Wu wei

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Wu wei (simplified Chinese: 无为; traditional Chinese: 無為; pinyin: wúwéi) is an ancient Chinese concept which has a polymorphic meaning that expresses "inexertion", "inaction", or "effortless action".^[a][1][2] Wu wei emerged in the Spring and Autumn period. With early literary examples, as an idea, in the Classic of Poetry,^[3] it becomes an important concept in the Confucian Analects,^[4] Chinese statecraft,^[5] and Daoism. It was most commonly used to refer to an ideal form of government,^[6] including the behavior of the emperor, describing a state of personal harmony, free-flowing spontaneity and laissez-faire. It generally denotes a state of spirit that is a state of being that has a congruent connection between intention and action that was integrally connected to the Confucian ethics of practical morality.

Wu Wei is the central principle of Daoist philosophy, which speaks of the importance of being in line with the Dao or the Natural Way in all actions, endeavours to the development of things. Without forcing or rushing against the natural order of things to avoid false development and mistakes. The philosophy of Dao, 'Dao Jia' and the religion of Dao, 'Dao Jiao' are two different things. For example, in the philosophy of Dao, 'Dao Jia' there is no mysticism and belief in ghosts and evil spirits.

Sinologist Jean François Billeter describes wu-wei as a "state of perfect knowledge (understanding) of the coexistence of the situation and perceiver, perfect efficaciousness and the realization of a perfect economy of energy".

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