Collected Poems of Qiu Chuji
Composed by Qiu Chuji in the Jin Dynasty.
The version in The Daozang comprises six scrolls and is included in the Taiping Section. There is also a Jin-dynasty block-printed edition preserved in the National Library of China. As a collection of poems and eulogies by Qiu Chuji, a great master of The Quanzhen Dao, it was compiled and published by his disciples in the late Jin Dynasty, containing more than 470 poems and eulogies in total.
Collected Poems of Qiu Chuji
The poems cover a wide range of themes, mostly expressing emotions and aspirations, recording events and depicting scenes. Its fundamental tone lies in voicing the aspiration to seek the Dao and attain immortality, and expressing the compassion to grieve for the troubled times and save the world. When he climbed mountains to enjoy scenic beauty and eulogized rivers and mountains, grieved over drought and rejoiced at timely rain, warned the world and pitied all creatures, he was like a benevolent and noble person; when he wrote poems as gifts and for social exchanges, taught the Dao according to the situation, dispelled stubbornness and cleared delusions, expounded the Dao and enlightened the mind, he was manifestly a great master of his time; when he lived in mountains by the sea, chanted poems about pines and praised the moon, lingered over scenic views and turned his heart to nature, he resembled a reclusive virtuous scholar.
Poems eulogizing the Dao and pitying all creatures can be found everywhere in the book, generally stating that mortal life is like a dream, worldly affairs are impermanent, and the four great elements are empty, like bubbles and shadows. One should see through the mortal world as early as possible, wake up from the illusory dream of glory and wealth, break away from the pursuit of fame and fortune, cast off the mortal body, enter the Taoist school, comprehend the Dao and cultivate the true self—this is the ultimate destination of life. If one cannot do so, they should still uphold moral ethics and fulfill their duties, practice the Dao as fate allows, dwell in the mortal world yet keep their mind clear and transcendent of material things.
His exposition on Internal Alchemy and Taoist cultivation focuses on purifying the body and mind, returning to the origin and embracing the true self, abandoning love and desire, detaching from sensual pleasures, eliminating delusional thoughts and restoring the innate true nature. As he put it: "Originally, all things are unobstructed and free from hindrance"; "When a single thought ceases to arise, one attains complete freedom". This view is similar to that of Chan Buddhism.
However, his works grieving for the troubled times and feeling about worldly events express compassion for all living beings in the chaotic world, and teach people to save the world and transform others through true conduct—this is close to Confucianism. Hence, he also advocated the unity of the three teachings, stating: "Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism share the same origin, and the sages of all ages have followed the same path since ancient times".
His poems and verses reach an extremely high artistic level, as praised: "Every facial expression is exquisitely wonderful, every word uttered embodies the true Dao". This collection is regarded as a supreme work among Taoist poems and verses.
Featured Products
Handpicked recommendations just for you
