Glossary

A concept introduced in the Classic of Great Peace (Taiping Jing 太平靜) which can be understood as an "inherited retribution across generations" (Chan & Lo, 2010, p. 323). Often used to represent the political situation at the time, and how transgressions against the proper order (道理 Dao Li) of Heaven and Earth would see their repercussions played out on current and future generations. Heaven and Earth are not vengeful by nature but compared to humanity's parents upon which Humanity depends and is responsible for. The Earth is like a mother who happily suffers for her children's needs, allowing them to drink of her blood (water) and mine her bones (rock) for their needs. However, when more is taken than is necessary, Humanity is like a parasite who, although tiny in comparison to Earth, cause her pain, just as scabies or worms can inflict agony and even kill a human despite the enormous size difference. She reacts out of pain and Heaven responds with punishments, in the form of disasters and misfortunes, acting like a strict father punishing an unruly child who is killing his mother for personal gain. It may seem unfair that the ones perpetuating the crimes are not being punished individually but this is because Heaven and Earth direct their rage against Humanity as a whole, so that none will remain untouched in time. It is behoven to us all to correct injustices against the Earth that supports and nourishes us. In medicine, it can be seen as a prototype form of environmental and sociological theory that considers disease may develop from the environment we are born into. In modern terms this may include the socioeconomic situation and the diseases which disproportionately affect particular socioeconomic groups, as well as the current pandemic of "forever chemicals" that permeate the environment from poor decisions to coat everything in plastic that were made decades ago. Unlike karma, Chengfu does not suppose personal responsibility for all diseases, but purports that, while some are the result of our own actions, others are result of past generations, and that, as a long term goal of public health, we can strive to improve the world for future generations. Bibliography: Hendrischke, B. (2015). The Scripture on Great Peace: The Taiping jing and the Beginnings of Daoism. University of California Press. Chan, A.K.L. & Lo, Y-K. (2010). Destiny and Retribution in Early Medieval China. In Philosophy and Religion in Early Medieval China, pp. 319-356. State University of New York Press. Trueblood, D. (2023). Rewards and Retribution: Karma, Yuan, and the Supernatural. In Spirited Ink: Reed College Student Perspectives on Chinese Ghost Stories and Supernatural Tales (Spring 2023). Available at: https://pressbooks.pub/chin330/chapter/rewards-and-retribution-karma-yuan-and-the-supernatural/ [Accessed 6/7/2024]