Selected from Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

神

/shén/

Spirit / Spiritual

“神”有四种不同的含义：其一，指具有人格意义的神灵，具有超越于人的能力。天地、山川、日月、星辰等自然事物皆有其神灵，人死后的灵魂也可以成为神灵。其二，指人的精神、心神。道教认为“神”是人的生命的主宰，因此以存神、炼神为长生之要。其三，指天地万物在阴阳的相互作用下发生的微妙不测的变化。在这个意义上，“神”常与“化”连用，合称“神化”。其四，指人所具有的神妙不可测度的生命境界。

The term shen has four meanings. First, it indicates a deity in a personified sense, possessing superhuman capabilities. Natural things, such as heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, the sun, the moon, and stars, all have their deity. A human soul also has the capacity to become a deity after death. Second, it indicates the human spirit and mind. Daoism considers the “spirit” to be the dominating factor in human life. Therefore, maintaining and refining the spirit is most important in order to prolong life. Third, it indicates the subtle and unfathomable change in all things, as well as heaven and earth, occurring within the interaction of yin and yang. In this sense the term is often used together with hua (化 change), the combination being called “divine change.” Fourth, it indicates the existence of a marvelous and unfathomable realm, in life attained by a person.

引例 Citations:

◎国将兴,听于民;将亡,听于神。(《左传·庄公三十二年》）

(国家将要兴盛之时,行事听从于民意;将要败亡之时,行事听从于神灵。)

“The nation will prosper when the people’s opinions are heard and it will perish when only the will of the spirit is followed.” (Zuo’s Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals)

◎气有阴阳,推行有渐为化,合一不测为神。(张载《正蒙·神化》)

(气包含阴阳二气,二气的推行渐进称为化,二气交互统一不可测度的变化称为神。)

“In qi (vital force) there is yin and yang whose gradual operation means change. This unpredictable interaction and unity of yin and yang is what is called spirit.” (Zhang Zai: Enlightenment through Confucian Teachings)

◎圣而不可知之谓神。(《孟子·尽心下》)

(圣德到了神妙不可测度的境界称作“神”。）

“Being sage beyond understanding, that is called divine” (Mencius)

圣

/shèng/

Sage / Sageness

人所能达到的最高品德；也指具有这种最高品德的人，即“圣人”。“圣”一般与“智”相对而言，“智”是对“人道”的把握，而“圣”则是对“天道”的把握。由于具“圣”德之人能够把握“天道”，因此在人伦日用中通达无碍。

The term refers to the highest realm of human integrity and morality – one who has reached this state is a sage. It is often used in relation to “wisdom,” since one who is a wise man understands the way of men, while one who is a sage understands the way of heaven. Thus a sage with knowledge of the way of heaven will interact successfully with other people.