Huahujing
Encyclopedia
The Huahujing is a Taoist book. Although traditionally attributed to Laozi
, some scholars believe it is a forgery because there are no historical references to the text until the early 4th century CE. According to Louis Komjathy (2004:48), the Taoist Wang Fu (王浮) originally compiled the Huahujing circa 300 CE, and the extant version probably dates from the 6th century Northern Celestial Masters. The text is honorifically known as the Taishang lingbao Laozi huahu miaojing (太上靈寶老子化胡妙經, "The Supreme Numinous Treasure's Sublime Classic on Laozi's Conversion of the Barbarians"). A copy of the Huahujing was discovered in the Mogao Caves
near Dunhuang
, and Liu Yi (1997) believes the original text dates from around the late 4th or early 5th century.
Emperors of China occasionally organized debates between Buddhists and Taoists, and granted political favor to the winners. The Taoists developed the Huahujing to support one of their favorite arguments against the Buddhists, writes Holmes Welch (1957:152), their claim that "Lao Tzu had gone to India
after his westward departure from China
, and had converted—or become—the Buddha
. Buddhism
then was only a somewhat distorted offshoot
of Taoism."
Thematically the text covers much of the same ground as the Tao Te Ching elucidating on the concept of the Tao
- the ineffable universality, often described as a force, principle or path, that pervades everything and everyone. The Huahujing makes reference to holistic medicine, Taoist meditation, feng shui
, and the I Ching
.
The text has been translated into English by Brian Walker and by the Taoist priest Hua-Ching Ni. The Brian Walker translation is in a spare, almost poetic form reminiscent of many translations of the Tao Te Ching. In the Hua-Ching Ni translation, the Huahujing is considerably longer, longer than most Tao Te Chings, taking the form of narrative question-and-answer dialogues between a young Prince and a learned Master.
Laozi
Laozi was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching . His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism...
, some scholars believe it is a forgery because there are no historical references to the text until the early 4th century CE. According to Louis Komjathy (2004:48), the Taoist Wang Fu (王浮) originally compiled the Huahujing circa 300 CE, and the extant version probably dates from the 6th century Northern Celestial Masters. The text is honorifically known as the Taishang lingbao Laozi huahu miaojing (太上靈寶老子化胡妙經, "The Supreme Numinous Treasure's Sublime Classic on Laozi's Conversion of the Barbarians"). A copy of the Huahujing was discovered in the Mogao Caves
Mogao Caves
The Mogao Caves or Mogao Grottoes , also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas , form a system of 492 temples southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China...
near Dunhuang
Dunhuang
Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today...
, and Liu Yi (1997) believes the original text dates from around the late 4th or early 5th century.
Emperors of China occasionally organized debates between Buddhists and Taoists, and granted political favor to the winners. The Taoists developed the Huahujing to support one of their favorite arguments against the Buddhists, writes Holmes Welch (1957:152), their claim that "Lao Tzu had gone to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
after his westward departure from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and had converted—or become—the Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
. Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
then was only a somewhat distorted offshoot
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
of Taoism."
Thematically the text covers much of the same ground as the Tao Te Ching elucidating on the concept of the Tao
Tao
Dao or Tao is a Chinese word meaning 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle'...
- the ineffable universality, often described as a force, principle or path, that pervades everything and everyone. The Huahujing makes reference to holistic medicine, Taoist meditation, feng shui
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
, and the I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
.
The text has been translated into English by Brian Walker and by the Taoist priest Hua-Ching Ni. The Brian Walker translation is in a spare, almost poetic form reminiscent of many translations of the Tao Te Ching. In the Hua-Ching Ni translation, the Huahujing is considerably longer, longer than most Tao Te Chings, taking the form of narrative question-and-answer dialogues between a young Prince and a learned Master.
External links
- Hua Hu Ching, translated by Brian Walker