Charles X. 兴平 Yang 杨

This paper proposes the Lao–Yang Genesis Cosmology, a holistic cosmological framework that reinterprets Laozi’s foundational propositions—“Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, the Dao follows Nature” and “Dao gives birth to One; One gives birth to Two; Two gives birth to Three; Three gives birth to all things”—through the lens of modern astronomy, Earth science, and ecological philosophy. By integrating Daoist metaphysics with contemporary cosmology, the study constructs a nested generative chain: the Dao manifested as the Milky Way; the Milky Way giving rise to the Solar System (“Dao gives birth to One”); the Solar System giving rise to Earth (“One gives birth to Two”); Earth giving rise to the Moon (“Two gives birth to Three”); and the Sun–Earth–Moon tri-system generating water, air, light, life, and ultimately human civilization (“Three gives birth to all things”). Through systematic analysis, the paper demonstrates that these classical Daoist formulations are not merely moral or metaphysical metaphors but correspond to a coherent cosmological order grounded in natural law, self-organization, and systemic interdependence. At the human scale, “Man follows Earth” is interpreted as an ecological and civilizational imperative rooted in planetary limits, cultural continuity, and sustainable development. At the cosmic scale, “Dao follows Nature” is articulated as the spontaneous, non-intervening operation of universal laws governing galaxies, stars, planets, and life. The Lao–Yang Genesis Cosmology thus offers a unified philosophical–scientific model that reconnects humanity with its cosmic origins, reframes ecological crises as consequences of deviating from natural order, and advances a vision of sustainable civilization grounded in harmony between humanity, Earth, and the cosmos. By rebuilding the bridge between ancient Daoist wisdom and modern cosmology, this work seeks to provide a non-theistic, non-anthropocentric foundation for understanding the origin of life, the structure of the universe, and humanity’s ethical responsibility within it.