Body, Mind, and Spirit in the Guodian Manuscripts

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter considers the relation between body and heart–mind as described in the Guodian corpus, especially the text titled “Human Nature Comes from the Mandate” (Xingzi mingchu 性自命出), with particular interest in problems of mind–body dualism and holism. It argues that the Xingzi mingchu presents a weak mind–body dualism, in contrast to such Guodian texts as “Five Kings of Action” (Wuxing 五行) and “Black Robes” (Ziyi 緇衣). The first section of the chapter examines several passages from the Guodian manuscripts that describe relations between body, mind, and emotions as constituents of both humans and animals. These manuscripts make it clear that animals, as well as human beings, have qi, affective dispositions (qing 情), and intentions, but the ability of the heart–mind to interact with qing and intentions is unique to humans. The next section of the chapter takes up Guodian accounts of the constitution of a (human) person, including body or physical person and its relationship to the heart–mind, virtue, and self-cultivation. The last three sections include an extensive discussion of the relation between body and mind in the Xingzi mingchu and Wuxing; a discussion of the strong dualism of ruler–ruled metaphors in the Wuxing and Ziyi; and an examination of a strongly holist view of sound and music in the Xingzi mingchu and elsewhere.