Further Studies on the Connotations of Nature in the Dao De Jing

nature(zi ran) in the Jing is an evolving concept.The starting point and destination of are all human beings and their society,so is a humanistic concept.It is Mainly reflected in:at the starting point in its history,nature is a word for the description of the existence of early civilizations.On this basis,the abstract Dao becomes the origin of all things and the principle with which all things comply.If Dao is considerded as the truth,natural is the absolute truth which guides running and development of Dao.As an absolute truth,nature in the process of externalization changes its forms:in the ethical stage,nature maintains the truth of Dao;in the alienation phase,the natural Dao is alienated as De(virtue) and without morality;in the moral stage,it is the natural way to restore the perfection of nature and will ultimately achieve Dao and De in harmony with nature.