A Lnquiry On The Concept Of "Shenxian"

The concept of "Shenxian" is a unique cultural symbol in China.To clarify the multi-level meaning of the concept of "Shenxian" in the historical development process,and to reveal the logical relationship of its evolution,has basic theoretical significance and theoretical value for the study of Chinese mythology and “Xian” tales.By combing and analyzing the source,meaning and original characteristics of the two concepts of "Shen" and "Xian",the author believes that in the original sense,the concept of "Shen" mainly refers to the natural “Shen”,which was deified by the ancestors Natural phenomena are mysterious,subjective,and founding supernatural beings,and the concept of "Xian" refers to the supernatural beings who are born and immortal through the cultivation of the Tao,There are fundamental differences in life and death views and moral duties.In the evolution of their respective concepts,the connotations of "Shen" and "Xian" not only exhibited diversified characteristics,but also in the social field,the images of "Shen" and "Xian" were further embodied and popularized.Change.For the "Shen",on the basis of the deification of natural phenomena,people endowed the natural “Shen” with personality characteristics,and on the basis of the deification of ancestors and historical heroes,they endowed personality “Shens”with a wider social characteristics.For the "Xian",the emergence of the concept of immortality of the soul reduces the difficulty of practicing immortality,thereby satisfying the desire of more people to become immortals,and the requirements of moral standards become whether they can become immortals or what level of achievement Judgment criteria for "Xian".Therefore,the evolution process of "Shen" and "Xian" is actually the process of continuously satisfying people's needs for "Shen" and "Xian".After the historical evolution of the two concepts of "Shen" and "Xian",the difference between the two is no longer stable,and the boundary between the two has gradually become blurred.On the one hand,the conversion process from “Shen” to "Xian" and the conversion process from myth to fairy tale maintain a logical consistency,and this conversion is in line with the gradual popularization of the idea that people want immortality to become immortal.The inevitable internal connection conforms to the internal law of social development.On the otherhand,the establishment and enrichment of the Taoist fairy system has provided the soil of thought and theory for the conversion of “Shen” to "Xian" and the transformation of mythology to fairy tales.The establishment and promotion of the image of “Shen” and "Xian" are used as a means to maintain its rule,and the monarch is also added to the ranks of repairing immortals.All these have promoted the confluence and fusion of the concepts of “Shen” and "Xian",thus forming a new concept-“Shenxian”.Based on this,the author analyzes and studies the four representative concepts of "Shenxian" from the Han Dynasty to the present,and thinks that the concept of "Shenxian" has three levels of meaning.The first level is the broad concept of "Shenxian",which contains the concept of “Shen”and the concept of “Xian”,that is,"Shenxian = Shen + Xian",which is based on the difference in essence between the two concepts of “Shen” and “Xian” Comprehension is also in line with people's usual understanding of the concept of "Xian";the second level is the concept of "Xian" in a narrow sense,which refers to "the Xian who has supernatural abilities",that is,"Shenxian =Xian",which is Based on the analysis of the definition of the concept of "Xian";the third level refers specifically to the concept of "Xian",specifically to some kind of "Xian",that is,"Xian" that does not deviate from the “Shen”.The historical development and evolution of the concept of "Shenxian" not only reflects the satisfaction of this concept with the needs of the times of the people,but also reflects the changes in the meaning,part of speech and the structure of this concept.