Question

In the following passage, what Daoist belief about leadership is best represented? Consider the following:

Should the leader take little or a lot of action?
Should the leader let people live a simple life?

from Chapter VII, How To Govern, Chuang Tzŭ
Chien Wu meeting the eccentric Chieh Yü, the latter enquired, saying, "What did Jih Chung Shih teach you?"
"He taught me," replied Chien Wu, "about the laws and regulations which princes evolve, and which he said none would venture not to hear and obey."
"That is a false teaching indeed," replied Chieh Yü. "To attempt to govern mankind thus,—as well try to wade through the sea, to hew a passage through a river, or make a mosquito fly away with a mountain! The government of the truly wise man has no concern with externals. He first perfects himself, and then by virtue thereof he is enabled to accomplish what he wants.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

The Daoist belief about leadership represented in this passage is that the leader should take little action and focus on perfecting themselves internally rather than trying to control and regulate others externally. This belief is in line with the idea of letting people live a simple life and not trying to micromanage or impose strict laws and regulations on them. Instead, the leader should lead by example and trust in the natural order of things.