Nine Medicines

关尹子Nanhai Publication Company · ChinaDec 2020

3.4

Word count: 1.8K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

Guanyinzi was one of the Ten Great Heroes of the pre-Qin world, patriarch of the Louguan and Wenshi schools of Daoism. His courtesy name was Gongdu, his given name Xi; he once served as the Keeper of the Pass and was a contemporary of the Supreme Laozi (Laozi). Laozi's five thousand words of the Daodejing were written at his request.

Editor's review

The title Jiuyao (Nine Medicines) is taken from Guanyinzi, a pre-Qin Daoist figure said to have been the Keeper of the Hangu Pass, at whose request Laozi composed the five thousand words of the Daodejing; later Daoist Louguan and Wenshi schools revere him as patriarch. Using "medicine" as a metaphor, the book sets forth the principles of self-cultivation and clarifying the mind to realize the Dao under the guise of medicine and healing; its prose is concise and rich in analogy, bearing traces of a fusion of pre-Qin Daoist and later Daoist thought. The 2020 Nanhai Publishing House edition makes this relatively obscure Daoist text accessible to readers. Read it slowly, attend to its way of using medicine to figure the Dao and illness to figure delusion, and compare it with relevant chapters of the Daodejing to appreciate how Daoist language moves from simplicity into profundity. Those interested in the history of Daoist thought or pre-Qin thinkers may use it as topical supplementary reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in pre-Qin Daoism and Daoist thought
Learners who wish to expand their related reading after studying the Daodejing
Lovers of traditional culture who enjoy short, aphoristic chapters and are willing to read slowly and closely
Researchers in religious culture needing basic materials on the Daoist Louguan and Wenshi schools

Not a good fit for

General fiction readers looking for plot-driven stories
Beginners without classical Chinese who need line-by-line vernacular translation
Introductory readers who only want a quick grasp of Laozi's thought

Reading tips

Begin with the title explanation and preface to clarify the relation between Guanyinzi, his book, and the Daodejing, then proceed to the main text.
For each passage, try to summarize what the "medicine" refers to and write your understanding in one sentence.
Read alongside relevant chapters of the Daodejing and note resonances and differences in thought.
When an analogy is hard to grasp, skip it first and return after reading the whole; avoid word-by-word struggle.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
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正文四
正文五

FAQ

What is the relationship between Guanyinzi and Laozi?

Guanyinzi is said to have been the Keeper of the Hangu Pass. When Laozi passed westward, Guanyinzi asked him to write a book, and Laozi accordingly set down the five thousand words of the Daodejing. Later Daoism honored Guanyinzi as patriarch of the Louguan and Wenshi schools, and his book is thus closely tied to Laozi's thought.

What does the title Jiuyao mean?

The title uses "medicine" as a metaphor: it expounds self-cultivation and realizing the Dao through the idea of medicine curing illness, likening deluded thoughts and troubles to disease and the methods of cultivation to medicine. Grasping this metaphorical approach is the key to understanding the book.

Can I read this book without classical Chinese?

It will be fairly difficult. The prose is concise and full of analogies, and readers without experience in classical Chinese may get stuck on wording. A basic grounding in classical Chinese is advisable, or use it with annotated editions and a Daodejing reader.

How does this book differ from the Daodejing?

The Daodejing is systematic and far-reaching; Jiuyao is short and mainly argues through analogy, bearing traces of later Daoist thought. The two may be read in comparison, but Jiuyao should not be treated as a substitute for or introduction to the Daodejing.

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About the author

关尹子 Author

Guan Yinzi is an important figure in the tradition of ancient Chinese Daoist thought. His life and dates are difficult to verify, and available public information is limited; he is usually associated with the book bearing his name. This catalogue lists four related works, including Wenshi Zhenjing (Annotated Edition), Sifu, Wujian, and Jiuyao, most of which are philosophical texts transmitted under his name. Wenshi Zhenjing, also known as the True Scripture of Wenshi, is an influential work in Daoist and philosophical literature. Through short chapters and aphorisms it explores themes such as the Dao, human nature and mind, being and non-being, and emptiness and substance. Its thought is speculative, its language concise and rich in metaphor, and its arguments often unfold through dialogues and parable-like passages. The other texts likewise center on self-cultivation and the contemplative understanding of things, brief in length yet suggestive in meaning. In Chinese cultural history such works are often classed as classics and philosophical reading, and are also appreciated as literature for their Daoist manner of expression and intellectual interest.