Exploring the Philosophical Resonances of Suosalang and the Axial Age | “Xuemo in Dialogue with International Scholars” (Episode 4)

Exploring the Philosophical Resonances of Suosalang and the Axial Age | “Xuemo in Dialogue with International Scholars” (Episode 4)

On April 11, the fourth online session of “Xuemo in Dialogue with International Scholars,” organized by the World Literature Union and the Xuemo Foundation, brought together scholars and writers for an international exchange. Titled “Awakening the Universal Philosophy of the Axial Age: The Spiritual Universe of Suosalang,” the session featured a keynote address by Dr. Huan Xia, Assistant Professor at the Macau University of Science and Technology. She joined the renowned writer Xuemo and scholars and guests from around the world in an in-depth discussion.

An Epic Masterpiece and the Search for a Universal Philosophy

This session continued the forum’s exploration of Xuemo’s monumental epic Suosalang. In her opening remarks, moderator Yanjin Chen announced that the forum’s discussions would be compiled and edited by Professors Riccardo Moratto and Ying He and published internationally in both Chinese and English, further promoting Chinese scholarship and literature to a global readership.

Xuemo opened by reflecting on his recent participation in literary events and cultural outreach activities in the United Kingdom and the United States. He emphasized the cumulative value of sustained cultural engagement, comparing seemingly disparate exchanges to individual stones used to construct a great edifice. Once systematically organized and published—and further developed through artificial intelligence and big-data technologies—the knowledge generated through such exchanges could become a shared cultural resource with a lasting global influence.

Dr. Huan Xia’s Keynote Speech: From the Axial Age to the Spiritual Universe of Suosalang

Drawing on comparative perspectives from history and philosophy, Dr. Xia situated Suosalang within the theoretical framework of the Axial Age and offered a three-tiered interpretation of the work.

Withdrawal from and Engagement with the World

Drawing on the statement in the Analects that “the village worthy is the thief of virtue,” together with the story of Bhishma in the Indian epic Mahabharata, Dr. Xia considered whether capable individuals should withdraw from the world to avoid conflict. She also examined how those who choose to engage with society might navigate their relationship with the desire for fame, status, and material gain.

Spirit and Matter

Introducing ancient Greek philosophy and Gnostic discussions of the relationship between spirit and matter, Dr. Xia suggested that Suosalang’s pursuit of the eternal spirit resonates with Karl Jaspers’s vision of a renewed or “second” Axial Age.

The Inner Struggle

Dr. Xia interpreted the conflicts in Suosalang as more than historical struggles or contests for worldly power. They also represent the human spirit’s struggle to overcome itself. Relating the work’s depictions of “hell” to the technological age, she raised an urgent contemporary question: in a materially advanced “Promethean Age,” how can the human mind break free from illusion and suffering?

Xuemo’s Response: The Unity of Mind and Matter and Active Engagement with the World

Xuemo offered wide-ranging and insightful responses to the questions raised by Dr. Xia.

On Withdrawal from and Engagement with the World

Xuemo argued that withdrawing from the world without serving it may, in a certain sense, constitute a moral failing. He cited the example of Shakyamuni Buddha, who, after attaining enlightenment, chose not to enter nirvana immediately but instead remained in the world to teach the Dharma. For Xuemo, this demonstrates that genuine awakening necessarily leads to altruistic engagement with the world.

He acknowledged that such engagement can become entangled with the pursuit of fame, status, and material gain, and may consequently bring suffering. Nevertheless, he maintained that action contributing to the advancement of human civilization should be encouraged as a form of constructive engagement. He advocated “acting without attachment to action”: participating actively in the world while remaining inwardly detached and spiritually transcendent.

On the Nature of the Material World

Drawing on the “observer effect” in quantum mechanics, Xuemo argued that the material world possesses no absolute or inherent moral character; its significance depends on the observer’s state of mind. When the mind is enslaved by material things, matter becomes a source of distress. When the mind transforms matter into spiritual energy and a vehicle for higher meaning, however, the material world can become a pure land.

Xuemo described the Eastern wisdom of the “unity of mind and matter” embodied in Suosalang. Through specific forms of spiritual practice, including the “Three-Branch Method,” practitioners can learn to perceive all phenomena as manifestations of a pure mandala, thereby moving beyond the Gnostic dualism of spirit and matter.

On Contemporary Challenges and Personal Experience

Dr. Xia also asked how people might inwardly assimilate their material experiences in an age of information overload. She reflected on the sense of liberation that individuals may experience through an encounter with nature.

In response, Xuemo referred to astronauts whose views of life changed profoundly after seeing Earth from space. Such experiences, he suggested, demonstrate how a change in perspective can produce a fundamental transformation in understanding. He affirmed the value of these moments while stressing that fleeting insight must be transformed into a stable worldview and sustained spiritual practice. Only then can individuals preserve inner peace and strength amid the turbulence of worldly life.

International Scholars Build a Platform for Intellectual Exchange

The forum brought together internationally recognized scholars and emerging researchers, including Riccardo Moratto, Distinguished Professor at Tongji University; Professor Shouhui Zhao of the University of Bergen in Norway; Professor Helen Wu of the University of Toronto in Canada; Professor Hanyi Bao of Shandong University; Iranian scholar Dr. Elham Mirzania; and Dr. Yi Tang, Dr. Pingyan Li, Dr. Songjian Xu, and Dr. Wenjing Wu, among others.

Their participation reflected the forum’s growing academic influence and the increasing international interest in Xuemo’s work.

The event was marked by rigorous scholarship and lively intellectual exchange. Dr. Xia’s questions combined philosophical depth with a keen awareness of contemporary concerns, while Xuemo’s responses brought together literary creation, the philosophy of mind and human nature, and perspectives drawn from contemporary science. Their dialogue offered new ways of understanding the deeper significance of Suosalang and its relationship to the intellectual and spiritual legacy of the Axial Age.

The forum concluded with a thought-provoking discussion that demonstrated the distinctive power of dialogue between literature and philosophy.