#74 Lao Tzu’s Last Message to Delusional Political Leaders

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 74: Acquire these 3 Taoist principles to control how you want to live

Oct 27, 2024

Welcome back to The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.

This week, we are looking at Chapter 74 of the Tao Te Ching, where Lao Tzu delivers a final warning to tyrannical rulers.

He cautions against the dangers of unchecked authority, revealing how excessive control leads people to lose their fear of death, driving society toward the brink of upheaval.

Are there pragmatic ways to navigate such political realities?

Let’s find out.

**74**

民不畏死，奈何以死懼之？

若使民常畏死，而為奇者，吾得執而殺之，孰敢？

常有司殺者殺。

夫代司殺者殺，是謂代大匠斲。

夫代大匠斲者，希有不傷其手矣。

Border-crossing: English translations

#1 Lin Yutang’s version

The people are not afraid of death;

Why threaten them with death?

Supposing that the people are afraid of death,

And we can seize and kill the unruly,

Who would dare to do so?

Often it happens that the executioner is killed.

And to take the place of the executioner

Is like handling the hatchet for the master carpenter.

He who handles the hatchet for the master carpenter

Seldom escapes injury to his hands.

#2 Edmund Ryden’s version

When the people are always not in awe of death, then how could you frighten them with death?

When the people are always in awe of death,

and I were able to arrest and slay the unorthodox, then, who would dare?

When the people are always certainly in awe of death,

then they always have an executioner.

To deputize for the executioner is to deputize and cut wood for the master craftsman.

Now of those who deputize and cut wood for the master craftsman, few are they who do not hurt their hands.1

#3 D. C. Lau’s version

When the people are not afraid of death, wherefore frighten

them with death?

Were the people always afraid of death,

and were I able to arrest and put to death those who

innovate, then who would dare?

There is a regular executioner whose charge it is to kill.

To kill on behalf of the executioner is what is described as chopping wood on behalf of the master carpenter.

In chopping wood on behalf of the master carpenter, there are few who escape hurting their own hands instead.2

Deeper dive

This is another chapter of Lao Tzu’s warning to tyrannical rulers. He advises rulers to beware of the consequences of overusing political power to the extent of threatening ordinary people’s lives.

As we know, Lao Tzu’s political philosophy is centered on the idea of wu-wei, non-forcing and non-intervention in governance.

This concept serves as a crucial link to the peaceful progress of society, in which individuals find their own ways of creative transformation.

The danger of overreach

From his observations of his time, Lao Tzu attributes the suffering of most ordinary people to political power.

In particular, the excessive interventions by leaders pose significant threats, manifesting through:

Overstepping boundaries to impose restrictions and obstacles on people’s daily lives.
Abusing political power that results in unnecessary death and suffering among ordinary people in power struggles and wars.

The unfortunate truth is that many rulers remain oblivious to the consequences of their policies. They fail to recognize that their own actions inflict harm on society and people.

A more insidious danger arises from those rulers who are aware of their societal position.

Specifically, they understand well their role at the top of the social hierarchy. They wield the resources, power, and influence to make political, social, and economic arrangements in their favor. Such arrangements primarily benefit themselves, their close associates, and vested interest groups.

The threat of tyrannical power also emerges through legalized violence, institutionalized pressure, and predatory governance.

Lao Tzu likens the great carpenter—or executioner—to the Tao of Heaven.3 Yet, tyrannical rulers, with their egos enlarged by power, usually take themselves as the arbiter of violence, playing with fire without being aware of the consequences.

Every individual possesses a natural life cycle, provided they remain unharmed by unexpected and external forces.

Lao Tzu cautions that if rulers do not restrain their desires and actions to oppress and intimidate the populace, they will face dire consequences.

As He Shanggong (approximately 200 BC -?) pointed out, the cause of social discontent is that “If rulers tasked with governing make excessive use of punishment, people will suffer a miserable life. That is why they are not afraid of death.”4

Therefore, when people no longer fear death and begin to organize against their oppressors, conflicts and war arise.

Rebellions may fail initially—once, twice, or even multiple times—but the seeds of resistance will have already taken root in the hearts and minds of the people.

In ancient China, when rulers became tyrannical and were despised by the common folk, they were often deemed unfit to rule by their elite supporters. Typically, oppressive regimes that inflicted unbearable calamity on society would face rebellions that resulted in their overthrow.

These rulers or regimes would go down in history when the time come. People are just waiting for the right political opportunity and favorable social conditions to finish their ruling.

Spiritual Taoism

When the Master came, it was because he had the occasion to be born. When he went, he simply followed the natural course. Those who are quiet at the proper occasion and follow the natural course cannot be affected by sorrow or joy. They were considered by the ancients as the men of the gods, who were released from bondage. 

Chuang Tzu

Who doesn’t desire a peaceful and joyful life with family? Who doesn’t want a fulfilled life that is proper to their natural endowment and interests?

Yet, we cannot indulge in wishful thinking, assuming that good things will naturally come to us or good times will eventually arrive.

Self-transformation and self-reliance are fundamental; they lie within our control, depending on our outlook on life and our everyday actions.

Beyond personal growth, we must cultivate an awareness of the social and cultural conditions in which we exist.

Some issues are deeply embedded in our political systems and social frameworks, while others stem from the inherent uncertainties of life itself, which we cannot escape.

Ultimately, we face the question: can we direct our fate toward our desired outcomes, fulfilling our destinies in this temporary existence?

Embrace the water symbol

We can distill Lao Tzu’s wisdom to navigate the course of life differently.

Be pragmatic, resilient, and magnanimous, like water.

“Highest good is like water.
Because water excels in benefiting the myriad creatures without contending with them and settles where none would like to be, it comes close to the way.” (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 8)

Do not contend against circumstances. You’ll need breathing room to navigate the world and avoid a losing position.

Dim your light and blend in with the world’s turmoil by leading a low-key life. The path leading to clarity and transformation is first to shatter the ego.

These are not just life lessons but principles for survival, especially when times become challenging and unbearable.

Guard your spirit

Then, we learn from Chuang Tzu his unique ways of taking care of the soul.

We can free our inner self from the shackles of circumstances and limiting beliefs as long as we dare to look within.

Resist the urge to bend your will to the demands of the environment. Even when the world around you becomes corrupt and degenerate, you can still control how you interact with it.

You can choose a way of life that allows you to stand between worth and worthlessness (become undefinable), refusing to be used as an instrument.

And, it is always possible to choose a life of intrinsic worth, defining yourself by your values rather than allowing others to classify you and conforming to conventions (there’s use in uselessness).

Control your tempo and rhythm of living. Create your own meaning and mission.

Empty preconceived notions, cultivate your inner spiritual world and respond to life’s uncertainties with openness. Do not be easily disturbed by external entanglements (see the empty boat parable.)

You can develop an unrestrained soul to roam the world.

Be a pragmatic strategist

Strategies alone will not help us go far in life. Strategizing with moving makes the difference.

Prioritize crisis prevention over confrontation.

Protect your limited resources—time, mental health, energy, relationships, and financial base.

You can govern yourself as you would lead an army.

As Sun Tzu would advise,

Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought.
The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all!5

Always strategize and execute with clarity and intention. And get moving.

Thanks for reading!

All my best,

Yuxuan