Wei Jie韦节

Style & Daoist names

Wei Fashi (Dharma Master Wei)

Period

Northern Zhou

Dates

? — ?

School

Louguan School

Role

Daoist Priest of the Louguan SchoolDaoist Scholars

Birthplace

Jingzhao (according to one account)

Places of activity

Louguantai (Louguan Terrace)

Life

Wei Jie was a Daoist priest of the Louguan School under the Northern Zhou, together with Yan Da, Wang Yan and others one of the 'Ten Elders of Tiangu at Louguan' (also called the 'Ten Elders of Louguan'), residing at the Tongdao Guan under Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. He was versed in Laozi and Zhuangzi and wrote a Commentary on the Laozi (Subcommentary on the Meaning of the Daodejing); later scholars of Chongxuan learning frequently cited his views, and Sui–Tang Daoist texts such as the Xuanmen Daiyi (Great Meaning of the Mysterious Gate) and the Pivot of Meaning of the Daoist Teaching also drew on his work. During the Buddhist–Daoist debates of the Jiande era of Northern Zhou, Wei Jie took part in the discussions. His dates are unknown; he represents the shift of Louguan Daoism in the Northern Dynasties from a tradition of techniques (fangshu) toward doctrinal commentary on the scriptures. Wei Jie was active roughly during the Jiande era of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, residing together with Wang Yan, Yan Da and others at the Tongdao Guan, an institution that brought together scholars of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism and had an important influence on the formation of Sui–Tang Daoist doctrinal learning.

Contributions & Influence

• One of the Ten Elders of Louguan, a Daoist scholar at the Tongdao Guan
• His subcommentary on the Laozi represents Northern Dynasties Daoist doctrinal learning

Works

• Commentary on the Laozi (lost)