Appendix DGlossary of Some Philosophical Concepts

1. General Philosophical Terms

   Note: For a more complete glossary, see Minford 2014, 795–815, esp. 799 ff.

   1. Tian 天 (Heaven) Often viewed as the equivalent of “Nature”
   2. Dao 道 (The “Way”) Like Tian, often equated with “Nature.” Dao can also refer to “teachings”—for example, the “way” of Confucians, Daoists, or Buddhists
   3. Taiji 太極 (The “Supreme Ultimate”) A relatively late (Song dynasty; 960–1279) philosophical concept—often equated with Tian and Dao. The Supreme Ultimate refers to a process that generates yin and yang (see below), which interact to produce all things. It is not, however, any sort of creator deity, external to the cosmos; like Tian and Dao, it is a term for the self-generating and self-sustaining structure and function of the universe
   4. Yinyang 陰陽 (Cosmic creative forces; also phases of change and complementary opposites—for example, dark-light; cold-hot; female-male; square-round; etc.)
   5. Li 理 (Principle) Li is the essential or defining characteristic of a class or category of things; every type of thing that exists, has existed, or will exist has a “principle”)
   6. Qi 氣 (Cosmic breath; material force; the “stuff” of which all things are constituted). Qi gives materiality and “life” to all things, seen and unseen, animate and “inanimate”
   7. Wuxing 五行 (Five Agents) These represent dynamic “qualities” identified with the characteristics and tendencies of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water 木火土金水, respectively. They manifest themselves in various combinations as “material force,” thus animating even “inanimate” objects. Also translated elements, phrases, etc.
   8. Shen 神 (Spirit) A word with the same basic range of meanings in Chinese as in English
   9. Xin 心 (Mind; also rendered Heart-Mind)
   10. Ti 體 (Substance; foundation)
   11. Yong 用 (Function; application)
2. Some Key Concepts in Confucianism (Rujia 儒家)
   1. Core values:
      1. Xiaodi 孝悌 (Filial piety and fraternal submission)
      2. Zhong 忠 (Devotion or loyalty)
      3. Shu 恕 (Reciprocity)
      4. Cheng 誠 (Sincerity)
   2. The “Five Constant Virtues”:
      1. Ren 仁 (Humaneness; humanity; graded love)
      2. Yi 義 (Duty; righteousness; moral discrimination)
      3. Li 禮 (Ritual; propriety; etiquette; etc.)
      4. Zhi 智 (Humane knowledge or wisdom)
      5. Xin 信 (Faithfulness; standing by one’s word; etc.)
3. Some Key Concepts in Philosophical Daoism (Daojia 道家)
   1. Basic concepts:
      1. Ziran 自然 (Naturalness; spontaneity)
      2. Wuwei 無爲 (“Doing-nothing”; not overdoing)
      3. Pu 樸 (An uncarved block of wood; symbol of simplicity)
4. Some Key Concepts in Religious Daoism (Daojiao 道教)
   1. Neidan 内丹 (“Inner alchemy”—designed to achieve bodily transformation through meditation, breathing exercises, sexual practices, etc.)
   2. Waidan 外丹 (“External alchemy”—designed to achieve bodily transformation through herbs, drugs, etc.)
   3. Gong 功 (merits)
   4. Guo 過 (demerits)
   5. Xian 仙 (An immortal being)
5. Some Key Concepts in Buddhism (Fojiao 佛教)
   1. Basic terms:
      1. Karma (“Act” in Sanskrit [Chinese: yeyin 業因, yinguo 因果, etc.]; refers to both deeds and thoughts)
      2. Bodhi (“Enlightenment” in Sanskrit [Chinese: wu 悟])
      3. Nirvana (“Extinction” in Sanskrit [Chinese: niepan 涅槃]; likened to the blowing out of a candle)
      4. Theravada (“The Way of the Elders” in Sanskrit [Chinese: 小乘]; a rather restrictive form of Indian Buddhism stressing gradual accumulation of karma)
      5. Mahayana (“The Great Vehicle” in Sanskrit [Chinese: 大乘]; an eclectic and “expedient” form of Indian Buddhism stressing salvation by faith)
6. Other important ideas:
   1. Jingtu 淨土 (The “Pure Land”; aka Xitian 西天 or 極樂西天 The “Western Paradise”) This was the most popular school of Mahayana Buddhism in Qing China
   2. Amitabha (The “Buddha of Immeasurable Radiance” in Sanskrit [Chinese: Amituo Fo 阿彌陀佛]; the Buddha who presides over the Western Paradise)
   3. Guanyin pusa 觀音菩薩 (The Goddess of Mercy; agent of Amitabha—a bodhisattva [“enlightened one”] who postpones nirvana to help others achieve enlightenment)
   4. Diyu 地獄 (Courts of Judgment; sometimes translated Hells; variously numbered—most commonly ten [十殿] or eighteen [十八 殿]). Here, the “souls” of the deceased are tortured before being reborn
   5. Yanluo wang 閻羅王 (The “King of the Underworld”—that is, Courts of Judgment)