Essence-Function

Essence-Function (體用, Chinese pinyin: tǐ yòng, Korean: che-yong), also called Substance and Function, is a key concept in Chinese philosophy and other Far-Eastern philosophies. Essence is Absolute Reality, the fundamental "cause" or origin, while Function is relative or concrete reality, the concrete manifestation of Essence. Ti and yong do not represent two separate things, such as Absolute Reality and Concrete Reality. They are always two, flexibly-viewed aspects of a single thing. Essence, 體 (ti), Korean pronunciation 체, or CHE: body; shape, form; entity, unit; style, fashion, system; substance, essence; theory (as opposed to practice). Function, or Application 用 (yong), Korean pronunciation 용, or YONG: use, employ, apply, operate; exert; effect; finance; need; eat, drink. Together, they form the phrase 體用 ti-yong, 체용 che-yong, Essence-Function. Two truths doctrine Essence is Absolute Reality, the fundamental "cause" or origin, while Function is manifest or relative reality, the discernible effects or manifestations of Essence. Essence-Function describes the interplay between the two: although Absolute Reality is the ultimate reality, the relative reality nevertheless also exists, as is evident from concrete reality. The relationship between these two realms is expressed in such schemata as the Five Ranks and the Oxherding Pictures. Various terms are used for "absolute" and "relative". The tree forms a metaphor for Essence-Function, with the roots being Essence and the branches being Function. According to Muller, "the most important application of t'i-yung thought [...] is to the human being, where the human mind is seen as "essence," and one's words, thoughts, and actions are seen as "function." According to Sung-bae Park the concept of essence-function is used by East Asian Buddhists "to show a non-dualistic and non-discriminate nature in their enlightenment experience," but does not exclude notions of subjectivity and objectivity.