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person252-312 CE

Guo Xiang

Disciplines:
metaphysics
daoism

Summary

Wei-Jin dynasty philosopher who edited the Zhuangzi to its current form and developed a Neo-Daoist (xuanxue) interpretation arguing that things spontaneously self-create (zihua) without being caused by anything else.

Core Contribution

Zhuangzi commentary: things are not created by the Dao (as a cause) but self-transform; there is no first cause. Each thing acts according to its own nature (zifen) — the sage governs by letting each thing follow its nature. This served as justification for Confucian social roles from a Daoist perspective.

Notable Works & Achievements

Commentary on the Zhuangzi

Historical Influences

Zhuang Zhou Wang Bi

Intellectual Lineage

Wei-Jin Neo-Daoism Classical Daoism

Contemporaries & Peers

Xiang Xiu

Minds Influenced

Tang Dynasty TaoismChan Buddhism

Intellectual Posterity

Neo-Daoist Synthesis

Discussing

Guo Xiang

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