摘要：在浩瀚的中华文化宝库中，《道德经》以其深邃的智慧和独特的哲学视角，为我们揭示了宇宙万物的运行规律，也为我们提供了关于人生、健康、长寿的深刻启示。其中，“人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。”这一句话，便蕴含着关于

在浩瀚的中华文化宝库中，《道德经》以其深邃的智慧和独特的哲学视角，为我们揭示了宇宙万物的运行规律，也为我们提供了关于人生、健康、长寿的深刻启示。其中，“人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。”这一句话，便蕴含着关于身体健康与长寿的深刻哲理。

这句话告诉我们，人在生的时候，身体是柔弱的，充满了生机与活力；而当人死亡时，身体则变得僵硬、坚强。同样，草木在生长的时候，枝叶柔脆，生机勃勃；一旦枯萎，便变得干瘪、枯槁。由此，老子得出了“坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒”的结论，即过于刚强、僵硬往往与死亡相伴，而柔弱、柔韧则是生命的象征，是长寿之道。

这一观点，与现代西方健美观所崇尚的“死肌肉”形成了鲜明的对比。在西方健美文化中，人们追求的是肌肉的块头、线条的硬朗，以及力量的极致展现。这种健美观，无疑在一定程度上体现了人类对力量的崇拜和对美的追求。然而，当我们过于追求外在的强壮和硬朗时，却往往忽视了身体内在的柔韧性和协调性，从而可能导致身体的失衡和健康的受损。

举个例子，许多职业健美运动员，在追求肌肉块头和线条的过程中，往往需要进行高强度的训练和严格的饮食控制。这种极端的训练方式，虽然能够在短时间内塑造出令人惊叹的肌肉形态，但长期下来，却可能对身体造成不可逆转的损伤。他们的身体可能变得过于僵硬，关节灵活性下降，甚至可能出现各种健康问题。这种以牺牲健康为代价的健美观，无疑与《道德经》中所倡导的长寿之道背道而驰。

相反，那些注重身体柔韧性和协调性的人，往往能够更好地保持身体的健康和活力。他们通过瑜伽、太极等柔和的运动方式，锻炼身体的柔韧性和平衡感，使身体保持一种自然、和谐的状态。这种运动方式，不仅能够增强身体的免疫力，预防疾病的发生，还能够延缓身体的衰老过程，使人保持年轻和活力。

当然，我们并不是要完全否定西方健美观的价值。适度的肌肉锻炼和力量训练，对于增强身体素质和提高生活质量无疑是有益的。但是，我们应该明白，真正的健康并不仅仅体现在外在的肌肉和力量上，更体现在身体的内在平衡和协调性上。只有当我们注重身体的柔韧性和协调性，保持一种自然、和谐的状态时，才能够真正地实现长寿和健康。

因此，我们应该从《道德经》中汲取智慧，重新审视我们的健美观。不要盲目追求外在的强壮和硬朗，而应该注重身体的内在平衡和协调性。通过柔和的运动方式和健康的生活方式，保持身体的柔韧性和活力，让我们的生命之树常青不衰。这，才是《道德经》所倡导的长寿之道，也是我们应该追求的真正健康。

作者简介：梁世杰 中医高年资主治医师，本科学历，从事中医临床工作24年，积累了较丰富的临床经验。师从首都医科大学附属北京中医院肝病科主任医师、著名老中医陈勇，侍诊多载，深得器重，尽得真传！擅用“商汤经方分类疗法”、专病专方结合“焦树德学术思想”“关幼波十纲辨证”学术思想治疗疑难杂症为特色。现任北京树德堂中医研究院研究员，北京中医药薪火传承新3+3工程—焦树德门人（陈勇）传承工作站研究员，国际易联易学与养生专委会常务理事，中国中医药研究促进会焦树德学术传承专业委员会委员，中国药文化研究会中医药慢病防治分会首批癌症领域入库专家。荣获2020年中国中医药研究促进会仲景医学分会举办的第八届医圣仲景南阳论坛“经方名医”荣誉称号。2023年首届京津冀“扁鹊杯”燕赵医学研究主题征文优秀奖获得者。事迹入选《当代科学家》杂志、《中华英才》杂志。

Weakness and strength: The Tao Te Ching's Way to Longevity and Reflections on Modern Fitness

In the vast treasure house of Chinese culture, Tao Te Ching, with its profound wisdom and unique philosophical perspective, reveals the laws of the universe and provides us with profound enlightenment on life, health and longevity. Among them,“Man's life is also weak, and his death is strong. The life of grass is also fragile, and its death is weak. Thus a strong man dies, and a weak man lives.”This sentence contains a profound philosophy about physical health and longevity.

This sentence tells us that when man is alive, his body is weak and full of life and vitality. When you die, your body becomes stiff and strong. Likewise, when the grass grows, its branches are crisp and vibrant; Once it withers, it becomes dry and weak. Thus, Lao reached the conclusion that "strong people die, and weak people live," which means that being too strong and stiff often accompanies death, while weakness and flexibility are the symbol of life and the way to live long.

This view stands in stark contrast to the "dead muscles" espoused by modern Western bodybuilding. In the Western bodybuilding culture, people are seeking muscle mass, a firm line, and the ultimate display of strength. This view of bodybuilding undoubtedly reflects, to a certain extent, the worship of strength and the pursuit of beauty of human beings. However, when we pursue too much external strength and toughness, we often neglect the inner flexibility and coordination of the body, which can lead to imbalance and impairment of health.

For example, many professional bodybuilders often require high-intensity training and strict dietary controls in their quest for muscle mass and lines. This extreme form of training, while able to shape amazing muscles in a short period of time, can cause irreversible damage to the body in the long term. Their bodies may become too stiff, their joint flexibility decreases, and they may even develop a variety of health problems. This bodybuilding approach, which comes at the expense of health, is undoubtedly contrary to the philosophy of longevity advocated in the Tao Te Ching.

In contrast, those who focus on physical flexibility and coordination are often better able to maintain their body's health and vitality. They exercise the flexibility and balance of the body through gentle exercises such as yoga and tai chi, so that the body maintains a natural and harmonious state. This mode of exercise can not only strengthen the body's immunity and prevent the occurrence of diseases, but also slow the aging process of the body, so that people remain young and active.

Of course, we do not want to completely deny the value of Western Dingxi. Moderate muscle exercise and strength training are undoubtedly beneficial to enhance physical fitness and improve quality of life. However, we should understand that true health is not only in the external muscles and strength, but also in the internal balance and coordination of the body. Only when we focus on the flexibility and coordination of the body and maintain a natural, harmonious state can we truly achieve longevity and health.

Therefore, we should draw wisdom from the Tao Te Ching and re-examine our view of physical fitness. Instead of blindly pursuing external strength and stiffness, we should focus on the internal balance and coordination of the body. Through gentle exercise and a healthy lifestyle, we can keep our body supple and vibrant and keep our tree of life alive. This is the way the Tao Te Ching advocates longevity and the true health that we should pursue.

Author Bio: Liang Shijie is a senior medical practitioner in traditional Chinese medicine with an undergraduate degree. He has been engaged in traditional medicine clinical work for 24 years and has accumulated a wealth of clinical experience. Following Chen Yong, chief physician of liver disease at Beijing Traditional Medicine Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, and renowned old Chinese medicine, he has been treated for many years and received great attention. He specializes in the treatment of difficult diseases using "conversational traditional therapy" and special treatments combined with the academic ideas of Jiao Shude and Guan Yubo's ten-level diagnosis.He is currently a researcher at the Shude Tang TCM Research Institute in Beijing, a fellow at the new 3 + 3 project of traditional Chinese medicine flame inheritance in Beijing - a scholar at the inheritance workstation of Jiao Shude's protégés (Chen Yong),He is a standing committee member of the International Expert Committee on E-learning and Health Care, a member of the Jiao Shude Academic Heritage Special Committee of the Chinese Association for the Advancement of Chinese Medicine Research, and the first cancer specialist to be included in the chapter of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Culture Research Association. Won the 2020 China Association for the Promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine Zhongjing Medical Branch held the eighth session of the Medical Saint Zhongjing Nanyang Forum "Classic Prescription Famous Doctor" honorary title. The winner of the first Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei "Pingui Cup" Yanzhao Medical Research Essay Award in 2023. His work was featured in the journal Current Scientist and the journal Chinese Talent.

来源：首都专家梁世杰一点号