Édouard Schuré
Encyclopedia
Eduard Schuré (January 21, 1841 in Strasbourg – April 7, 1929 in Paris) was a French philosopher, poet, playwright, novelist, music critic, and publicist
of esoteric literature
.
's "music drama" Tristan and Isolde
impressed him sufficiently to seek—and obtain—Wagner's personal acquaintance.
In France, he published his first work Histoire du Lied—a history of the German folk song, which earned him some recognition in the country of his family. With the publication of the essay Richard Wagner et le drame musical, he established himself as a major French Wagner expert and advocate of the time.
When the Franco-German war of 1870-71 poisoned the German arts for many French, it would seem that Schuré was not immune from this influence. His nationalism is reflected in his remarks of this time—and later in his life—in a comparison of glorified Celtism (France) and a negatively viewed "Teutonism" (Germany).
On a trip to Italy during this time he met, twenty years his junior, a Greek girl, Marguerita Albana Mignaty, whom he subsequently described as his "muse", although he himself was married.
After the tide of war had ebbed, Schuré reestablished his relationship with Wagner. In 1873, he met the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
; with frequent contact they shared enthusiasm for Wagner. The cultist veneration of Wagner, however, seeded Schuré's alienation from the composer.
Schuré now turned increasingly to the esoteric and the occult. In 1884, he met the Russian occultist Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Although unwelcome in the Theosophical Society
, he nevertheless entered. In 1889, he published, after some smaller works on similar topics, his major work Les Grands Initiés (The Great Initiates).
In 1900, the actress Marie von Sivers
came into contact with him because she intended to translate one of his works into German. At the German Section of the Theosophical Society, he met the Austrian philosopher and later founder of Anthroposophy
, Rudolf Steiner
. In 1906, Sivers brought about an engagement between Schuré and Steiner. Schuré was deeply impressed and thought of Steiner as one 'initiated' in line with his The Great Initiates. Subsequently, Steiner and von Sivers brought the esoteric Schuré dramas to the stage.
With the outbreak of World War I, Schuré's relationship with Steiner and his wife became strained. Schuré threw in the two secret intentions about Germanic and Pan and stepped out of Steiner's Anthroposophical Society. Four years after the war, Schuré returned to Steiner and asked him for forgiveness.
In subsequent years, Schuré published his autobiography and a French translation of Steiner's work Christianity as Mystical Fact as well as The Mysteries of Antiquity chrétien (French: Le Mystère et les mystères antiques).
", as describing the process of becoming a mystic master or spiritual healer.
Those familiar with Rama
, Hermes
, Socrates
, Jesus
, Orpheus
will find frequent references in Schuré's work. Schuré pursued the notion that a secret esoteric knowledge was known to them all, that this group were among the pillars of civilization and represented the founders of spiritual and philosophical ways of being as well as in some cases—though contrary to their message—religions. Schuré recognized that the path to a harmonious world was not to be found through a bigoted denial of the value found by other civilizations in their own sages. He wanted people to recognize the value of democracy
in spiritual, philosophical, and religious ways. That is—according to him—the case of Gautama Sidharta
.
Schuré wrote a considerable number of books and plays. His plays enjoyed relative fame in his days in Europe
, and many of them were put on stage by Steiner. He also influenced Sergei Prokofiev
.
, Hermes, Moses
, Orpheus, Pythagoras
, Plato
, and Jesus). Unlike older, going back to Plato variants of this idea Schuré moved the beginning of the chain of transmission from Persia to India
(Rama), like other mystics of the late 19th Century did (the most significant Madame H. P. Blavatsky).
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
of esoteric literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
.
Biography
Schuré was the son of a doctor in the Alsatian town of Strasbourg. He mastered French as well as German, and was influenced by German and French culture in his formative years. Without interest, he studied law at his fathers pleasure. His own interest and studies led to an extensive knowledge of German literature. The discovery of Richard WagnerRichard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's "music drama" Tristan and Isolde
Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. It was composed between 1857 and 1859 and premiered in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bülow conducting...
impressed him sufficiently to seek—and obtain—Wagner's personal acquaintance.
In France, he published his first work Histoire du Lied—a history of the German folk song, which earned him some recognition in the country of his family. With the publication of the essay Richard Wagner et le drame musical, he established himself as a major French Wagner expert and advocate of the time.
When the Franco-German war of 1870-71 poisoned the German arts for many French, it would seem that Schuré was not immune from this influence. His nationalism is reflected in his remarks of this time—and later in his life—in a comparison of glorified Celtism (France) and a negatively viewed "Teutonism" (Germany).
On a trip to Italy during this time he met, twenty years his junior, a Greek girl, Marguerita Albana Mignaty, whom he subsequently described as his "muse", although he himself was married.
After the tide of war had ebbed, Schuré reestablished his relationship with Wagner. In 1873, he met the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
; with frequent contact they shared enthusiasm for Wagner. The cultist veneration of Wagner, however, seeded Schuré's alienation from the composer.
Schuré now turned increasingly to the esoteric and the occult. In 1884, he met the Russian occultist Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Although unwelcome in the Theosophical Society
Theosophical Society
The Theosophical Society is an organization formed in 1875 to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The original organization, after splits and realignments has several successors...
, he nevertheless entered. In 1889, he published, after some smaller works on similar topics, his major work Les Grands Initiés (The Great Initiates).
In 1900, the actress Marie von Sivers
Marie Steiner-von Sivers
Marie Steiner-von Sivers was the second wife of Rudolf Steiner and one of his closest colleagues...
came into contact with him because she intended to translate one of his works into German. At the German Section of the Theosophical Society, he met the Austrian philosopher and later founder of Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy, a philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner, postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world accessible to direct experience through inner development...
, Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
. In 1906, Sivers brought about an engagement between Schuré and Steiner. Schuré was deeply impressed and thought of Steiner as one 'initiated' in line with his The Great Initiates. Subsequently, Steiner and von Sivers brought the esoteric Schuré dramas to the stage.
With the outbreak of World War I, Schuré's relationship with Steiner and his wife became strained. Schuré threw in the two secret intentions about Germanic and Pan and stepped out of Steiner's Anthroposophical Society. Four years after the war, Schuré returned to Steiner and asked him for forgiveness.
In subsequent years, Schuré published his autobiography and a French translation of Steiner's work Christianity as Mystical Fact as well as The Mysteries of Antiquity chrétien (French: Le Mystère et les mystères antiques).
Esoteric and literary meaning
Schuré's The Great Initiates is described by some as a masterpiece. In it, he describes the path allegedly followed by some of the ancient philosophers in search of profound esoteric knowledge, often called the "initiationMysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
", as describing the process of becoming a mystic master or spiritual healer.
Those familiar with Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
, Hermes
Hermes
Hermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and a guide to the Underworld. Hermes was born on Mount Kyllini in Arcadia. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and...
, Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
, Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, Orpheus
Orpheus
Orpheus was a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth. The major stories about him are centered on his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music; his attempt to retrieve his wife from the underworld; and his death at the hands of those who...
will find frequent references in Schuré's work. Schuré pursued the notion that a secret esoteric knowledge was known to them all, that this group were among the pillars of civilization and represented the founders of spiritual and philosophical ways of being as well as in some cases—though contrary to their message—religions. Schuré recognized that the path to a harmonious world was not to be found through a bigoted denial of the value found by other civilizations in their own sages. He wanted people to recognize the value of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
in spiritual, philosophical, and religious ways. That is—according to him—the case of Gautama Sidharta
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
.
Schuré wrote a considerable number of books and plays. His plays enjoyed relative fame in his days in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and many of them were put on stage by Steiner. He also influenced Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
.
Philosophy
In The Great Initiates, Schuré attacked the old idea of an esoteric tradition, the original wisdom of the initiated. Specifically, he suspected some kind of traditional secret ongoing behind the philosophies and religions founded by those he described the life and teachings of in the book (Rama, KrishnaKrishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, Hermes, Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
, Orpheus, Pythagoras
Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Most of the information about Pythagoras was written down centuries after he lived, so very little reliable information is known about him...
, Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
, and Jesus). Unlike older, going back to Plato variants of this idea Schuré moved the beginning of the chain of transmission from Persia 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...
(Rama), like other mystics of the late 19th Century did (the most significant Madame H. P. Blavatsky).
Original editions
- Histoire du Lied ou la chanson populaire en Allemagne, 1868
- Le drame musical. Richard Wagner, son œuvre et son idée, 2 volumes, 1875
- Les Grands Initiés. Esquisse de l'histoire secrète des religions, 1889
- Le drame sacré d'Eleusis, 1890
- Sanctuaries d'Orient, Paris 1898
- Les grandes légendes de France, Paris, 1893
- Les Enfants de Lucifer, 1900
- Précurseurs et revolt, Paris, 1904
- La Prêtresse d'Isis (Légende de Pompeii), 1907
- Femmes et inspiratrices poètes annonciateurs, Paris, 1908
- L'évolution du sphinx au divine Christ, 1912
- Les prophète de la renaissance, 1920
- Celtique L'âme et le génie de la France à travers les Ages, Paris 1920
- Merlin l'enchanteur, Paris, 1921
- Le rêve d'une vie. Confession d'un poète (autobiography), 1928
Works available in English
- History of Musical Drama
- Ricardo Wagner his Work and Ideas
- The Great Initiates
- The Divine Evolution and the Great Initiates
- Rama y Moises: The Aryan Cycle and The Mission of Israel
- The Mystery of Dionysos and the Sacred Drama of Eleusis