📖 Meaning
To abandon cleverness and intellect and return to a state of natural simplicity. Rooted in Daoist philosophy, it argues that artificial notions of sageliness and wisdom actually create disorder. True harmony is achieved not through intellect but through wuwei, or non-action.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from Chapter 19 of the Dao De Jing, attributed to the Spring and Autumn period philosopher Laozi. Laozi declared that abandoning sagehood and discarding wisdom would bring the people a hundredfold benefit, and that renouncing benevolence and righteousness would restore filial piety and compassion. This reflects the Daoist critique that moral categories and intellectual striving disrupt the natural order. Later Daoist thinkers such as Zhuangzi in the Warring States period expanded upon this ideal of returning to an uncarved, uncultivated simplicity.
💡 Example Usage
庄子主张绝圣弃智，认为回归纯朴本性才是治国之道。
Zhuangzi advocated abandoning sagehood and discarding wisdom, holding that a return to untutored simplicity is the true way to govern.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
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🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 绝圣弃智
- Pinyin: jué shèng qì zhì
- Literal Translation: reject sagehood, discard wisdom
- Category: Philosophy
- Characters: 4