Research On Laozi's Theory Of Rite

Laozi's theory of rite is based on naturalism,supplemented by humanism.Some of the traditional rituals that are part of nature are used by Laozi,and those that violate nature are definitely abandoned.Therefore,Laozi does not absolutely oppose rites,but objects to rites interfere with the formal content of life.This article takes Laozi's theory of rite as the research direction.First of all,it is necessary to clarify the theories of essence of Laozi's so-called rites.Laozi's theory of rite take Tao as the essence,and rites are born according to Tao and exist according to Tao.The generative significance of Tao determines that it precedes rites in time and determines the existence of rites;the ontological significance of Tao determines that it logically precedes rites and determines how the rites exist.“Moral” is the manifestation of Tao concretely implemented at the level of life.Laozi respected morals such as humble,indisputable,frugal and ascetic are both the manifestation of Tao and the inheritance of Zhou Li,so rites and moral has a certain degree of internal unity.Laozi emphasizes that the value sequence of “Tao-moral-rites” is an affirmation of essence above form.The ritual expression expresses the ritual quality,but cannot exceed the ritual quality.Laozi advocated removing red tape and retaining necessary rituals.The use of rituals composes the essence of Tao,so it should be “returning rites” instead of “anti-rites”.In a general sense,Laozi's ritual theory of practice is “Inaction”.If we hope that rituals will exist in an ideal form and play a role,according to Laozi's philosophical thinking,we must adopt the “Inaction” method to achieve the goal of “all without exception”.The “Inaction” method covers three aspects in detail: First,“Emulating Nature”.The rites take nature as the first rule and the production and practice of rites should be a natural process.The rites take the law of nature is the unity of concern and restraint of life.Second,longing what the layman do not desire.The saint's desire is,in a general sense,“seeing simplicity,less sins and desires”,and specifically speaking,it does not want power,savvy goods and health preservation.Third,learning what the layman does not learn.What the layman learns is “benefit” and what the saint learns is “loss”.Maintaining the rites of nature has higher value than gaining specific ritual knowledge.Laozi builds the unified theory of rite of Taoism,morality,and rituals in order to achieve its values of political,social,and psychological pursuit.First of all,Laozi hopes to conform to the nature of the people and implement the “rule of the saints”,without prejudice to the order of the social hierarchy,to achieve the mode of governance that the emperor is inactive and the people become self-reformed.Second,Laozi hopes to build a “mutually” social order that evolves from the same spiritual develop to the same social.In the end,Laozi wants to return to a pure natural state like a baby and realize his pursuit of Taoist realm.Laozi profoundly uses rites instead of cultivating rites,in order to weaken the humanities and emphasize the nature.Laozi's theory of rite is ultimately centered on his ideological core—Tao.