Naming the Ineffable Dao—A Metaphorical Approach to Characterize Dao
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Chang, Yu-Min
Abstract
The present study aims to explore conceptual metaphors in Daodejing, with a view to uncovering the cognitive value of conceptual metaphors and metaphors in speech acts (MISA) in Daodejing under the structure of Interlocking Parallel Style (IPS).
Dao is an essential concept to Daoism, especially to Daodejing. This pivotal concept; however, is put in an eccentric way in Daodejing because of its ineffability and its political value to sage-ruler. In previous studies, an overall investigation of dao is lacking and dao is normally left as a puzzling metaphysics rather than a political guide, though dao is an ideal political archetype in Daodejing.
I would argue that conceptual metaphors are not mere decorations to the texts. Rather, they express cognitive value, as a key path way to understanding dao. In particular, there are at least six main conceptual metaphors to silhouette dao—water, valley, feminine, root, infant and unhewn wood. By means of analyzing these metaphors, dao is revealed as: Impenetrability describes the empirical state of dao and a sage-ruler. Nondiscrimination and paradoxical strategy including being uncontentious, being soft, being empty, da, being below, and be tranquil are practical devices. Nondiscrimination is another important political device to eliminate desire and preference for opposite names in order to avoid contention and social chaos. Nonexhaustion, calamity-free, and fertility are the outcome of being impenetrable and the result of executing nondiscrimination and paradoxical strategy. Therefore, theory of dao is not metaphysical nonsense but concrete politics.
Subjects
Interlocking Parallel Style
Conceptual Metaphor
Speech Acts
Opposite Names
Impenetrability
Nondiscrimination
Paradoxical Strategy
Type
thesis
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