The Taoist Sage as Philosopher-King

十三

老子

~What does Lao Tzu mean by the philosopher-king? Why does he argue for the employment of the sage to be the ruler?

~What is the difference between a ruler who is a sage and one who is not? What advantages would the sage have over others as ruler?

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Lao Tzu considers the sage as the ideal human being and more so the philosopher-king because he is a living manifestation of the Tao. The sage is one who understands and loves the Tao and so in return the Tao is close to him.

Chan, 1963

He who understands Nature penetrates the way of the sage, and possesses the virtue of emperors and kings… The sage is tranquil not because he says to himself, “It is good to be tranquil,” and therefore became tranquil. He is tranquil because nothing disturbs him.

The philosopher-king is one who can clear up the muddy water to make way by being tranquil. Having perfected and understood the ways of nature, he is one who in in synch with her. He understands her and knows when it is time or when it is not. He hears her and he hears himself amidst all the noises in the world therefore he knows himself. He knows the Tao and so he does not give in to his desires. He is one with nature and one with his fellow man, therefore he resounds harmony- To be in harmony with men means human happiness, and to be in harmony with Nature means the happiness of Nature (Chan, 1963). The philosopher-king is aware and so he takes great care not to overflow. 

The sage is kingly and he knows how to rule. He is one with Nature and being one with Nature implies that he is in harmony with the Tao. The philosopher-king takes no action but everything is done- because by taking no action, one can be able to fulfil his duty properly. He also keeps to the black (humility) and to the white (glory), the male and the female, the yin and the yang. He embodies the water and so he is weak and gently yet he is very strong. He is like an infant, weak and helpless but full of energy and potential. A philosopher-king is an uncarved wood!

Chan, 1963

In tranquility he becomes a sage, and in activity, and in activity he becomes a king. He takes no action and is honoured. He is simple and plain and none in the world can compete with him in excellence.

And because the philosopher-king knows the black and the white, he is fit in his role as the man of the people. Like an uncarved wood, he places himself bellow them through the humbleness and sincerity of his words. He does not put himself forward just so the people will recognise and respect him. He puts himself forward to protect the people and his actions are returned when it is due. He makes his decisions directed to the Tao and never for his own personal advantage.  

Chan, 1963

When water is tranquil, its clearness reflects even the beard and the eyebrows. It remains definitely level, and master carpenters take it as their model. If water is clear when it is tranquil, how much more so is the spirit? When the mind of the sage is tranquil, it becomes the mirror of the universe and the reflection of all things. 

The philosopher king embodies with him the characteristics of non-action, non-knowing, and non-desiring (Wood, n.d.). He lives by the virtues of the Tao and lives for the benefit of nature. The philosopher-king truly is the manifestation of the Tao. 

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