Wuwei

Chapter 37 moves from the Dao’s wuwei to the conduct of rulers, the self-transformation of things and the response to arising desires. The term is situated within questions of authority and order, rather than an empty setting without practical relations or consequences.

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Wang Bi explains wuwei at chapter 37 through accord with naturalness. His notes to chapter 48 distinguish responding through what is there from generating affairs through one’s own contrivance. On this reading, the relevant question concerns how action proceeds, not simply how many actions occur.

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Chapter 48 contrasts increasing in learning with reducing in following the Dao, then links reduction with wuwei. Wang Bi interprets the first as increasing abilities and acquired practices and the second as returning toward emptiness. The passage and the commentator’s interpretation should remain distinguishable.

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Chapter 17 describes affairs being completed while the people regard the achievement as their own. Wang Bi relates this to wuwei and to avoiding externally imposed direction. The example brings successful activity together with a reduced appropriation of other people’s agency by the ruler.

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