Laozi points out that the phenomenon of “the people fearing death no more” fundamentally stems from the ruler’s failure of governance in aligning with the Dao. When extreme deterioration of living conditions—such as famine, tyranny, or war—renders death a normalized reality, its deterrent power collapses. At this point, harsh punishments and draconian laws not only fail to maintain stability but exacerbate social tensions.
The people do not fear death; to what purpose is it to (try to) frighten them with death? If the people were always in awe of death, and I could always seize those who do wrong, and put them to death, who would dare to do wrong?
There is always One who presides over the infliction death. He who would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter. Seldom is it that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of the great carpenter, does not cut his own hands!
Furthermore, Laozi emphasizes that life and death belong to the natural cycle governed by the “Executioner of Nature”—the Dao itself. Human attempts to usurp this cosmic mandate through indiscriminate killings or cruel penalties constitute a violation of the natural order, akin to “a novice wielding a master carpenter’s axe”, which inevitably invites chaos and self-destruction.
“If you dare to coerce the world, you will find it recoils upon you.”
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