The meaning of Contemplation in Taoism 道教中观的含义

The meaning of Contemplation in Taoism

An important category in the Tang Dynasty Chongxuan (重玄, Twofold Mystery) school of thought.

"Guan" means to contemplate and examine—to dwell in the wondrous unity and perceive the formless.

The meaning of Contemplation in Taoism

Guan comprises two forms: Qi Guan (气观, Contemplation of Qi) and Shen Guan (神观, Contemplation of Spirit). Qi Guan corresponds to ding (定, stillness), while Shen Guan corresponds to hui (慧, wisdom); together, the two constitute the paired cultivation of stillness and wisdom. As stated in Daojiao Yishu (道教义枢): "Qi Guan is stillness—it penetrates both emptiness and existence, taking wondrous existence as its root; Shen Guan is wisdom—it penetrates both being and non-being, taking true emptiness as its foundation." Practicing these two forms of contemplation enables one to enter the realm that is neither existent nor non-existent.

Guan further encompasses the "Five Types of Triple Contemplation" (wu zhong san guan, 五种三观), of which two are most significant. The first Triple Contemplation consists of: the Contemplation of Conditioned Phenomena (jiafa guan, 假法观), the Contemplation of Ultimate Reality (shifa guan, 实法观), and the Contemplation of Partial Emptiness (piankong guan, 偏空观). The second consists of: the Contemplation of Being (you guan, 有观), the Contemplation of Non-Being (wu guan, 无观), and the Contemplation of the Middle Way (zhongdao guan, 中道观).

Both the dual and triple forms of Guan are originally Buddhist concepts, here adapted as methods of realizing the Dao within Taoism.