英文摘要
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Based on the approach of "naming", historically taken by both ancient and contemporary scholars, Laozi's describing Dao as "wu-ming"(無名) has been understood, almost without exception, as asserting that Dao is nameless, or that it is difficult to give Dao a name. It is also a common view that as all characters of Laozi's Dao are seen as equivalent to what an ideal ruler is capable of, the concept of "wu-ming" at the same time refers to a certain method that is available in governing a society. But, as will be argued, to view "wu-ming" as being without a name needs not exclude other alternatives, though such an approach is undoubtedly reasonable as well as textually rigid. To provide a new interpretation in order to avoid difficulties caused by the naming approach, this article aims to situate the concept of "wu-ming" in the context of the thought of "wu-wei" (無為), which is often translated literally as "action without acting", and to justify that what the term "wu-ming" refers to can be consistently understood as being undesirable to seek an honor and fame.
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