"The neighboring countries look at each other, and the voices of chickens and dogs are endless, and the people do not interact." How to understand

Meaning: Countries can see each other and hear the barking of chickens and dogs, but there is no communication between people from birth to death. It means that even though the people of the two countries get along very closely and have close contacts, even the barking of chickens and dogs is mixed together, there has never been war and friction.

Source: Tao Te Ching-West Zhou Li Er

Original text:

A small country with few people makes people need something but not use it, and makes people die without moving far away. Although there is a boat, there is nothing to sit on. Although there are soldiers, there is nothing to show off. Let people use it again. Be willing to eat, wear, live and enjoy. When neighboring countries confront each other, the voices of chickens and dogs are endless, and the people are miserable until they die.

A country should not be too big and its population should be small. Even if there are all kinds of electrical appliances, there is no need; Let ordinary people pay attention to their own lives, and they will not leave their homes and go far away. Even if there is a boat and a car, there is no place to ride. Even if there is armor and weapons, there is no room for it. Let the people return to that era of knots and memories.

The country is rich and strong, and it has reached its peak. Let the people eat well, dress beautifully, live comfortably and live happily. Countries can see each other and hear chickens and dogs, but there is no communication between people from birth to death.

Extended data

A small country with few people is an ideal society described by Laozi, which reflects the self-sufficient lifestyle of ancient China society. Lao Tzu dreamed of returning to the primitive social era without oppression and exploitation, where there was no exploitation and oppression, no war and plunder, no culture, no fierceness and fear. This simple and simple society is really an idealized depiction of ancient rural life.

Hu Jichuang said: "When we study Laozi's thought of a small country and few people, we should analyze its class roots, the factors of the times and the problems it tries to solve. The so-called "small country with few people" was issued in view of the policy of vast territory and abundant resources, large population and few people at that time. They believe that the policy of dispersing land among the people is the root of all evil.

If it is a small country with few people, it can eliminate the merger war and achieve "there are many soldiers, but there is nothing left"; You can avoid the technical skills that cause social unrest because of obtaining material information,' there are things you don't need'.

You can cancel the wisdom that makes people difficult to treat, and take notes instead of knotted ropes; It is possible to satisfy people with a simple life and not be tempted by luxury and lust; People can be allowed to die again and travel once, so that they can die of old age and not communicate with each other, and even ships, cars and other means of transportation can be abolished.

They don't understand that the policy of spreading land among the people is a reflection of the policy of a big country when the social productive forces have developed to a certain level, and it is a historical task for the new relations of production to require a unified landlord regime throughout the country. But Lao Tzu forgot that in the original paradise, there were no exploited people who were addicted to food and clothing, nor did they give birth on their behalf.

Although the author of Laozi is materialistic in the world outlook, he has fallen into an idealistic fantasy in his social outlook, especially in his views on economic issues. "This criticism is to the point. Faced with the rapidly turbulent and changing social reality, Lao Tzu felt a sense of loss and began to miss the knotted primitive life in ancient ignorance, which was an outlet of resistance.

During the Jin Dynasty, Tao Yuanming wrote a famous poem "Peach Blossom Garden" which has been handed down to this day. It should be said that this article is obviously influenced by the contents of Laozi's eighty chapters. This is a beautiful fantasy, but it also expresses his dissatisfaction with the darkness of society and reflects the people's desire to get rid of poverty and chaos. At this point, the thoughts of Lao Zi and Tao Yuanming are in the same strain.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Tao Te Ching Small Country and Few People