见素抱朴 – Chinese philosophy and culture

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xiànsù-bàopǔ 见素抱朴

Maintain Originality and Embrace Simplicity

关注、保持素朴的状态。出自《老子》。“素”本指未经染色的丝,“朴”本指未经加工的木材,老子以“素、朴”指称人或事物未受外界干预时的自然状态。老子认为,执政者应摒弃有悖于人或事物自然本性的各种主张和诉求,引导百姓回复到素朴的自然状态。后用“见素抱朴”形容不为外物牵累、保持本真纯朴的秉性。

The term means to observe and maintain the natural state of things. This notion first appeared in the book Laozi. The original meaning of su (素) is undyed silk; pu (朴) is unworked wood or timber. Laozi used these terms as analogies for people and objects in their natural untouched state. He believed that those in power should not try to influence people or things with ideas or demands that run counter to their natural conditions. Instead they should guide the populace back to its simple, natural origin. The term later came to mean “be unaffected by external factors and retain its earliest, pure nature.”

引例 Citation:

◎绝圣弃智,民利百倍;绝仁弃义,民复孝慈;绝巧弃利,盗贼无有。此三者,以为文不足,故令有所属,见素抱朴,少私寡欲。(《老子·十九章》)

(抛弃一切聪明才智,民众可以得到百倍的好处;弃绝仁义的道德要求,民众可以恢复孝慈的天性;抛弃巧诈和利益,盗贼就会消失。圣智、仁义、巧利三者,都是人为的文饰,有所不足。所以要使人有所归依,关注、保持素朴的状态,减少私欲。)

Cast aside all the wisdom, and the people will benefit greatly; cast aside the demands of righteousness and the people will revert to their natural dutiful feelings; cast aside deceit and gain and thieves will disappear. Teachings, righteousness and deceit are all the embellishments of man and are inadequate. People must maintain and depend on their natural condition, and desire less.(Laozi)

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