Embodying Heaven: The Ancient Philosophy of Dance in China
Journal of Daoist Studies February 1, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1353/dao.2023.0001 via Semantic Scholar
Summary
Dance helps people in religious movements achieve a higher state of consciousness by engaging the mind, senses, and emotions. This historical analysis examines how dance functions in Confucian and Daoist philosophies. Confucian ritualistic choreography and Daoist flowing improvisation both use dance to express an individual's ideal meeting point, aiming to fulfill the Chinese ideal of a heavenly being.
Study at a glance
| Design | historical analysis |
|---|---|
| Population | Confucian and Daoist philosophies |
| Key finding | Dance in Confucian and Daoist philosophies serves to express an individual's ideal meeting point and fulfill the Chinese ideal of a heavenly being. |
Abstract
Abstract:Dance serves an important role in many religious movements, as it facilitates a particularly engaging bodily awareness through one's mind, senses and emotions, allowing them to consciously achieve a higher state of consciousness, interpreted as religious experience. Adopting a diachronic perspective, this study aims to foster a better understanding of the experiential, sensual and performative dimensions of dance in Confucian and Daoist philosophies. The ritualistic choreography of Confucianism and the flowing improvisation of Daoism indicate the ability of dance to literally and metaphorically express an individual's ideal "meeting point," endeavouring to fulfil the Chinese ideal of the heavenly "being."