tzu jan

tzu jan Chinese term meaning ‘naturally’, ‘spontaneity’, or ‘so-of-itself’. It is a Taoist term of art describing the ideal state of agents and quality of actions. A coordinate concept is wu wei (nonaction), particularly in the Tao Te Ching. Taoists seek to eliminate the rational ‘human’ perspective and return to spontaneous ‘Heavenly’ inclinations. Actions then will be unself-conscious, and we and what we do will be tzu jan (spontaneous). Wang Ch’ung presents an early critique of this Taoist notion in chapter 54 of his Lun Heng. Later thinkers appropriate the term to support their own positions. For example, Neo-Confucians regard particular familial and social obligations as tzu jan, as are certain virtuous inclinations. See also NEO-TAOISM, TAOISM. P.J.I.

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