Tao Te Ching · Chapter
LX explained
This chapter uses the analogy of cooking small fish to illustrate the principle of governing a great state with minimal interference.
What happens
This chapter uses the analogy of cooking small fish to illustrate the principle of governing a great state with minimal interference. When the kingdom is governed according to the Tao, the spirits of the departed do not manifest their spiritual energy to harm people, and the sage ruler also refrains from harming them. The mutual non-injury between the spiritual and human realms allows their good influences to converge in the virtue of the Tao.
Themes in this chapter
Wu Wei (Non-Action or Effortless Action)
The chapter advocates governing a great state with minimal intervention, akin to cooking small fish without over-handling, embodying the principle of wu wei.
Sage Rulership and Governance
The sage ruler does not harm the people or the spirits, allowing their good influences to converge in the virtue of the Tao, illustrating ideal governance.
Characters to notice
- Laozi
Attributed author of the Tao Te Ching, presenting the principle of governing a great state like cooking small fish.
Key passages
“Governing a great state is like cooking small fish.”
Ruling a large kingdom requires the same delicate, minimal handling as cooking small fish—too much stirring ruins it.
This opening metaphor sets the tone for the chapter's advocacy of non-interference in governance.
“When these two do not injuriously affect each other, their good influences converge in the virtue (of the Tao).”
When the spirits and the sage ruler refrain from harming each other, their beneficial effects unite in the power of the Tao.
The conclusion emphasizes harmony between the spiritual and human realms through mutual non-interference.