On Yan Shannong’s Method of “Shutting Oneself in for Seven Days” and the Religious Tendency in Mid to Late Ming Confucianism
Vol. 48 No.3 9/2018
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Title |
On Yan Shannong’s Method of “Shutting Oneself in for Seven Days” and the Religious Tendency in Mid to Late Ming Confucianism |
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Author |
Hon Hiu-wah |
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Genre |
Article |
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Pages |
457-487 |
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Download |
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Language |
Chinese |
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Key words |
Yan Shannong顏山農, shutting oneself in for seven days, mystical experience, meditation, syncretism |
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Abstract |
Yan Shannong’s顏山農 religious conception of Confucianism was based on his method of “shutting oneself in for seven days” (qiri biguan fa 七日閉關法). This method not only shaped Yan’s view of Confucianism, but it also informed his teaching and his description of mystical experience as zhiti yi yingyong 執體以應用. Yan’s theory of enlightenment and his personal preaching experience endowed him with a unique position in the Taizhou泰州 school. From the perspective of Neo-Confucianism’s meditative practice and syncretic development, it is apparent that Yan’s method of “shutting oneself in for seven days” had a special meaning. |