What are the Four Great Ones in Taoism? 什么是四大
Paul PengWhat are the Four Great Ones in Taoism?
① Refers to the four greatest and infinite entities in the universe: The Dao, Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.
Laozi states: “Therefore the Dao is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, and Humanity is also great. Within the realm there are Four Greats, and Humanity occupies one of them.”
② Buddhism regards Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind as the Four Greats, holding that all things and principles are formed by the temporary combination of these four, and that the human body also consists of them.
What are the Four Great Ones in Taoism?
What are the Four Great Ones in Taoism?Taoism adopted this Buddhist concept.
Meanings of the Daoist Teachings, Vol. 4, Meaning of the Five Collapses, explains:
“The Four Greats are Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind.
That which supports is Earth; that which moistens is Water; that which warms is Fire; that which moves is Qi.
The four energies pervade everywhere, so they are called ‘great’.”
Wang Chongyang, Twenty-Four Instructions for the Real Man Danyang, says:
“Heaven has the four seasons; humans have the Four Greats.
Heaven has Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind; humans have Mind, Essence, Qi, and Spirit.”
He also says:
“What Heaven calls Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Five Elements.
What humans call Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind are:
Mind as Fire,
Essence as Water,
Qi as Wind,
Body as Earth.
These are the Four Greats: Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind.”
