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The Concept of Guarding the One from the Zhuangzi 《莊子》 to Early Chan Buddhism

In: Journal of Chinese Philosophy
Author:
Wen Zhao School of Philosophy, Nankai University Tianjin China

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https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0053-956X
Online Publication Date:
25 Jul 2023
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Abstract

This paper traces the conception of “guarding the One” (shou yi 守一), an equivalent to “one-practice samādhi” from the East Mountain Teaching (dong shan fa men 東山法門) in early Chan Buddhism, back to the Zhuangzi《莊子》. “Guarding the One” and “nurturing the shen” (yang shen 養神) appear frequently in the context of Daoist spiritual training for longevity. In early medieval Chinese Buddhism, with the influence of the discourse of Daoist spiritual training and the karma theory from India, the concept of shen 神 generally developed into a pure substance of the mind. This substance of the mind also echoes the theory of Buddha-nature, and played a significant role in “Fourth Patriarch” Daoxin’s interpretation of “guarding the One”.

Title:
The Concept of Guarding the One from the Zhuangzi 《莊子》 to Early Chan Buddhism
Article Type:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/15406253-12340097
Language:
English
Pages:
126–140
Keywords:
guarding the One; spirit; substance of the mind; Buddha-nature; meditation
In:
Journal of Chinese Philosophy
In:
Volume 50: Issue 2
Received:
09 Feb 2022
Accepted:
25 Mar 2023
Publisher:
Brill
E-ISSN:
1540-6253
Print ISSN:
0301-8121
Subjects:
Asian Philosophy, Philosophy, Chinese Philosophy, Philosophy, Asian Studies, China

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