Aug 23, 2011 © Ulrich Theobald
Huashu 化書 "Book of transformation", also known was Qiqiuzi 齊丘子 "Master leveling the hills", is a Daoist writing compiled during the Southern Tang period 南唐 (937-975) by Tan Xiao 譚峭 (fl. 973), courtesy name Jingsheng 景升, of which not much is known. He hailed from Quanzhou 泉州 (modern Quanzhou, Fujian) and lived as a private person, studying various philosophical writings. He was especially fond of Daoism and settled down in the region of Mt. Zhongnan 終南山 to dedicate himself to the cultivation of the Dao 道. As a Daoist "immortal", he is known for his extraordinary magic skills that allowed him to ride on a cloud, to drink endless volumes of wine, and to wear a leather coat in summer and a simple shirt in winter.
The book of 6 juan length is influenced by the author's perception of the hardships of life of the ordinary people. It stresses that every practitioner had to change (hua 化) his former attitudes and to adapt a thoroughly new lifestyle. The final incentive is to find the original natural Way, the Dao 道, which is actually inherent in all objects and creatures, but has to be liberated to fully expand its power. The Huashu is a combination of Daoist practices like simplicity and austerity and of Confucian concepts of a peaceful society that can be reached if everybody displays kindheartedness and virtue.
The Huashu is included in the Daoist Canon Daozang 道藏 and the series Baoyantang miji 寶顏堂秘笈, Mohai jinhu 墨海金壺, Tang-Song congshu 唐宋叢書, Zhucong bielu 珠叢別錄, Bai mingjia shu 百名家書, Shuofu 說郛, Guang miji congkan 廣秘笈叢刊, Gezhi congshu 格致叢書, the Xu Daozang 續道藏 and the Siku quanshu 四庫全書.
Table 1. Contents of the Huashu 化書
| 1 |
道化 |
Transformation towards the Dao |
| 2 |
術化 |
Transformation of skills |
| 3 |
德化 |
Transformation of virtue |
| 4 |
仁化 |
Transformation of kindheartedness |
| 5 |
食化 |
Transformation of diet |
| 6 |
儉化 |
Transformation of simplicity |
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