What is Subtlety in Taoism? 什么是微
Paul PengWhat is Subtlety in Taoism?
A state that cannot be grasped or touched.
The Dao De Jing states: “That which cannot be grasped is called Subtlety.”
① It refers to the Dao in its formless essence.
He Shang Gong’s commentary: “The formless is called Subtlety. It means the One has no form or body, so it cannot be seized or held.”
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang’s commentary: “Subtlety is the wondless form. The Dao is formless, so it cannot be grasped; because within the formless it can still give form to all things, it is called Subtlety.”
What is Subtlety in Taoism?
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang’s commentary: “Subtlety is the wondless form. The Dao is formless, so it cannot be grasped; because within the formless it can still give form to all things, it is called Subtlety.”
② It refers to the subtle mechanism of the Dao.
Li Rong’s commentary: “The great image has no form, hard to touch or grasp. The sage realizes it mysteriously, understanding emptiness completely. Thus Subtlety means the hidden mechanism. Moving to respond to all things is the mechanism, wondrously transcending both being and non-being.”
③ It refers to essence, spirit, and Qi.
Cheng Xuanying’s explanation of “Subtlety”: It refers to essence, spirit, and Qi, as understood in the “Three in One” teaching. Essence is the name for luminous wisdom; Spirit is its unfathomable function; Qi is that which gives form and appearance.
