Some have named the Wenzi (Wen Tzu) the fourth most influential Daoist text after the Dao De Jing, Zhuangzi, and Liezi. Although scholars have questioned its authenticity because it contains Confucian, Legalist, and Mohist philosophies. In 1973, an early form of the Wenzi was discovered in Dingzhou, China (Creativity and Intertextuality, pages 8, 23, 25, 32, 61-65, 81, and 84).
It was organized around a series of questions between King Ping and his advisor Wenzi and includes themes such as the Dao, flexibility, wu wei, and leadership which are consistent with Daoist philosophy.
Leadership
A leader faces many challenges in an ever changing world.
“No matter how worthy the ruler of men is, if he is up against a licentious and chaotic world, then with one [man]’s power, he wishes to transform a people subjected to enduring chaos, how is this possible?
Bamboo fragments 0880 and 0837
Therefore they should follow the way.
“The Way produces them; virtue nurtures them. In the Way, there is abundance the origin […], the root of all tasks life, they depend on it for completion, and they depend and life, they depend on it for completion“
Bamboo fragments 0976, 02466, 0722, 1181, 0792, and 2469
If a leader does not follow the way they will face failure. If they do they will be more likely to succeed.
“those who preside [over the world] while lacking the Way are thieves of the world…does not lead the people by means of the Way, they will abandon him and disperse”
“rulers who possess the Way are raised by heaven, supported by the earth, and assisted by the spirits…the whole world will submit itself to him”
Bamboo fragments 0780, 2442, 0876, 0569, and 0590.
Effortless Action
If one follows the way they do not take action unless it is aligned with the way. By forcing action or insisting on taking a certain action one faces failure.
“King [Ping] asked: ‘I have heard that when the sages of the past presided over the world, they presided over the world in accordance with the Way,…How [did they do that]?’”
“Wenzi answered: “They held on to the One and acted effortlessly.”
“King Ping asked: [Heaven and] Earth constitute a large vessel that cannot be held on to and cannot be acted on. Those who act on it, ruin it. Those who hold on
to it, lose [it]“Bamboo fragments 2262, 0564, and 0870
Flexibility
A leader is flexible and adjusts to the moment. They are aware of changes and react to them in the moment.
“To hear something and recognize it is sagacity…is wisdom. Therefore, the sagacious man hears…and knows how to adjust the way. The wise man sees fortune and misfortune…shape and knows how to adjust conduct. Therefore, to hear something and recognize it is sagacity.“
Bamboo fragments 0896, 1193, 0803, 1200, 0765, 0834, and 0711
A leader is not heavy handed and does not rely overly on punishment. Instead they take action according to the way.
“the stability and safety of the ruler’s realm, these depend only on transformation. Punishments and penalties are inadequate“
Bamboo Fragment 2243
They do not rely on violence and are not arrogant in their leadership.
“Wenzi answered: “Those who in the past reigned on the basis of the Way…those who reigned on the basis of warfare is called ‘greedy warfare.’ To presume on the sheer size of one’s realm and take pride in one’s people…sheer number, while desiring to appear more worthy than one’s enemies, is called ‘arrogant warfare.’“
Bamboo fragments 1198, 0619, 2419, 0829, 0850, 2210, 1035, 0572, 2217, 2278, and 2385
A leader remains humble and does not claim great authority. By being humble they may accomplish much.
“This is why when sage kings hold on to the One, they appear small; when they act effortlessly,…By appearing small, they could succeed in their great achievement. By…preserving quietude…paragon for the [world].”
Bamboo fragments 0593, 0908, and 0775
A leader should look to nature as an example on how to act. A river flows to the lowest points and flows around obstacles. In the same way the leader should be humble, restrained, and yielding.
“Sages model themselves after Heaven’s Way, those who belong to the
common people take this to lower themselves…humility, retreat, restraint, and reduction is what they use to model themselves after Heaven.”“The rivers and seas are kings of the hundred valleys because of this Way. Therefore they can extend their achievements for a long time.”
Bamboo fragments 0581, 2331, 1178, 0871, 0912, and 0916
Conclusion
A leader should act according to the way in order to deal with a chaotic world. They do not force action and remain flexible. They do not rely on violence or become arrogant. Instead they act like a river that flows to the lowest point and around obstacles. A leader stays humble, restrained, and yielding.
Resources
The Wenzi: Creativity and Intertextuality in Early Chinese Philosophy (Studies in the History of Chinese Texts, 9), Paul Van Els, Brill Academic Publisher, 2018. Quotes taken from this source found on pages 44, 61-62, 64-68, 73-74, 76-77, and 93.
Els, P. van. (2006, May 29). The Wenzi: creation and manipulation of a Chinese
philosophical text. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/4428.
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