Tao gives birth to one, life to two, life to three, and life to all things, which comes from the forty-second chapter of Laozi's Tao Te Ching and is Laozi's theory of universe generation. When I say "one", "two" and "three" here, I mean the process of Tao creating everything. Mainly talk about the numbers of one, two and three.
"Huai Nan Zi Tian Xun" is one of the earliest philosophical explanations of it so far: "Tao () begins with one and is not born, so it is divided into yin and yang, and yin and yang combine to create everything. As the saying goes, "One life two, two lives three, three lives everything". According to Huai Nan Zi, "two" means "Yin and Yang" and "Yin and Yang are combined".
Extended data:
Original text: Tao gives birth to one, life gives birth to two, life gives birth to three, and life gives birth to everything. Everything is negative and positive, and I rashly think it is peace. The evil in the world is loneliness and lack of valley, and the princes think it is named after it. Therefore, things are either profitable or profitable. Worship and die, discuss and teach. I will learn from my father.
Tao is unique. Tao itself contains yin and yang, which intersect to form a balanced state, in which everything is generated. Everything is yin and yang, and yin and yang interact to form a new harmonious body. What people hate most are "loneliness", "widowhood" and "no valley", but princes use these words to call themselves.
So everything, or detract from it, has increased; Or increase, but decrease. I was taught this way, and I will teach others this way. Violent people have nowhere to die. I take this sentence as the purpose of teaching.
The origin of Taoism can be traced back to Emperor Taigu. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Laozi collected the great wisdom of ancient sages, summed up the essence of ancient Taoist thought, and formed a moral theory of inaction. It marks the formal formation of this Taoist thought. Since then, it has become the supreme treasure of governing the country in past dynasties. With Huangdi, Yi Yin, Taigong, Xin Qiji, Xunzi, Laozi, Wen Zi, Liezi, Zhuangzi, Guan Zi and Guo Guan as the main representatives, they advocate "doing nothing, being simple, moving with the times and changing with things" and so on.
More importantly, although Taoism has classic works, its thoughts are not limited to works. The formation of Taoist thought takes summing up, developing and writing classics as the main path. Every leap in thought has gone through an extremely long period of accumulation, once again highlighting the vitality of Taoism.
Taoist figures can make contributions to the WTO; In the long river of history, whenever a disaster comes, Taoist figures challenge the chaotic source of the disaster with a lofty spirit, punish evil and promote good, and set things right, thus stirring up many legendary chapters.