Landscape (山水) as Transcendent Existence

Dear Colleagues,

The Chinese conception of shanshui (mountains and waters, 山水) serves not only as a natural philosophy but also permeates the understanding of state governance, family ethics, social order, and artistic creation. From the mountain-river rituals of early civilization to the sacred grotto-heavens (dongtian fudi洞天福地) of medieval history, from the cosmic order (tianxia天下) to folk religions, from ancestral worship to beliefs in deities, and from literati retreating to mountain forests to common folk praying for blessings—all are intricately linked to the framework of the shanshui world. Shanshui stands as a core paradigm of Chinese civilization and a distinctive spiritual fulcrum of transcendence in Chinese culture. This issue of Religions showcases recent research on these themes and initiates comparative studies with the natural philosophies of other civilizations.

Through interdisciplinary research bridging religion, history, art, and daily life, this Special Issue aims to demonstrate the foundational role of Shanshui as a transcendent framework in the constitution of Chinese civilization. We examine how Shanshui shapes and even creates religious experience and practice (e.g., theology, ritual, art, cosmology), thereby influencing inquiries into ultimate reality. This theme resonates strongly with the aims of Religions: Shanshui is far more than a mere environmental backdrop or aesthetic object—it functions as an active, constitutive force within the sacred realm and spiritual life.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Ritual practices and sacrificial traditions related to Shanshui;
(2) Sacred geography, e.g., Sacred Grotto-Heavens (洞天福地) and terrestrial paradises;
(3) Mountain and forest reclusion (山林隐逸, Hermitism) as a practice of spiritual pursuit;
(4) The relationship between Shanshui cosmology and statecraft (Tianxia天下, Moral Authority道统, etc.);
(5) Folk religious beliefs and practices tied to specific landscapes;
(6) Expressions of Shanshui's transcendence in artistic forms such as painting, poetry, and literature;
(7) Theological interpretations of Shanshui as a path to transcendence;
(8) Comparative studies of Shanshui with cosmologies and natural philosophies of other civilizations.

We expect this Special Issue to systematically present the multifaceted nature of Shanshui studies, fostering a holistic understanding of Shanshui and thereby stimulating new research. By emphasizing the transcendent and sacred dimensions of Shanshui, we aim to challenge purely secularized interpretations of Chinese civilization and offer diverse and nuanced perspectives on the sacredness of nature. Furthermore, we hope to promote fruitful dialogue between Chinese natural philosophy and concepts of the sacred in other global traditions, achieving the effect of civilizational dialogue and mutual learning.

Prof. Dr. Jingdong Qu
Prof. Dr. Xi Ju
Guest Editors

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• Shanshui
• ritual sacrifice
• sacred Grotto-Heavens
• hermitism
• folk religion
• transcendence