A Study on Taoist Philosophy in Du Guangting's "Broad Exposition of the True Meaning of the Dao De Jing" -- From the Series of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism Theses by Fu Shi

Author: Jin Deyong (Korean)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: Du Guangting's Broad Interpretation of the Great Dao Scripture (Dao De Jing Guang Sheng Yi) is nearly a century and a half after the annotations and commentaries on the Dao De Jing by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, it is almost a lost echo of the Taoist Dao De Jing. The preface of Du Guangting's work outlines the essence, nomenclature, and format of the Dao De Jing, as well as the catalog of annotations and commentaries, their purpose, and the historical records of Laozi. It can be considered a summary of the Taoist study of the Dao De Jing throughout the ages. Du Guangting's philosophical thought is composed of four aspects: the theory of the Dao as the foundation, the theory of the nature of the Dao, the theory of achieving immortality, and the theory of governing the state and oneself.
In the theory of the Dao as the foundation, he believes that the Great Dao takes emptiness and non-existence as its substance and universality as its function. The Dao gives rise to all things through the interplay of substance and function, and he considers the Dao to be "subtle and mysterious qi," or "Dao qi," which "unifies all qi to create and transform all things."
In the theory of the nature of the Dao, he holds that the Dao takes tranquility and purity as its nature. Since human nature originates from the Dao, it is inherently pure and tranquil, but it is burdened by desires. Only by forgetting both mind and emotions can one transcend worldly attachments and achieve immortality.
In the theory of achieving immortality, he advocates for cultivating the mind as the foundation of cultivating both body and spirit. Only when both body and spirit are complete can one achieve the Dao and attain immortality.
In the theory of governing the state and oneself, he believes that immortals do not necessarily have to withdraw from the world; they can be worldly. In the world, sages who have attained the Dao can govern and rule the people, making their era a celestial realm and their people immortal beings.