A recluse is a person who lives in voluntary
seclusion and
solitude
Solitude, also known as social withdrawal, is a state of seclusion or isolation, meaning lack of socialisation. Effects can be either positive or negative, depending on the situation. Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may wo ...
. The word is from the
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
, which means 'to open' or 'disclose'.
Examples of recluses are
Symeon of Trier, who lived within the great Roman gate
Porta Nigra
The Porta Nigra (Latin language, Latin for ''black gate''), referred to by locals as Porta, is a large Roman Empire, Roman city gate in Trier, Germany. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The name ''Porta Nigra'' originated in the Middle Ages d ...
with permission from the
Archbishop of Trier, or
Theophan the Recluse, a 19th-century
Orthodox Christian monk who was later venerated as a
saint
In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...
. Many celebrated figures of human history have spent significant portions of their lives as recluses.
In the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Church tradition, 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.
[''Analects'' 8:13 《論語 · 泰伯》：天下有道則見，無道則隱。Show you talents hrough public servicein a well-governed world; go into hiding in dark times .] Others, like
Dongfang Shuo, became hermits to practice
Taoism
Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...
, or in later centuries,
Chan Buddhism
Chan (; of ), from Sanskrit '' dhyāna'' (meaning " meditation" or "meditative state"), is a Chinese school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It developed in China from the 6th century CE onwards, becoming especially popular during the Tang and Song ...
.
Notable recluses
See also
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Anchorite
In Christianity, an anchorite or anchoret (female: anchoress); () is someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, Asceticism , ascetic, or Eucharist-focused life. Anchorit ...
*
Hermit
A hermit, also known as an eremite (adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions.
Description
In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Chr ...
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Hikikomori
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Introversion
Extraversion and introversion are a central trait dimension in human personality theory. The terms were introduced into psychology by Carl Jung, though both the popular understanding and current psychological usage are not the same as Jung's o ...
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Recluse literature
Notes
References
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{{Authority control
Living arrangements
Asceticism
Religious occupations