[Understanding + seeking proof + discussing the Dao + attaining the Dao + annotations] One man spends his entire life proving the “Dao,” and ensures that the “Dao” will be passed down through the ages because of him.
From the Warring States period to the Yuan dynasty, different eras bestowed posthumous titles upon him, such as Zhuangzi’s “Vast and Perfect True Man” and the later titles “Supreme True Man” and “True Man of Wen Shi.”
References:
· Core texts: The Wen Shi Zhen Jing, Tao Te Ching, Zhuangzi: “Under Heaven,” Liezi: “Explaining Talismans,” and Records of the Grand Historian: “Biographies of Laozi and Han Fei.”
· Further reading: Zuo Zhuan for historical context; Rites of Zhou for official ranks and institutions; Book of Songs for scenery, lyrical expression, and atmosphere; and Book of Han: “Treatise on Literature” for information on the cataloguing of the nine chapters of the Guan Yin Zi.
· Modern research: Academic works including Four Ancient Commentaries on the Guan Yin Zi, collated and annotated by Zhang Lijuan.
