Wu wei, literally not doing, is the central ethical ideal of the Daodejing and Zhuangzi: not idleness but action so attuned to the way of things that it involves no strain. The sage does nothing, yet nothing is left undone. Confucians spoke of the sage-king who ruled by wu wei, simply facing south.
Wu wei
Non-action or effortless action: acting in accord with the Dao, without forcing or contrivance.
Also: wuwei, non-action