Taoist cults of immortality formed around a variety of issues and leaders, including many healing cults formed around charismatic leaders who used "medical magic". A variety of synonyms exist for the word across the various conceptions of it, including zhenren, a word used in Taoism that can also refer to " god and deified mortal", both of which xian could also be seen as. The word x ian semantically developed from meaning spiritual "immortality enlightenment", to physical "immortality longevity" involving methods such as alchemy, breath meditation, and tai chi chuan, and eventually to legendary and figurative "immortality". Xian were also thought by some Taoists to be synonymous with the gods inside the body, and as beings that sometimes cause mortals (who could fight them with martial virtue and martial arts) problems. The Eight Immortals and other xian were thought to have powers linked to their tools that were ultimately of a single nature that can add to or subtract the lifespan of humans depending on the human's level of sin. Sometimes, they and other xian were viewed as similar in nature to ghosts, rather than deities. The Eight Immortals are a good example of xian sometimes being seen as folk heroes who can offer assistance to "worthy human followers" and whose existence fosters the relationship between the living and the dead. Xian have been venerated from ancient times to the modern day in a variety of ways across different cultures and religious sects in China. (in Korean Taoist-inspired new religions) a being subservient to heaven that helps humans.(in Fujian Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religion) a boddhisatva, a buddha who is not Gautama Buddha or a being of comparable holiness and power over nature to one, or a type of god worshipped in temples.(in Confucianism within some imperial courts and folk religion practice that believes in the three teachings) an ideal existence that is synonymous with and a part of heaven, a higher reality (variably a yin-yang realm), the Tao and the forces of nature, or existence itself or a being that a deceased person's soul should become.(in Chinese Buddhism and Buddhist-inspired Taoist sects) a kind of deity or spiritual person imported from Taoism.(in Daoism and Chinese folk religion) a Daoist who was blessed to become immortal from death onwards.(in early Tang Dynasty folk religion conception) immortal being part of a small spiritual cabal who had immortal lifespans and supernatural powers, and were enlightened to the works of heaven, which assigned everyone else to "gloomy underworld jails" and/or a mundane role in the afterlife depending on how positively one viewed the afterlife.(in new-age conception) seeker who takes refuge in immortality (longevity for the realization of divinity) transcended person recoded by the "higher self" divine soul fully established being.
( based on the folk etymology for the character 仙, a compound of the characters for person and mountain) sage living high in the mountains mountain-man hermit recluse.( in popular Chinese literature) genie elf, fairy nymph 仙境 ( xian jing is fairyland, faery).( in Chinese mythology) wizard magician shaman sorcerer.( or by extension) alchemical, dietary, or qigong methods for attaining immortality.
0 kommentar(er)
