From dualism to monism: The conceptual transformation of miaoben from the Tang Xuanzong’s commentary on the Daodejing 唐玄宗御制道德真经註 to the imperial exegesis 唐玄宗御制道德真经疏

This paper examines the conceptual alteration of miaoben (妙本 Wondrous Foundation) and yingyong (應用 Responding Function) in Emperor Tang Xuanzong's imperial commentary and exegesis on the Daodejing. Focusing on the Imperial Commentary (IC) and Imperial Exegesis (IE), it challenges the prevailing scholarly assumption that these two texts form a coherent interpretative framework. In the IC, Xuanzong constructs Dao through a dual structure: miaoben, representing the Dao's ontological foundation, and yingyong, signifying its generative and operative functions. However, the IE restructures this conceptual framework, reducing yingyong to a subordinate role and equating miaoben with the Dao. This shift signifies a rupture in Xuanzong's thought, reflecting both doctrinal and political considerations. By critically engaging with existing scholarship and providing a detailed textual analysis, this study reveals that the IC and IE are not a unified intellectual project but rather distinct stages of Xuanzong's evolving interpretation of the Daodejing.