wu wei Chinese philosophical term often translated as ‘non-action’ and associated with Taoism. It is actually used in both Taoist and non-Taoist texts to describe an ideal state of existence or ideal form of government, interpreted differently in different texts. In the Chuang Tzu, it describes a state of existence in which one is not guided by preconceived goals or projects, including moral ideals; in the Lao Tzu, it refers to the absence of striving toward worldly goals, and also describes the ideal form of government, which does not teach or impose on the people standards of behavior, including those of conventional morality. In other texts, it is sometimes used to describe the effortlessness of moral action, and sometimes used to refer to the absence of any need for active participation in government by the ruler, resulting either from the appointment of worthy and able officials inspired by the moral example of the ruler, or from the establishment of an effective machinery of government presided over by a ruler with prestige. See also TAOISM. K.-l.S.