The Dao of Unity 2022

This is the tale of a nation, Zhao (Shanxi), on the eve of destruction. It reflects the last stand of one of six independent kingdoms against imperial Qin, with a novel vision of an egalitarian world order. Yet we also see here the emergent blueprint of a centralised bureaucracy under the messianic ruler, shortly to be implemented by Qin in the draconian person of its ‘First Augustan Emperor,’ Qin Shihuangdi.

 

Like Rome’s Emperor Augustus and China’s subsequent emperors, be adopted celestial status as if an astral incarnation. This work, which fuses ideas of Lao Zi’s ‘Way’ with ‘Law’ Dao with Fa, is ascribed to Heguan Zi the’ Pheasant Cap Master,’ the enigmatic figure who features in its dialogues. Its antiquity has been authenticated by parallels with “Yellow Emperor’ scrolls only recently recovered from a 168 BC tomb of the early Han dynasty. Uniquely the work speaks frankly of contemporary events together with the prophecies of a messiah-like figure, an ‘Augustan’ who will unite the world. A double ninefold schema, with a messianic revelation of nine Augustans and Grand Unity, centered on three core chapters (ix-xi), encapsulates the book’s plan. The First half, (i-ix) outlines hope for a new order in the face of defeat by Qin with revelation of a divine plan’ followed in (x), by an inter gods dialogue between Grand Unity and Grand Augustan; ending in the second half, (xii-xix), with ideas on armed struggle and tactics to save the day.

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In 2022, Marnix published a revised and expanded bi-lingual, inter-linear edition