Zhenren (Perfected Person, or True Person) names both a philosophical ideal in the Zhuangzi, describing a sage who has attained complete accord with the Dao, and a formal honorific rank later bestowed within institutional Daoism on adepts and canonised masters credited with realising that state, distinct from the ordained ritual office of daoshi.
Facts
Status
Status TodayLiving tradition, practised today 1 Current StatusStill used today both as a term in Daoist religious thought and as an honorific title within Daoist institutions. 1 Significance
Sacred RoleDenotes a person who has attained the Dao and transcended ordinary existence, an ideal figure already described in the Zhuangzi; later Daoism also used it as an honorific title bestowed on eminent masters. 1 Origins
Origin of the NameZhenren pairs the character for truth or reality with the ordinary word for person, and is sometimes translated perfected person or true person. 1 Connections
Associated With
This source names Zhuangzi directly: "both a philosophical ideal in the Zhuangzi, describing a sage who has attained complete accord with the Dao, and a formal honorific rank later bestowed within institutional Daoism on adepts and..."
Source The Encyclopedia of TaoismFabrizio Pregadio (ed.)
Belongs to Tradition
Source The Encyclopedia of TaoismFabrizio Pregadio (ed.)
Related To
Sources
1. The Encyclopedia of Taoism
Fabrizio Pregadio (ed.), Routledge, 2008on Zhenren as philosophical ideal and institutional rankView the Source Daoism Handbook
Livia Kohn (ed.), Brill, 2000general reference on Daoist ranks and honorifics
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