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China has a long history that dates back thousands of years. Its ancient civilization is filled with rich traditions, magnificent architectures, and profound philosophies.

However, at the same time, China is also a modern and vibrant country. It has made remarkable progress in various fields such as economy, science and technology, and culture.

The combination of its ancient heritage and modern achievements makes China truly unique and fascinating.

People from all over the world are attracted by its charm and are eager to explore and discover more about this great country.

Whether it is the Great Wall, one of the world's greatest wonders, or the bustling metropolises like Shanghai and Beijing, China has something to offer for everyone.

It is no wonder that the thought of China being so ancient and yet so modern, so Chinese and yet so universal, can't help but excite and inspire people.

This was an immensely interesting read, yet I found myself somewhat aggravated by the passivism that pervaded the writing.

It almost seems like a poetical treatise on humility, but what about ambition and the drive to make the world a better place? Should we all simply accept our station in life and never strive to improve? I think not. The text accepts things as they are, regardless of how they may be, and cannot envision a better future. Everything is supposed to remain the same and exist within the natural order of things.

But how do we define the natural?

The poem speaks of mother nature as replenishing and everlasting; she is the gateway to heaven on earth, to our own nirvana. We can never completely exhaust her. The metaphor here is for the path, as Taoism and nature are one and the same. For the speaker, Taoism (or the way) is the most natural thing we can engage in. We will also never deplete its benefits, and they will last perpetually. And these ideas felt strong and real to me, but the writing also contemplates empire.

I have so many issues with the quote about empire. In what sense can we ever consider an empire to be natural? Empires are always built on the blood of others. The quote also shows how people are all different, yet it concludes that this is simply the way things are. A weak person should not attempt to make himself strong. Such an act is seen as excessive. We should simply remain humble and never challenge the norms of an empire. Seriously?

And that's when I ceased listening to what the book had to say. As a historical piece, it is interesting to study, but I place absolutely no value in its words.

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this, but I really didn't understand it. It definitely wasn't my favorite by any means. In fact, I'm not even going to rate it. I think I might give it another try in the future, though. Maybe when I read it again, it will make more sense to me. I'm hoping that with a second reading, I'll be able to pick up on things that I missed the first time around. It's possible that my initial confusion was due to my own lack of focus or perhaps there were some concepts that were a bit too complex for me to grasp right away. Only time will tell if this rereading will be successful in helping me to better understand and appreciate the work.