In Chinese philosophy and spirituality, a divine spirit, god, or supernatural being.
Shen (神) is a Chinese word borrowed directly from Classical Chinese, where it has been used for thousands of years to describe spirits, deities, and the spiritual essence in Daoism and other Eastern traditions.
Shen is fascinating because in Chinese culture it's not quite the same as a Western 'god'—it's more like a spiritual force or divine presence that can inhabit objects, places, or people, which is why you see it in martial arts philosophy too!
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