#zhenwu

[yebreed]

Jian in Taoist Ritual Magic: Born, Named, Living

In Taoism, the jian has its own spirit, its own name, its own will, it is alive, animated. It is not a tool, it is rather a person – a subject, not an object. The practice of jian is always religio…

When we talk about Chinese martial arts now, we often mean immersion in mythological space. It is already a well-established cultural phenomenon. However, historically, martial arts have been magical from the very beginning. For ex., the Chinese sword (jian) has always been (and still is in modern Taoist schools) a magical and later ritual feature. It has even been used as a kind of voodoo doll perceived as a living (and godlike) being, if necessary, able to replace the owner.

[by13x]

西遊記-

93-Zhenwu 真武大帝/ Xuanwu 玄武

[amongdragons]

Architecture of Wudang Monastery in the Ming Era

Ming era album Zhenwu lingying tuce 真武灵应图册 (presumably the fifteenth century) gives us an idea of what the sacred Wudang Mt. looked like around the 15th century. Despite the conditional accuracy of the drawings, the architecture is clearly visible. (more…)

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[steelandcotton]

Really looking forward to seeing this one myself. The piece I discuss was a surprise and is truly magnificent. 0800 GMT Saturday is 3 AM EST on this side of the Pond. No doubt all my loyal students will set their alarms for 2:45 AM so they have time to brew a cup of tea and catch the premiere. Enjoy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmYMuMvxYpQ&fbclid=IwAR3cBB4_H4o7nu_oj8FjWJS4caDyk6ULfRMm-GV102yoRF_Wf4XyZ1uG3_Y

[grafitosublimado]

真武大帝 Zhenwu Dadi, El Guerrero Perfecto y Elevado Emperador del Cielo Misterioso del Norte. 20x30 cm.

[fishstickmonkey]

Zhenwu, Daoist Lord of the Northern Palace

Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1662–1722)            

Date: early 18th century

Culture: China

Medium: Porcelain with ivory glaze (Fujian Province; Dehua ware)

Metropolitan Museum of Art  

[acrosscenturiesandgenerations]

▪Zhenwu, Daoist Lord of the Northern Palace. Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1662–1722) Date: early 18th century Culture: China Medium: Porcelain with ivory glaze (Fujian Province; Dehua ware).

[amongdragons]

Jian in Taoist Ritual Magic: Born, Named, Living

The practice of the Taoist sword is immersed in childish fantasies, while its true magic is almost lost. Let’s remember it, though.

I promised to demystify, but now I’m going to obscure the issue. Mystic is such an elusive substance: always appears where there is no place for it and disappears from where it should be experienced. This is also the case of jian. The practice of the Taoist sword is immersed in childish fantasies, while its true magic is almost lost.

Widely known in China, but overlooked in the West feature of the Taoist sword is that it is used not only for combat, but also in ritual practice. Ritual practice in this context is a broad concept that includes both formal rites and ritual magic. Jian symbolism is related to internal alchemical praxis as well. The guard decorations and the engravings on the blade originally had a ritual and magical significance. However, the true meaning is partially lost, so now it is perceived rather as “traditional patterns”. Jian routines (套路) sometimes contain unobvious ritual elements (steps, fingers’ positions and so on), meaningless for combat, but possessing hidden magical and symbolic connotations. The presence of such inclusions, logically inexplicable both for the practitioner and for the observer, allows imagination to run wild...