Zhenren

human_specialist Taoist single tradition · 1

Zhenren (Chinese: 真人; pinyin: zhēnrén; Wade–Giles: chen-jen; lit. 'true/ upright/ genuine person' or 'person of truth') is a Chinese term that first appeared in the Zhuangzi meaning "a Taoist spiritual master" in those writings, as in one who has mastered realization of the Tao. Religious Taoism mythologized zhenren, having them occupy various places in the celestial hierarchy sometimes synonymous with xian.

When

First attested
300 BCE
Attested period
-300 – 2020
Historical notes
Term appears in the Zhuangzi.

Relationships

co occurs with
shenren
syncretized with
xian

Expand to full subgraph →

Sources

wikipedia (1)

Source passages

“The Zhuangzi (ca. 3rd–2nd centuries BCE) has 66 occurrences of zhen, 19 of them in the compound zhenren. Burton Watson translates it as "True Man", and notes "Another term for the Taoist sage, synonymous with the Perfect Man or the Holy Man."”

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