Embodying Heaven: The Ancient Philosophy of Dance in China
Journal of Daoist Studies February 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1353/dao.2023.0001 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDance plays a key role in religious movements by engaging the mind, senses, and emotions, enabling practitioners to reach a higher state of consciousness interpreted as religious experience. Examining Confucian and Daoist philosophies over time, the work explores the experiential, sensual, and performative dimensions of dance. Confucian ritualistic choreography and Daoist flowing improvisation each express an individual's ideal "meeting point," striving to fulfill the Chinese ideal of the heavenly "being."
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Philosophy Art |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | Argues that dance in Confucian and Daoist philosophies serves to express an individual's ideal "meeting point" and fulfill the Chinese ideal of the 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."