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SUBSTANCE, SHADOW, AND SPIRIT

SUBSTANCE, SHADOW, AND SPIRIT. By T’ao Ch’ien. SUBSTANCE, SHADOW,& SPIRIT. Introduction Begins with prose Explains purpose of poem Demonstrates flaws of Substance and Shadow Demonstrates how Spirit puts people on the right path. SUBSTANCE, SHADOW,& SPIRIT. Introduction Substance

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SUBSTANCE, SHADOW, AND SPIRIT

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  1. SUBSTANCE, SHADOW, AND SPIRIT By T’ao Ch’ien Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  2. SUBSTANCE, SHADOW,& SPIRIT • Introduction • Begins with prose • Explains purpose of poem • Demonstrates flaws of Substance and Shadow • Demonstrates how Spirit puts people on the right path Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  3. SUBSTANCE, SHADOW,& SPIRIT • Introduction • Substance • Body/materials • Shadow • Fame/reputation • Spirit • Soul? Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  4. SUBSTANCE, SHADOW,& SPIRIT • Introduction • Message of T’ao Ch’ien • It is a mistake to hoard up the moments of life • Substance and Shadow result in bitterness • Spirit eliminates that bitterness Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  5. Substance Speaks to Shadow: • Substance to Shadow • Premise • Immortality of nature versus the mortality of humans • “Fortuitously appearing for a moment in the World/ He suddenly departs, never to return” (9-10) Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  6. Substance Speaks to Shadow: • Question • If we are mortal, how will we be remembered? • Answer • The things we leave behind will remind people of us; therefore we still exist in some manner • Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 • “As long as men can breathe and eyes can see,/ So long lives this and this gives life to thee.” Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  7. Substance Speaks to Shadow: • Advice • “When you can get wine, be sure to drink it” (18) • Carpe Diem • “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you will die” Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  8. Shadow Replies to Substance • Premise • “There is no way to preserve life” (19) • Commonality of all three philosophies • Death comes to us all • The great equalizer Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  9. Shadow Replies to Substance • Philosophy • “That when the body decays Fame should also go Is a thought unendurable, burning the heart. Let us strive and labor while yet we may To do some deed that men will praise. Wine may in truth dispel our sorrow, But how compare it with lasting Fame?” (29-34) Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  10. Shadow Replies to Substance • Philosophy (continued) • Do something by which we will be remembered (Fame) • Drinking wine (Carpe Diem) is temporary • Fame is forever Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  11. Spirit Expounds • “God can only set in motion:/ He cannot control the things he has made” (35-36) • Diction • God=Tao=Life Force • Whatever created us does not control us • Similar to the concept of free will in western culture Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  12. Spirit Expounds • “Though I am different from you, We were born involved in one another: Nor by any means can we escape The intimate sharing of good and ill.” (39-42) • Duality? • Absence of Duality? • Paradox Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  13. Spirit Expounds • Three emperors • All were famous and good men • Where are they now? • “And late or soon all go:/ Wise and simple have no reprieve” (47-48) • Death is the great equalizer • Hamlet • A poor man can eat a king Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  14. Spirit Expounds • Critiques of other philosophies • Substance • “Wine may bring forgetfulness,/ But does it not hasten old age?” (49-50) • Shadow • “If you set your hearts on noble deeds,/ How do you know that any will praise you?” (51-52) Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  15. Spirit Expounds • “By all this thinking you do Me injury” (53) • Taoist belief concerning education • Taoist belief concerning not encouraging the clever to act • Taoist belief concerning simplicity Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

  16. Spirit Expounds • “You had better go where Fate leads-- Drift on the Stream of Infinite Flux, Without joy, without fear: When you must go—then go, And make as little fuss as you can.” (54-58) • Introduction to a major theme • Fate Geschke/English IV "Substance, Shadow, and Spirit"

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