lienshan Posted October 21, 2010 本命分於道 Root names distinguished from Tao: 謂之命形於一 Called its name: Formed from One. 謂之性化於陰陽象形而發 Called its characteristics: Changed from the images of yin and yang, formed and issued. 謂之生化窮數盡 Called its birth: Changed to the worn out of poor quality. 謂之死故命者性之終也 Called its death: The former name was that which naturally went to an end! 則必有終矣 The method surely has an end!!! The text is included in Da Dai Jili, not included in the confucian canon, and is according to scholarly research written by Xunzi (312-230 BC). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest paul walter Posted October 21, 2010 本命分於道 Root names distinguished from Tao: 謂之命形於一 Called its name: Formed from One. 謂之性化於陰陽象形而發 Called its characteristics: Changed from the images of yin and yang, formed and issued. 謂之生化窮數盡 Called its birth: Changed to the worn out of poor quality. 謂之死故命者性之終也 Called its death: The former name was that which naturally went to an end! 則必有終矣 The method surely has an end!!! The text is included in Da Dai Jili, not included in the confucian canon, and is according to scholarly research written by Xunzi (312-230 BC). Oh how true Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted October 21, 2010 At first glance I didn't like the title of the thread. The first read caused me to be uneasy. A second read brought understanding. I accept the quoted text as valid. However: The method surely has an end!!! according to the concepts of reversion and cycles, each end is a new beginning. Therefore even the method does not truely have an end, only phases. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lienshan Posted October 21, 2010 (edited) I was myself surprized by reading, how influencal yin and yang was on taoism in late warring states time. Yin and yang are not mentioned that often in t.ex. Tao Te Ching. Xunzi's own point of view seems too influenced by yin and yang, when reading another of his lexical texts in Da Dai Jili with the subject earth: 易本命凡 easy - root - name - summary 地 earth 東西為緯 east - west - is - woof (horisontal wowen) 南北為經 south - north - is - books (vertical reading direction) 山為積德 mountain - is - accumulate - virtue (te) 川為積刑 stream - is - accumulate - punishment 高者為生 high - that which - is - life 下者為死 below - that which - is - death 邱陵發牡 hill - grave - issue - male 谿谷為牝 gorge - valley - is - female Edited October 21, 2010 by lienshan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adept Posted October 21, 2010 Taoism and Confucianism both have their roots in ancient shamanic culture and so words of wisdom crossover between the two traditions. Over the years I have come to appreciate Confucianism more and more. There is an awful lot of good teachings contained within its many forms. Maybe that could be discussed in a separate thread. Keep up the good work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lienshan Posted October 21, 2010 (edited) Why not discuss it here, adept? The first Xunzi text seems to be a commentary to Tao Te Ching chapter 42, because it's the only chapter that contains the characters 陰 yin and 陽 yang ... and too the character 一 one, and too the character 生 birth ... all central characters in both chapter 42 and the Xunzi text. If so, then Xunzi text is the first ever known commentary to Tao Te Ching, because he lived 312-230 BC. The first lines of chapter 42 are these very difficult to understand/translate: 道生一 Tao gave birth to one 一生二 one gave birth to two 二生三 two gave birth to three 三生萬物 three gave birth to the tenthousand things The Xunzi text in my own (poor) translation: 謂之命形於一 Called its name: Formed from One Edited October 21, 2010 by lienshan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
