The Ten Thousand Things
A Taoist concept referring to the infinite multiplicity of phenomena in the manifest world. The term appears throughout classical Chinese philosophy, particularly in the Tao Te Ching.
Taoists view “naming” and “counting” the ten thousand things as a departure from the undifferentiated Tao. While practical for navigation, this categorization creates artificial distinctions that obscure the underlying unity of existence.
The concept warns against mistaking our mental models (categories, numbers, names) for reality itself.
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