Final answer:
Translating 'xian' as 'transcendent' rather than 'immortal' emphasizes the Daoist pursuit of spiritual elevation above ordinary existence, in harmony with the natural and paradoxical order of the Dao.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robert Campany and other scholars of Daoism prefer to translate 'xian' as 'transcendent' instead of 'immortal' to capture the broader, more nuanced concepts associated with Daoist philosophy. The term 'transcendent' reflects not simply the idea of living forever but also the very essence of being beyond ordinary human experience. This encompasses the Daoist ideal of rising above the common physical world, achieving a state of spiritual insight and mastery that is in harmony with the Dao, which is the natural order and flow of the universe. Furthermore, 'transcendent' aligns with the Daoist view that language and rational concepts, which limit our understanding and pull us away from the Dao, cannot fully express the complexity and paradoxical nature of existence as understood in Daoist metaphysics. Transcendents, who have refined their qi energy, are capable of extraordinary feats such as traveling to paradises like the realm of the Queen Mother of the West, embodying virtues that enable them to return to being limitless.