Shijie
/ˈʃɻ̩ː.tɕjɛɪ/noun
A Daoist concept of attaining immortality by leaving behind a corpse-like bodily form.
Did you know?In Daoist hagiographies, shijie described an extraordinary form of transcendence in which an immortal appeared to die but secretly departed, sometimes leaving behind a substitute object such as a sword or staff.
Etymological Timeline
Late Antiquity
Classical Chinese
尸解 (shījiě)
“Literally “corpse liberation”; a Daoist method or sign of transcendence beyond ordinary death.”
3rd–6th Century
Chinese
尸解仙
“A “corpse-liberation immortal,” an adept believed to have escaped bodily death through Daoist transformation.”
6th–7th Century
Chinese
shījiě
“A recognized category of Daoist immortality and miraculous departure in religious writings.”
20th Century
English sinology
shijie
“A scholarly romanization used in English-language studies of Daoism for 尸解.”
Modern English
English
shijie
“A specialized Daoist loanword referring to corpse liberation or postmortem transcendence.”