A question about Taoism & Chinese isolationism
May 7, 2024 12:51:59 GMT
stevep and Max Sinister like this
Post by justiniano on May 7, 2024 12:51:59 GMT
similarly to how Mao's regime was unofficially Legalist, am I wrong in thinking that China's Isolationist regimes were unofficially Taoist? It seems like this to me, because Taoism is almost doing nothing, and isolationism (in the way Chinese regimes did it) is doing nothing with the outside world.
A central tenet of Taoism is the concept of "wu wei," which translates to "effortless action" or "non-action." Taoists believe in living in harmony with the natural flow of the universe, rather than trying to actively control or manipulate it. Some Taoists have historically practiced a degree of withdrawal from society, seeking solitude and contemplation in natural settings.China has experienced several periods of isolationism throughout its history, such as the Ming dynasty's "Haijin" maritime restrictions and the Qing dynasty's self-imposed seclusion. Chinese isolationism was often driven by a desire to maintain political control, protect cultural traditions, and limit foreign influence. Considering both Taoism and isolationist regimes in China emphasize a certain degree of withdrawal from the outside world (albeit for different reasons) I think this is a rational observation.
I acknowledge that I could be wrong since Taoism's withdrawal is primarily philosophical and spiritual, while isolationism in China was often driven by political and strategic considerations, as Taoists may have sought solitude and contemplation, they did not necessarily advocate for complete isolation from the outside world. Isolationist regimes in China, on the other hand, often implemented strict policies to limit foreign contact and influence.
A central tenet of Taoism is the concept of "wu wei," which translates to "effortless action" or "non-action." Taoists believe in living in harmony with the natural flow of the universe, rather than trying to actively control or manipulate it. Some Taoists have historically practiced a degree of withdrawal from society, seeking solitude and contemplation in natural settings.China has experienced several periods of isolationism throughout its history, such as the Ming dynasty's "Haijin" maritime restrictions and the Qing dynasty's self-imposed seclusion. Chinese isolationism was often driven by a desire to maintain political control, protect cultural traditions, and limit foreign influence. Considering both Taoism and isolationist regimes in China emphasize a certain degree of withdrawal from the outside world (albeit for different reasons) I think this is a rational observation.
I acknowledge that I could be wrong since Taoism's withdrawal is primarily philosophical and spiritual, while isolationism in China was often driven by political and strategic considerations, as Taoists may have sought solitude and contemplation, they did not necessarily advocate for complete isolation from the outside world. Isolationist regimes in China, on the other hand, often implemented strict policies to limit foreign contact and influence.
