Huainanzi

The Huainanzi (Chinese淮南子, Master of Huainan ') is a under the direction of Liu An (刘 安, 180-122 BC ), the Prince of Huainan, written work of Chinese philosophy. It is considered a classic of Daoism, but also shows Confucian and Legalist influences.

Content

The Huainanzi treats diverse topics, among others, old myths, contemporary art of government, didactic historical anecdotes, astronomy, philosophy, metaphysics and mysticism. It is divided into 21 chapters:

The traditional view reports that the Huainanzi was written by eight Daoist sages who frequented the court of Liu An. When these Daoist ways to Liu Ans court appeared, which was a center of science and the arts, Liu called on them to present him with new knowledge, then astonished him the wise men with magic arts. Liu An was impressed by the arts of the Magi, with them in the teaching and so should the Huainanzi be to record the conversations Liu Ans and the wise.

The cosmological speculations of Huainanzi are those of Taoism: The Ursprungsqi supposed to have in a pure and clear Qi, which forms the sky, as well as a dark and heavy Qi, which forms the earth divided.

Beyond that, the work shows influences of the Yijing, the yin and yang and the School of Five Element theory.

The basic idea of ​​Huainanzi is a Daoist political utopia and the work can be regarded as a guide for an enlightened ruler ( Zhenren ). Although the work is largely on politics and affairs of state, it also contains explanations on scientific and spiritual issues and provides with regard to these topics the most comprehensive of the Daoist classic works dar. Politically, there is the work represents an attempt, the cultural to establish independence of southern China and preserve it.

The image of the Holy ( Zhenren ), which is already designed in the Daodejing and Zhuangzi, is more comprehensive than that of Laozi and Zhuangzi of. The Holy of Huainanzi brings the requirements of the mystical spirituality of the saints in Zhuangzi and the demands of political life into harmony and resembles the Confucian image of the Noble ( Junzi ), who is a founder of cosmic order. The Holy of Huainanzi is an embodiment of Dao and he thus similar to this one, which is included in all and is a universal principle. According to the Huainanzi the political rule is subject to the same patterns that govern nature. Rule appears as an expression of the Taoist conception of the cosmos and subject to the same principles.