Իդեալական հասարակարգի դաոսական մոդելը / The Taoist Model of an Ideal Society

Abstract

Dao De Jing (DaoD Tsin) holds a pivotal place in Taoism, ranking as one of its most significant texts and boasting the distinction of being the most translated book worldwide after the Bible. Surprisingly, within the Armenian context, there exists no translation of this seminal work from its original Chinese. The primary objective of this article is twofold: to introduce the Armenian translation of the 80th chapter of Dao De Jing and to offer interpretations of key expressions within that chapter based on Chinese commentaries on Dao De Jing. Additionally, this work embarks on an examination of the concept of an ideal society or utopia as presented in various Taoist writings. This exploration is rooted in a comprehensive study encompassing the original texts, their English translations, and contributions from various scholars in the field. The study culminates in the recognition that the vision of a "small country with few people," as described in chapter 80, stood in stark contrast to the ambitious pursuits of contemporary Chinese rulers and was deemed unfeasible. Notably, prominent Taoist figures, Laozi and Chuangzi, both regarded a return to a simpler, original social order as a prerequisite for fostering peaceful and contented lives. One of the most necessary conditions of the Taoist utopia was that people should go back to the old way of making notes by knotting ropes, live a very simple life, but most importantly, there should be no communication between the inhabitants of neighboring countries.