Ge Hong

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Talisman from the Baopuzi

Ge Hong ( Chinese  葛洪 , Pinyin Gě Hóng , W.-G. Ko Hung , nickname ( courtesy name ) Zhichuan 稚; * around 280; † around 340) was a Chinese Daoist , alchemist and immortality seeker.

He came from an aristocratic family in southern China and was part of a lineage of the search for immortality , the origins of which go back to the earlier Han dynasty and the warring empires in the 3rd century BC. Can be traced back.

Ge Hong received instruction in magical and alchemical techniques and his own work, the Baopu Zi is shaped by the search for immortality, which was his sole goal and which he tried to achieve through the realization of the Dao . In a certain way he joined the philosophical Daoism of Daodejing and Zhuangzi and rejected the exorcisms and incantations that were common at the time , but tried to find an exact method by which the Dao and thus immortality could be realized. Ge Hong was one of the first Daoists to systematize the teachings of immortality, and he emphasized that the search for immortality can only be successful if one realizes the Confucian virtues. He gave a decisive impetus with regard to the moral orientation of Daoism.

Page from a manuscript by Baopuzi

In Baopu Zi 抱朴子 (literally «The master who embraces simplicity», based on a passage from Chapter 19 of the Daodejing : jiansu baopu, shaosi guayu, jue xue wu you見 素 抱樸 ， 少 私 寡欲 ， 絕學 無憂(For example: look at the unsophisticated, embrace the simple, reduce selfishness and reduce needs, stop learning, so you are not worried)) accordingly precise instructions for attaining immortality are given: One must have firm intention and firm belief have to become immortal, find a capable Master to give the secret oral teachings, lead healthy lives, both moral and physical, and cultivate some form of universal love . Any excess should be avoided and no interference from desire should be allowed. To keep the body healthy, remedies and alchemical drugs should be taken, Qi should be kept in circulation, gymnastic exercises should be done, certain sexual practices and certain methods of visual meditation should be carried out. It is also important to know magical formulas by means of which one can protect oneself from danger and call gods to help who can drive away evil.

As a doctor, Ge Hong also wrote medical works that contained the first historical description of parrot disease and smallpox .

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Commons : Ge Hong  - album with pictures, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Ge Hong
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Chinese Daoist, alchemist and immortality seeker
DATE OF BIRTH at 280
DATE OF DEATH at 340