- Zeir Anpin
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Zeir Anpin (Aramaic: זֵיר אנפִן meaning "Lesser Countenance/Small Face", called Microprosopus in the Kabbala Denudata) is a revealed aspect of God in Kabbalah, comprising the emotional sephirot attributes: Chesed, Geburah, Tiphereth, Netzach, Hod and Yesod.
The Zohar's imagery expoundes its role in Creation, where it is the microscopic equivalent of Arich Anpin (Macroprosopus) in the Sephirotic tree of life. The Siphra Dtzenioutha portrays it as the revealed face of God, and the Idra Rabba elaborates on the Kabbalistic significance of its several attributes. Its Tetragrammaton is IHVH (יהוה), the traditional name of God in Judaism. In 16th century Lurianic doctrine it becomes systemised as one of the 6 Primary Partzufim Divine Personae, as part of the cosmic process of Tikkun Rectification.
Contents
Uniting Zeir Anpin-Short Face with Nukvah-Female
Zeir Anpin, and its counterpart of the emotional sephirot centred around Tiferet (Beauty), is the transcendent revelation of God to Creation, "The Holy One Blessed Be He", a perceptible manifestation of the essential Tetragrammaton Divine infinite. Nukvah ("Female" of Zeir Anpin) is the indwelling immanent Shechinah (Divine Presence) within Creation, the concealed Divine Elokim Divine finitude. In Medieval Kabbalah, the sin of Adam, as well as any later sin, introduced apparent separation (perceived from Creation) between the two, bringing exile and constriction on High. The task of man is restoring union (Yichud) to the Male and Female Divine manifestations, "for the sake of the union of the Holy One Blessed be He, and His Shechinah".
In Lurianic Kabbalah, the origin of disharmony in the Sephirot is located earlier in the collapse of the Realm of Tohu, though later sin brings further exile. The task of man, while also affecting Male-Female union on High, involves Messianic redemption of the exiled "Sparks of Holiness" (Birur) from Tohu that are scattered in Physical existence. Birur becomes the inner dimension of Yichud.
See also
- Partzufim
- Arich Anpin
- Nukvah
References
- Mystical Concepts in Chassidism, Jacob Immanuel Schochet, Kehot pub. Also printed as Appendix of Likutei Amarim-Tanya, Kehot. Chapter 8 etc.
- S. L. MacGregor Mathers, The Kabbalah Unveiled, George Redway, London, 1887
External links
Categories:- Kabbalah
- Aramaic words and phrases
- Kabbalah stubs
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