Daoist Figures: Li Xie 李谐
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Li Xie
(496–544) A scholar of the Northern Wei Dynasty. His courtesy name was Qianhe. He was from Dunqiu (present-day Qingfeng County, Henan).
(496–544) A scholar of the Northern Wei Dynasty. His courtesy name was Qianhe. He was from Dunqiu (present-day Qingfeng County, Henan).
He was erudite and gifted in literary composition. He inherited his father's title of Marquis of Pengcheng and held official positions such as Compiler-in-Chief, with the additional title of General of Auxiliary State, Senior Counselor, Gentleman of the Yellow Gate with Access to the Emperor, Minister of the Imperial Treasury, General of Agile Cavalry, and later transferred to Supervisor of the Secretariat. Philosophically, he leaned toward Zhuangzi, advocating following one's nature and living freely. He expressed a desire to be like an unmoored lonely boat, drifting at will, saying: "I explore my long-cherished aspirations by looking inward, and reflect on my life's journey to plan for myself. I do not seek chance encounters to gain favor, nor fish for fame to meddle in the world! I alone remain magnanimous and follow my own will, like an empty boat unfastened from its moorings" (Fu on Describing Oneself).
He advocated the view of life as aimless, believing that human existence has neither purpose nor meaning. He suggested putting gains and losses aside, like a bird soaring high or a fish diving deep. He said: "I neither know why I came, nor understand why I will depart. Thus, I cast aside both gain and loss, and my mind is deeply at peace. I rest wherever I encounter things, and touch the mountains and forests wherever I step. Though I follow the traces of floating westward, how is my heart different from that in the eastern capital? I wish to entrust myself to fish and birds, forever attaining my nature in flying and diving" (ibid.).
He attributed this philosophy of carefree seclusion to avoiding guilt and preserving one's life: "I hope to maintain this and die a natural death, without incurring guilt in the present age" (ibid.).
He has a biography in Book of Wei, Volume 65. He originally had a collection of 10 volumes, most of which are lost. He wrote Fu on Describing Oneself, which is recorded in his biography in Book of Wei and also included in Complete Prose of the Later Wei Dynasty, Volume 35.
About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
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