Recluse

Description

Examples of recluses are Symeon of Trier, who lived within the great Roman gate Porta Nigra with permission from the Archbishop of Trier, or Theophan the Recluse, a 19th-century Orthodox Christian monk who was later venerated as a saint. Many celebrated figures of human history have spent significant portions of their lives as recluses.

In the Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Lutheran and Eastern Catholic traditions of Christianity, a Poustinik is a temporary hermit who has been called to pray and fast alone in a cabin for at least 24 hours.

In ancient Chinese culture, scholars are encouraged to be a public servant in a scrupulous and well-run government but expected to go into reclusion as a yinshi (隐士, 'gentleman-in-hiding') when the government is rife with corruption. Others, like Dongfang Shuo, became hermits to practice Taoism, or in later centuries, Chan Buddhism.

Notable recluses

Main article: List of recluses

Notes

References

References

1. ''Analects'' 8:13 《論語 · 泰伯》：天下有道則見，無道則隱。("If the world has a way, then show yourself; if it has no way, then hide yourself" {{in lang. zh.