peer reviews
Ben Nandin
February 26, 2017
Essay #4
Bokenkamp
Lords and People: The Audience of the Xiang'er Commentary
The Xiang'er Commentary is an ancient text on Celestial Master variation of Daoism, and
is one of the earliest texts that interprets the Laozi (also known as the Dao de Jing) and gives
additional explanation and context on the Laozi. This commentary was later used as education
text to be recited by those faithful to Daoism. Though the purpose of the Xiang’er Commentary
was to include additional context for the Laozi, most of the commentary and the Laozi are
worded to speak to a broad audience, but specific passages seem to target those in government.
Just like the Laozi, the Xiang'er Commentary was written for a large audience. The
commentary addresses the ideal follower of the Dao as the “Sage”, but it uses many other
inclusive words, such as “One” and”Those who are with the Dao”. This inclusive wording allows
any reader to interpret it as themselves. In its early chapters, the Laozi first speaks of the “Sage”;
“The Sage regulates through emptying his heart and filling his belly, through weakening his will
and strengthening his bones.” The Xiang'er Commentary provides additional context for this
chapter of the Laozi; “The heart is a regulator. It may hold fortune or misfortune good or evil.
The belly is a sack for the Dao; it’s pneumas constantly wish to fill it. When the heart produces
ill-omened and evil conduct, the Dao departs, leaving the sack empty. Once it is empty, deviance enters, killing the person. If one drives off the misfortune and evil in the heart, the Dao will
return to it and the belly will be filled.” The Xiang'er Commentary specifically addresses those
with a heart and a belly can be a vessel of the Dao, which is to say everyone. “Thus, if one acts
in accord with the Dao, the Dao will accept one.”
Also like the Laozi, the Xiang'er Commentary was written for Rulers and people of the
Government. Most of the Laozi speaks on how to follow the Dao, however, there are specific
passages that address how to model a government after the Dao. The Laozi speaks on the subject
of ruling;“This is why the Sages, through never being made great, are able to complete their
greatness. Grasp the great image and a ll under heaven will proceed to you. When they proceed
to you, there will be no barm. There will be peace and great happiness.” The plural “Sages” in
this section refer to those in power and who follow the Dao. The Xiang'er Commentary
extrapolates on this section of the Laozi; “If the king grasps the correct law and models himself
on the great Dao, all under heaven will take refuge in him… When the king rules in this fashion,
there will be great happiness.” The Xiang'er Commentary reinforces the interpretation that the
Laozi speaks to those in power on how to model governance on the Dao. Another passage of the
Laozi says “[S]ince the Dao never acts falsely, nothing is left undone. If the king and lords are
able to cling to it, then the myriad of beings will transform of themselves”. This is direct advice
to rulers and lords. The Xiang'er Commentary continues the passage by including “[I]f the king’s
governance is patterned on the Dao, the officers and populace - even the lowly and the evil - will
all convert to the Dao.”
Like the Laozi, the Xiang'er Commentary is addressing a large audience for most of the
passages but later passages speak directly on Daoist governance.