From Text to Praxis: Yan Zun’s Intertextual Strategies in <i>Laozi Zhigui</i> and the Pragmatic Synthesis of <i>Zhouyi, Zhuangzi</i>, and Huang-Lao Thought

From Text to Praxis: Yan Zun’s Intertextual Strategies in <i>Laozi Zhigui</i> and the Pragmatic Synthesis of <i>Zhouyi, Zhuangzi</i>, and Huang-Lao Thought

This paper, through a detailed textual analysis of <i>Laozi zhigui</i> 老子指歸, examines Yan Zun’s sophisticated intertextual strategies in elucidating the <i>Daodejing</i> 道德經 and explores the eclectic and inclusive conceptual framework he constructed. First, <i>Laozi zhi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Fufu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Daoism
<i>Laozi zhigui</i>
<i>Zhouyi</i>
<i>Zhuangzi</i>
Huang-Lao Daoism
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/5/628
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Summary:This paper, through a detailed textual analysis of <i>Laozi zhigui</i> 老子指歸, examines Yan Zun’s sophisticated intertextual strategies in elucidating the <i>Daodejing</i> 道德經 and explores the eclectic and inclusive conceptual framework he constructed. First, <i>Laozi zhigui</i> not only directly quotes or adapts phrases from major texts such as the <i>Zhouyi</i> 周易, <i>Zhuangzi</i> 莊子, <i>Huangdi sijing</i> 黃帝四經, and <i>Huainanzi</i> 淮南子, but also incorporates concepts such as <i>yin</i> and <i>yang</i>, <i>qiwu</i> 齊物, and <i>yinxun</i> 因循 from these sources. To a considerable extent, this approach has enriched the ideological connotations of the <i>Daodejing</i>. Second, Yan Zun takes the core ideas of the <i>Daodejing</i> as a foundation to blend the philosophies of the <i>Zhouyi</i>, <i>Zhuangzi</i>, and Huang-Lao Daoism. In this way, he resolves potential conflicts among these diverse textual traditions and preserves the logical coherence and value integration of <i>Laozi zhigui</i>. Third, through his synthesis of these classical texts, Yan Zun develops a more comprehensive cosmological framework, alongside a practical political theory and principles for self-cultivation. Although the primary purpose of the <i>Laozi zhigui</i> is to elucidate the <i>Daodejing</i>, through his remarkable interpretive skills, Yan Zun’s concepts not only clarify the classic text but also generate novel perspectives, innovative concepts, and a distinctive intellectual framework.
ISSN:2077-1444

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