed. The sage keeps the people’s minds calm and clear, so they are not pulled along by external things. Then the realm naturally becomes stable. This, too, is Mystical De.

The General Principle: “Act Through Non-Action”

Laozi says, “Act through non-action, and nothing will remain unmanaged.” When Wuwei is the way of acting, nothing in the realm remains unmanaged. The sage governs through Wuwei, neither acting rashly nor imposing by force. The people transform of themselves, and all things grow of themselves. This is Mystical De brought to its fullest expression.

Its Relation to the Chapter on Dao

The previous chapter speaks of Dao; this chapter speaks of De. Dao is the substance, and De is its function: Dao is formless, while De can be seen in its effects. The sage embraces Dao and preserves De, governing the realm through Wuwei, so that the realm is at peace of itself. This is how the two scriptures on Dao and De support and complement each other in practice.

Conclusion

In sum, the sage governs the realm through Mystical De: does not elevate the worthy, prize rare goods, or display what stirs desire, and takes non-action as the way of acting. The people transform of themselves, all things grow of themselves, and nothing in the realm remains unmanaged. Readers should grasp this deeper meaning rather than focus only on literal word explanations and forget the central principle of calm restraint and Wuwei.