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hsüan
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Quick Facts
Chinese:
“dark,” or “mysterious”
Pinyin:
xuan
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hsüan

Chinese religion and philosophy
Also known as: xuan
Written and fact-checked by
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History

hsüan, common term in most forms of Chinese religion and philosophy that connotes a hidden or occult dimension to some aspect of experience or reality. First used metaphysically in the Tao-te ching, it is an idea that is given mystical significance in many aspects of later Taoist and Buddhist tradition. See also Hsüan-hsüeh.