Conceptual Blending In The Laozi:the Wheel And Other Images

Rather than relying on the imposition of names to designate the Dao,the Daodejing conveys much of its philosophy of the Dao through a web of corresponding and interconnected system of images and metaphors.Viewing these images and metaphors through the lens of conceptual blending can provide a way to trace links between these various images and metaphors,which can help to elucidate how certain aspects of the Dao are illustrated and expressed through certain aspects of such images and metaphors.Along with applying the conceptual blend analysis to various passages,the theory of material anchors will also provide an additional lens to the theory of conceptual blending as applied to a reading of the Daodejing.The theory of material anchors shows how certain physical objects can provide stable conceptual structure to highly complex conceptual structure.The theory of conceptual blending with material anchors will be specifically applied to the images of physical objects such as the wheel,the vessel,and the room.These images will then be blended with other images and passages in the text,in order to show how the passages,images and metaphors relate to and amplify each other in various ways.