#7 The Tao of Leadership

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 7: Explore Taoist leadership through Lao Tzu’s teachings on impartiality and selflessness.

Jul 16, 2023

Welcome back to The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.

We are moving on to Chapter 7 of the Tao Te Ching where two crucial qualities of the sage, highly esteemed in Taoist philosophy, come to light: impartiality and selfless leadership.

Throughout history, numerous leaders have drawn inspiration from this chapter, achieving remarkable feats guided by its wisdom.

Take a moment to study and embrace the teachings of this chapter, as its principles hold the potential to enrich your own life.

Let’s get started!

**7**

天長地久。

天地所以能長且久者，以其不自生，故能長生。

是以聖人後其身而身先，外其身而身存。

非以其無私邪？故能成其私。

Border-crossing: English translations

#1 Lin Yutang’s version

The universe is everlasting.

The reason the universe is everlasting

Is that it does not live for Self.

Therefore it can long endure.

Therefore the Sage puts himself last,

And finds himself in the foremost place;

Regards his body as accidental,

And his body is thereby preserved.

Is it not because he does not live for Self

That his Self is realized?

#2 Edmund Ryden’s version

Heaven grows; earth lasts;

The reason why heaven grows and earth lasts is because

They do not generate themselves;

Therefore they live a long time.

For this reason the Sage

Holds himself back and he is ahead;

Puts aside his self and he exists.

Were this not to be by not valuing his own affairs, how else could it be?

Therefore he can accomplish his own affairs1.

#3 D. C. Lau’s version

Heaven and earth are enduring.

The reason why heaven and earth can be enduring is that they do not give themselves life. Hence they are able to be long-lived.

Therefore the sage puts his person last and it comes first,

Treats it as extraneous to himself and it is preserved.

Is it not because he is without thought of self that he is able to accomplish his private ends?2

Deeper dive

As mentioned in the beginning, this chapter touches upon two qualities of the Taoist sage: impartiality and detachment, and selfless leadership.

In Taoist thought, the sage follows the workings of the Tao, from which all myriad things find their root.

The Tao is impartial and impersonal, benefiting all.

Essentially, Lao Tzu reminds individuals who aim to become leaders to be conscious of the consequences of being selfish or parochial.

To achieve this level of holistic understanding, it becomes necessary to constantly resist the temptation to fall into subjective opinions and self-interest.

When we do not prioritize personal desires and ambitions over others, it becomes possible to cultivate another relevant virtue: tolerance.

In Lao Tzu’s words, “The sage has no mind of his own. He takes as his own the mind of the people.”

He Shanggong (approximately 200 BC - ?) offered an insightful comment on the statement —“Therefore the Sage puts himself last, And finds himself in the foremost place”— which I believe unlocks the key to understanding this chapter.

In his words, the sage acts in a way of “Prioritizing others over one’s self,”3 and therefore, “the whole world offers its respect and regards (the sage) as their leader and superior.”

He Shanggong’s comment applies the philosophical principle of the sage following the Tao to governance and administration.

It follows that when the sage leader places the interests and welfare of his people ahead of his own, the people will eventually support and respect him.

A Cultural Note

As this chapter mainly talks about the quality of the sage, I want to spend some time here commemorating a hero of mine.

Sun Li-jen (pinyin: Sun Liren) 孫立人 (1900-1990) was a general of the Republic of China (ROC), who earned his reputation as “Ever Victorious General” and “Rommel of the East” during the Sino-Japanese War between 1937 and 1945.

At 25, Sun graduated from Purdue University in 1924 with a degree in civil engineering. Driven by patriotism, he switched to military studies at the Virginia Military Institute.

After returning to China, he joined the National Revolutionary Army as a corporal. He focused on modernizing and training his troops with his knowledge of military theory and warfare strategies.

During the 1937 Battle of Shanghai, Sun led his troops into the fight. He was sent to Hong Kong for treatment after getting seriously wounded in this critical fight.

In 1939, Sun and his New 38th Division were sent to Burma as part of the Chinese Expedition Army. The mission of this endeavor was to accomplish the “Burma Road” project — securing a supply route from Burma to China.

In Burma, Sun’s 38th Division defeated the elite Japanese 18th Division, known as the “king of jungle warfare.”

But what made Sun internationally renowned was the Battle of Yenangyaung in 1942. In this battle, a British force was encircled by a Japanese unit of about 7,000 personnel. Lt. Gen. William Slim led the British defense but could not resist the Japanese force.

At a moment of life and death, Sun and his 113th Regiment, composed of only about 800 combat soldiers, delivered a deadly blow against the Japanese 33rd Division, which had almost nine times more soldiers, and helped the British troop retreat safely.

It should be noted that Chinese troops were comprehensively outmatched by their Japanese counterpart during WWII. What really made the difference was leadership.

And General Sun manifested exemplary leadership throughout his career.

On the battlefield, he would go to the frontline to instruct his men on how to engage with their adversaries.

In daily training, he would personally demonstrate specific techniques to his own men.

General Sun would direct his army to build a cemetery for his men everywhere they went for battles. He promised to bring his soldiers, who died for their country in foreign lands, back to China after the war. And he kept his promise.

He was remembered as a forthright, caring, selfless, public-spirited, and capable leader.

Simply put, he did not arrogantly regard himself as higher or more important than his fellow soldiers. And that is perhaps why his 38th Division was so formidable on the battlefield.

General Sun’s military achievements in Burma changed the perception of China in the eyes of its allies. After WWII, the Republic of China (ROC) became one of the founding members of the United Nations.

When General Sun was recommended for the Legion of Merit, the U.S. War Department highlighted “His example of courage and leadership reflect great credit on Allied Arms.”

But for those who know what China had been through in the 20th century (the breakdowns of regimes, foreign invasions, civil wars, etc.), Sun was not just the “god of war” of the Republic of China (ROC) but a true patriot.

After reading this week’s newsletter, you may have captured a sense of the power of Tao Te Ching.

That’s only one chapter, with just a few inspirations on leadership qualities.

With the lessons and wisdom in this book, you are empowered to become the person you have always wanted to be and be a force for good in the human world.

Thank you for reading!

See you next week,

Yuxuan