The Taoist concept of spontaneity or naturalness is called Ziran. Written 自然 and pronounced zìrán in Mandarin, the term literally suggests being “so of itself” or occurring by itself.
In Daoist thought, ziran describes the natural unfolding of things without forced interference or artificial contrivance. It can refer both to the character of the Dao and to the quality cultivated by a sage who acts in harmony with the way things are. Early Daoist sources, including the Daodejing and Zhuangzi, connect naturalness with simplicity and freedom from imposed desires.
Ziran is closely related to wu wei, usually translated as non-action or effortless action. The two ideas are not identical: ziran emphasizes naturalness and spontaneity, while wu wei describes action that avoids coercion and needless force. A person may therefore practice wu wei in order to live more fully in accordance with ziran.
Another common mix-up is pu, the “uncarved block.” Pu is a metaphor for original simplicity; ziran is the broader principle of being naturally so.