Abstract
The Daoist virtue and the nature of the technology required for its development are explored more deeply. Ancient Chinese believed there were two ways to understanding the universe: one through rational understanding, and the other through intuitive non-rational means obtained through contemplative practices. The latter provided access to experiential understanding of the manifestation of the Dao in the world through its virtue. The meaning of Daoist virtue is broader than in western thinking, encompassing not only morality but also excellence, potency, inner power, nourishing, capacity, etc. It is more like phenomena of nature like sunlight or gravity and emerges in one’s life when one is aligned with the forces of nature. This concept of alignment gives rise to a technology centred around achieving physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual tranquillity. Cultivating virtue enables a return to the Dao with many positive outcomes ranging from better health and longevity to enhanced wisdom.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
In this text we use the word “Dao”, the current pin yin Romanization of the word, except when quoting authors who used the earlier form, Tao.
- 2.
Power and virtue are synonymous in this context.
- 3.
Ru is a specific philosophic term for Confucian.
References
Chan, A. (2010). Affectivity and the nature of the sage: Gleanings from a Tang Daoist master. Journal of Daoist Studies, 3(2), 1–27.
Crowe, P. (2010). Nature, motion, and stillness: Li Daochun’s vision of the three teachings. Journal of Daoist Studies, 5(5), 61–88.
Culham, T. (2013). Ethics education of business leaders: Emotional intelligence, virtues and contemplative learning. In J. Lin & R. Oxford (Eds.), Book series: Transforming education for the future. Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.
Hall, D. L., & Ames, T. A. (1998). Thinking from the Han: Self, truth, and transcendence in Chinese and western culture. New York: State University of New York Press.
Henricks, R. G. (1989). Lao-tzu: Te-tao Ching: A new translation based on the recently discovered ma-wang-tui texts. New York: Ballantine Books.
Lai, C. T. (2004). Commentary: A Daoist perspective. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46(3), 279.
Lloyd, G., & Sivin, N. (2002). The way and the word: Science and medicine in early China and Greece, Yale University Press. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/sfu-ebooks/detail.action?docID=Created from sfu-ebooks on 2019-01-29 09:54:41
Major, J. S., Queen, S. A., Meyer, A. S., & Roth, H. D. (Eds.). (2010). The Huainanzi: A guide to the theory and practice of government in early Han China. New York: Columbia University Press.
Meyer, A. S. (2010). Appendix A: Key Chinese terms and their translations. In J. S. Major, S. A. Queen, A. S. Meyer, H. D. Roth (Eds.), The Huainanzi: A guide to the theory and practice of government in early Han China (pp. 869–913). New York: Columbia University Press.
McGilchrist, I. (2009). The master and his emissary. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Merriam-Webster. (2019). Technology, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/technology
Needham, J. (1954). Science and civilisation in China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Needham, J., & Colin, A. R. (1995). The shorter science and civilisation in China (Vol. 5). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nivison, D. S., & Van Norden, B. W. (1996). The ways of Confucianism: Investigations in Chinese philosophy. Chicago: Open Court.
Roth, H. D. (1991). Psychology and self-cultivation in early Taoistic thought. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 51(2), 599–650.
Roth, H. D. (1996). The inner cultivation tradition of early Daoism. In D. S. Lopez (Ed.), Religions of China in practice (pp. 123–145). Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Roth, H. D. (1999). Original Tao: Inward training (Nei-yeh) and the foundations of Taoist mysticism. New York: Columbia University Press.
Roth, H. D. (2010). Chapter 1. Originating in the way. In J. S. Major, S. A. Queen, A. S. Meyer, & H. D. Roth (Eds.), The Huainanzi: A guide to the theory and practice of government in early Han China (pp. 41–76). New York: Columbia University Press.
Van Norden, B. W. (2007). Virtue ethics and consequentialism in early Chinese philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Vokey, D. (2001). Moral discourse in a pluralistic world. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press.
Wagner, R. G. (2000). The craft of a Chinese commentator: Wang bi on the Laozi. Albany New York: State University of New York Press.
Wing, R. L. (1996). The I Ching work book. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Culham, T., Lin, J. (2020). The Technology of Cultivating Virtue and Qi—an Overview. In: Daoist Cultivation of Qi and Virtue for Life, Wisdom, and Learning. Spirituality, Religion, and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44947-6_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44947-6_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-44946-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-44947-6
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)