無為而治

Etymology
Although this idea is most commonly associated with Taoism, the exact wording first appeared in Confucian text. From the Analects, Book 15 (《論語·衞靈公》):



The earliest appearance in Taoist texts is worded differently. From Tao Te Ching, Chapter 57:



Idiom

 * 1)  to govern by rule of virtue
 * 2)  to govern by doing nothing that goes against nature;  to govern by nonaction; to govern by noninterference