The Chapter on Daoist Untruths

Wang ChongBashu Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

4.5

Word count: 6.2K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

In this chapter, Wang Chong refutes the fallacy of "attaining the Way and ascending as immortals" and "transcending the world and not dying" taught by the "Daoists" (Qin-Han fangshi) and in "Confucian books"; hence the chapter is titled "Dao Xu" (The Way Is Vain).

Editor's review

"Dao Xu" is a famous chapter in Wang Chong's Lunheng that systematically criticizes immortal arts and popular superstitions. Wang Chong takes the word "xu" (vain/false) as his theme, directing his attack at the Qin-Han fangshi's claims of "attaining the Way and ascending as immortals" and "transcending the world and not dying," while also correcting similar records mixed into Confucian texts. Its value lies not in proposing a new theory of health cultivation but in demonstrating a method of thought that dismantles prevalent fallacies through common sense, experience, and logic: every argument must be verified, every rumor must be questioned as to its basis. This Bashu Shushe edition makes the original text and annotations accessible to modern readers and serves as an introductory volume for understanding Han dynasty intellectual debates. When reading, one may treat it as an exercise in "disenchantment"—observing how an ancient thinker, without modern scientific tools and relying solely on rational inquiry, dismantled seemingly solemn narratives of immortality. It is not long, yet sufficient to make one re-examine claims that have been repeatedly retold without verification.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in ancient Chinese intellectual history and Han dynasty philosophy
Introductory readers who want to understand Wang Chong and the critical spirit of Lunheng
Readers who enjoy logical analysis and skeptical thinking training
Teachers and students who need materials for classroom teaching or reading group discussions

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic health cultivation methods or Daoist practices
Readers who prefer literary essays and entertaining stories
Those without basic classical Chinese reading ability who are unwilling to use annotations

Reading tips

First read through the vernacular translation to grasp the arguments, then return to the original text to appreciate Wang Chong's argumentative tone
While reading, list each claim Wang Chong refutes and the basis for his refutation, mapping the argumentative structure
Read alongside other Han dynasty records on immortal arts to compare differences in argumentation
After reading, try using Wang Chong's method to examine a contemporary unverified claim

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
卷七

FAQ

What does the chapter title "Dao Xu" mean?

"Dao" refers to the claims of attaining the Way and becoming immortal propagated by fangshi at the time, and "xu" means vain and unfounded. The title means to expose the vanity of claims such as "attaining the Way and ascending as immortals" and "transcending the world and not dying." It is Wang Chong's own way of naming the chapter's purpose, and does not discuss Daoist philosophy itself.

Can readers without a foundation in classical Chinese understand this book?

This Bashu Shushe edition includes annotations to aid understanding. It is recommended to first use the modern translation or annotations to grasp the general meaning, then review the original text paragraph by paragraph. Wang Chong often uses everyday experience as examples, and his logical threads are relatively clear; introductory readers who read patiently can generally follow along.

What is the relationship between this chapter and other chapters of Lunheng?

"Dao Xu" is one of the series of chapters in Lunheng that criticize popular superstitions, sharing the stance of "condemning the vain and false" with chapters such as "Wen Kong," "Ci Meng," and "Yu Zeng." Reading it alone allows one to understand its critique of immortality claims; to grasp the full picture, it is best to read it together with other chapters of Lunheng.

Related on WeRead

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Wang Chong Author · Chinese

Wang Chong (27–c. 97), courtesy name Zhongren, was a native of Shangyu in Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). A thinker, literary critic, and atheist of the Eastern Han, he entered the Imperial Academy in Luoyang in his youth and studied under Ban Biao; later he left office, stayed at home, and devoted himself to writing. His representative work, the eighty-five-chapter Lunheng (Balanced Inquiries), criticizes Chenwei superstition and the theory of interactions between Heaven and humanity, advocates a naturalist theory of qi, and stands as an important representative of Han-dynasty materialist thought. Wang Chong valued evidence and analysis in his writing, often developing arguments through questions and debates in a plain but sharp style. The collection holds sixty-nine of his works, including such pieces as Shizhi pian, Wenkong pian, Ziran pian, Daoxu pian, Duizuo pian, and Hanwen pian, covering philosophy, social criticism, and literary appreciation. He championed independent thinking and opposed blind submission to authority, exerting a lasting influence on later thought and literary criticism.