6. Zhang Junfang: The Discourse on Primordial Energy

A Sourcebook in Global Philosophy - Mohammed Rustom

Livia Kohn [+-]
Boston University
Livia Kohn is Professor Emerita of Religion and East Asian Studies, Boston University.

Description

The Discourse on Primordial Energy (Yuanqi lun) is an essay in chapter 56 of the encyclopedia Seven Tablets in a Cloudy Satchel (Yunji qiqian), which was compiled upon imperial order in the early 11 th century CE. It discusses the nature of the universe in terms of primordial energy (yuanqi), presenting the process of cosmic unfolding and the configuration of the human being, integrating various strands of Daoist and traditional Chinese teachings. Thus, it outlines a series of stages of cosmic unfolding, all described as “great,” during which the universe moves from overarching chaos through vibrating and vacillating energies to more concrete and tangible reality.

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Citation

Kohn, Livia. 6. Zhang Junfang: The Discourse on Primordial Energy. A Sourcebook in Global Philosophy. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. Mar 2025. ISBN 9781800505476. https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=45383. Date accessed: 07 Oct 2024 doi: 10.1558/equinox.45383. Mar 2025

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