Philosophy of Death in Early and Medieval China: Reception of the Zhuangzi in early Chinese Buddhist Apologetics

Abstract

Facing death, coming to terms with it and eventually attaining transcendence are the preoccupation of many philosophical and religious traditions. In classical Chinese thought, this philosophy of death is most extensively dealt with in the Warring States period classic Zhuangzi (c.3rd -2nd  BCE). Throughout the text, we read bold and subversive discourses on the issues of death: on one hand it asks to accept death as being part of the natural cycle; on the other hands, however, it advocates that transcendence of death is attainable by means of training the body and mind.

In this talk, I will first explain the main findings of my PhD dissertation “Mastering Life in the Zhuangzi : Discipline of the Body and Transcendence in Early China.” Despite being a heterogenous text in terms of dating and authorship, the text shows coherent discourse on transcendence if we interweave various narratives from mastering the body to mastering death. Based on these findings, I will then discuss my current research plan, discerning the philosophy of death in early and medieval China. The study primarily concerns textual reception of the Zhuangzi by examining a broader range of texts—from religious to medical—over a period stretching from the Han to Northern and Southern dynasties (2nd BCE to 6 CE). Here, a particular importance should be given to early Chinese Buddhist apologetics: in order to introduce Buddhist teachings to Chinese literati class as the superior Way (dao), they actively engage with the Zhuangzi . Through examining some cases in the Hongmingji , the most well-known collection of Buddhist apologetics compiled by Sengyou (early 6th CE), we will read how the issues of death and transcendence of the Zhuangzi are pervasively reflected in the mind of early medieval Chinese literati in favour of Buddhism.

Speaker Biography

Dr Lana Ko received her MAs in Art History (Seoul National University) and Religions (SOAS) and recently completed her PhD degree in Religions and Philosophies at SOAS (2021). She is CBS research associate at SOAS and adjunct associate professor at the University of Notre Dame, London Gateway.

Organiser: SOAS Centre of Buddhist Studies