"Governing a big country is like cooking small delicacies" is the opening outline of Chapter 60 of Laozi's "Tao Te Ching". It is also a high-level summary of Laozi's "governing by doing nothing" thought of governing the country. There are many chapters in the whole book. important position. Ancient literati usually regarded governing the country as their first ideal in life. Therefore, this film has been widely disseminated and has far-reaching influence!

Let’s take a look at the original text first:

Governing a big country is like cooking small dishes. When the Tao comes to the world, its ghosts are not gods. If it is not a ghost or a god, its gods will not hurt people; if it is not a god, it will not hurt people, and if it is not a god, it will not hurt people. Husbands and wives do not hurt each other, so their virtues return to each other.

A brief translation:

Governing a large country must be like frying small fish without turning them frequently. If you turn them too much, the small fish will easily break into pieces. I used the metaphor of cooking small fish and not stirring it frequently to illustrate that in governing a country, you should not change orders day by day. If you are too busy, you will also mess up the country!

The second sentence uses the principle of "Tao" to govern the world, and even ghosts cannot come out to disturb worship. The ghost here is an extended meaning, referring to the abnormal things or behaviors of ghosts, and gods are abnormal things. Or the behavior interferes with the meaning of functioning.

The third sentence is not that abnormal things or behaviors cannot disturb people, but that its effects cannot hurt people; it is not that its effects cannot hurt people, but that saints ignore these abnormal things or behaviors. Will not be disturbed or harmed by its effects.

The last sentence is that these abnormal things or behaviors do not interfere with the normal order and live in peace. In the end, virtue will return to the people, and the world will be peaceful and stable!

According to Sima Qian’s records, Lao Tzu sent Yin Xi to the Hangu Pass. After writing this five thousand-word masterpiece, he left the pass without any explanation. “I didn’t know that he was going to die.” No one knows what my final outcome will be, and no one can ask me for advice on this article!

Therefore, the translations and interpretations of scholars in subsequent dynasties were based on their own understanding and the characteristics of the times. It is inevitable that there will be deviations over time!

Just the opening sentence "Governing a big country is like cooking small fish", there are as many as three opinions:

The first theory: Governing a big country is like cooking small fish, oil and salt Seasonings such as soy sauce and vinegar should be just right, neither too much nor too little. This is quite a Confucian interpretation of the golden mean!

The second statement: Governing a big country is as difficult as cooking a small thing. Both must master the heat and maintain the same happy mood as cooking a small thing, so that the two can not hurt each other and the virtues can be reunited. Yan. This interpretation has idealistic thoughts in it!

The third way to say: "Xiao Xian" is small fish or a small piece of meat. It means that governing a big country should be like cooking a small fish, and cannot be stirred too much. If it is stirred too much, it will rot easily. It is a metaphor that running a big country should be done without doing anything, it is a piece of cake!

Combined with Laozi’s thought of governing by inaction, this third statement is very consistent with the way of governing a country that Laozi wants to express. When governing a large country, it is not appropriate to turn over and over again, do not disturb the people at every turn, let alone mess around!

"Han Feizi·Jie Lao" also said: "If you cook small delicacies and scratch them, you will steal the beauty; when you govern a big country, you will make many changes, and the people will suffer. Therefore, a wise king is noble Quiet, don't focus on reforms. Therefore, it is said: 'Those who govern a big country are like cooking small dishes. Ancestor Zhu Yuanzhang and Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty also made similar annotations!

In Lao Tzu’s view, the movement of the Great Dao has its own rules and regulations! Governing a big country is like cooking small delicacies. It is a superb art of governing a country. Giving the initiative to the people and paying more attention to the people's hearts and minds rather than making decisions based on your head and feeling. Following the great road is the foundation of governing the country!

Nowadays, although the social management and organization model has undergone fundamental changes, Lao Tzu’s wisdom of following the Great Dao still shines brightly across thousands of years!

It is not only about governing a big country, but also managing a business or even a family. The idea and skills of "governing a big country are like cooking small delicacies" are both clumsy and skillful tools.