Confucianism Books

Book SynopsisThis is the first complete, one-volume English translation of the ancient Chinese text Xunzi, one of the most extensive, sophisticated, and elegant works in the tradition of Confucian thought. Through essays, poetry, dialogues, and anecdotes, the Xunzi presents a more systematic vision of the Confucian ideal than the fragmented sayings of ConfuciusTrade Review"This is a long-awaited translation, and I envisage that it will become a standard of scholarship and an invaluable source to which both specialists and non-specialists will be indebted."--Winnie Sung, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "Eric Hutton's new translation of this rich and multifaceted text is ... a truly valuable gateway for introducing newcomers in the field of Chinese and comparative philosophy, as well as more advanced students and scholars, to the philosophy of Xunzi."--Ori Tavor, Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy "The decision by Eric Hutton to translate the verse sections as poetry means that this book can be appreciated not only as an important work of early Confucian thought, but also as a literary text."--Olivia Milburn, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society "Hutton's work is an improvement over that of Knoblock, as well as that of Dubs and Watson. It is an enormous task to translate from beginning to end a text as difficult as the Xunzi. We should be grateful to Hutton for undertaking it and for devoting so much hard work to completing it."--Jeffrey Riegel, Journal of Chinese StudiesTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction xi A Traditional Timeline of Early Chinese History xxxi Chapter 1: An Exhortation to Learning 1 Chapter 2: Cultivating Oneself 9 Chapter 3: Nothing Improper 16 Chapter 4: On Honor and Disgrace 23 Chapter 5: Against Physiognomy 32 Chapter 6: Against the Twelve Masters 40 Chapter 7: On Confucius 47 Chapter 8: The Achievements of the Ru 52 Chapter 9: The Rule of a True King 68 Chapter 10: Enriching the State 83 Chapter 11: The True King and the Hegemon 99 Chapter 12: The Way to Be a Lord 117 Chapter 13: The Way to Be a Minister 133 Chapter 14: On Attracting Men of Worth 141 Chapter 15: A Debate on Military Affairs 145 Chapter 16: The Strong State 163 Chapter 17: Discourse on Heaven 175 Chapter 18: Correct Judgments 183 Chapter 19: Discourse on Ritual 201 Chapter 20: Discourse on Music 218 Chapter 21: Undoing Fixation 224 Chapter 22: Correct Naming 236 Chapter 23: Human Nature Is Bad 248 Chapter 24: The Gentleman 258 Chapter 25: Working Songs 262 Chapter 26: Fu 277 Chapter 27: The Grand Digest 288 Chapter 28: The Right-Hand Vessel 318 Chapter 29: The Way to Be a Son 325 Chapter 30: The Proper Model and Proper Conduct 330 Chapter 31: Duke Ai 333 Chapter 32: Yao Asked 339 Appendix 1: Important Terms and Names 344 Appendix 2: Cross-Reference List 347 Textual Notes 359 Bibliography 385 Index 387

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Book SynopsisFew individuals have shaped their country's civilization more profoundly than Master Kong (Confucius, 551-479 BC). Compulsory reading in the late Imperial period for all who wished to enter the Civil Service or Government, his sayings and those of his disciples form the foundation of a distinct social, ethical, and intellectual system. They have retained their freshness and vigour throughout the two and a half millennia of their currency, and are still admired evenin today's China.This lively new translation with clear explanatory notes by one of the foremost scholars of classical Chinese provides the ideal introduction to the Analects for readers who have no previous knowledge of the Chinese language and philosophical traditions.

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Book SynopsisFor eight hundred years, scholars have regarded the Daxue and the Zhongyong as essential critical studies on Confucian doctrine. In their original forms, however, these texts were part of a larger foundational work, the Li Ji ( Classic of Rites), a forty-chapter opus promoted by the Song Neo-Confucian scholar, Zhu Xi. Translated by Ian Johnston and Wang Ping, this volume contains two versions and translations of the Daxue and Zhongyong, one in their original Li Ji context, annotated by Zheng Xuan and Kong Yingda, and one as the reorganized and reinterpreted stand-alone works disseminated by Zhu Xi.

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Book SynopsisThinking Through Confucius critically interprets the conceptual structure underlying Confucius' philosophical reflections. It also investigates thinking, or philosophy from the perspective of Confucius. Perhaps the philosophical question of our time is what is philosophy. The authors suggest that an examination of the Chinese philosophy may provide an alternative definition of philosophy that can be used to address some of the pressing issues of the Western cultural tradition. This book finds an appropriate language for the interpretation of traditional Chinese philosophical thought - a language which is relatively free from the bias and presuppositions of Western philosophy.

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Book SynopsisSolidly grounded in Chinese primary sources, Neo Confucianism: Metaphysics, Mind, and Morality engages the latest global scholarship to provide an innovative, rigorous, and clear articulation of neo-Confucianism and its application to Western philosophy.Trade Review"This book is clearly one of the greatest accomplishments among English Neo-Confucian philosophical studies in recent decades. JeeLoo Liu uses clear language and rigorous philosophical reasoning to analyze eight pivotal Neo-Confucian figures regarding three major areas: metaphysics, moral theory and moral practice. The book can be aptly used as both an introduction to Neo-Confucianism for beginners and a top reference for researchers, which is itself a rare achievement."Reviewed by Bin Song, Washington CollegeNotre Dame Philosophical Reviews, March 2019Table of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Part I Neo]Confucian Metaphysics: From Cosmology to Ontology 29 1 From Nothingness to Infinity: The Origin of Zhou Dunyi's Cosmology 31 2 The Basic Constituent of Things: Zhang Zai's Monist Theory of Qi 61 3 Cheng–Zhu School's Normative Realism: The Principle of the Universe 85 4 Wang Fuzhi's Theory of Principle Inherent in Qi 103 Part II Human Nature, Human Mind, and the Foundation of Human Morality 123 5 Zhu Xi's Internal Moral Realism: Human Nature Is Principle 125 6 Lu Xiangshan and Wang Yangming's Doctrine of Mind Is Principle 139 7 Wang Fuzhi's Theory of Daily Renewal of Human Nature and His Moral Psychology 157 Part III The Cultivation of Virtue, Moral Personality, and the Construction of a Moral World 181 8 Zhang Zai on Cultivating Moral Personality 183 9 The Cheng Brothers' Globaist Virtue Ethics and Virtue Epistemology 205 10 Zhu Xi's Methodology for Cultivating Sagehood: Moral Cognitivism and Ethical Rationalism 227 11 Wang Yangming';s Intuitionist Model of Innate Moral Sense and Moral Reflexivism 245 12 Constructing a Moral World: Wang Fuzhi's Social Sentimentalism 265 References 285 Index 301

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Book SynopsisThroughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.Perhaps the most widely read thinker of all time, Confucius transformed Chinese philosophy with his belief that the greatest goal in life was pursuit of ''The Way'': a search for virtue not as a means to rewards in this world or the next, but as the pinnacle of human existence.

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Book SynopsisA wonderfully enjoyable storehouse of ancient Chinese history and legends, which also has an important role in understanding 21st-century China''And remember: Heaven''s blessing will cease forever if there''s despair and poverty in your lands''The Most Venerable Book (also known as The Book of History) is one of the Five Classics, a key work of Chinese literature which preserves some of the most ancient and dramatic chronicles of the history, both real and mythological, of the Chinese state. For many centuries it was a central work for anyone wishing to work for the Imperial administration, preserving as it does a fascinating mixture of key Confucian concepts as well as page after page of heroes, benevolent rulers, sagacious ministers, and struggles against flood, corruption and vicious, despotic rulers. The First Emperor tried in 213 BC to have all copies of the book destroyed because of its subversive implication that ''the Mandate of HeTrade ReviewThe text is alive with the deeds and misdeeds of Chinese rulers, some told in graphic and gory detail . . . Palmer's introduction is witty and eschews any sign of academic-speak . . . There has been a revival in interest in China in Confucian ethics in recent years as people search for moral points of reference . . . The Shang Shu is part of this, and Martin Palmer has presented the English reading audience with an excellent route to an understanding of these ideas * China Daily - European Weekly *

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Book SynopsisAfter a century during which Confucianism was viewed by academics as a relic of the imperial past or, at best, a philosophical resource, its striking comeback in Chinese society today raises a number of questions about the role that this ancient tradition--re-appropriated, reinvented, and sometimes instrumentalized--might play in a contemporary context.The Sage and the People, originally published in French, is the first comprehensive enquiry into the Confucian revival that began in China during the 2000s. It explores its various dimensions in fields as diverse as education, self-cultivation, religion, ritual, and politics. Resulting from a research project that the two authors launched together in 2004, the book is based on the extensive anthropological fieldwork they carried out in various parts of China over the next eight years. Sébastien Billioud and Joël Thoraval suspected, despite the prevailing academic consensus, that fragments of the Confucian tradition would sooner or later Trade ReviewThis book will be a valuable addition to the collection of any reader who wants to understand the Confucian revival of the 2000s on both the popular and official level. * Ha Yeon Shin, Reading Religion *What makes this book particularly valuable is its combination of nuanced academic discussions with vivid portraits of ordinary people who are active in this new development [of Confucian Revival]... This is a magnificent major contribution to contemporary Confucian studies. * Anna Sun, Journal of Chinese Religion *The student of contemporary China and Confucianism will find in this book an enormously rich scholarly resource, theoretically sophisticated and conveyed through a vivid narrative. * Lukas Pokorny, Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ; Introduction ; Part 1 - Jiaohua: The Confucian revival in China as an educative project ; Chapter 1. Confucian education during the 20th century: A retrospective outlook ; Chapter 2. The new institutionalization of Confucian education ; Chapter 3. A modern anti-intellectualism: The body, the child, the people ; Part 2 - Anshen liming or the religious dimension of Confucianism ; Chapter 4. "The varieties of religious experience" ; Chapter 5. Questioning modern categories ; Chapter 6. The quest for the recognition of Confucian religion ; Part 3 - Between rites and politics: Lijiao ; Chapter 7. The Confucius cult: Historical retrospective ; Chapter 8. Qufu, 2007 ; Chapter 9. The use and abuse of Confucius ; Chapter 10. Between religious ritual and political ceremonial: Cosmology and national state ; Conclusion ; Epilogue ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisNeo-Confucianism is the sophisticated revival of Confucian theorizing, responding to challenges from Buddhism and Daoism, which began around 1000 C.E. and came to dominate the Chinese intellectual scene for centuries thereafter. What would happen if we took Neo-Confucianism and its central ideal of sagehood seriously as contemporary philosophy? Sagehood represents supreme human virtue: a flawless, empathetic responsiveness to every situation in which one finds oneself. How could this be possible? How might one work toward such a state? According to Neo-Confucians, we should all strive to become sages, whether or not we ultimately achieve it. Taking neo-Confucianism seriously means to explore the ways that its theories of psychology, ethics, education, and politics engage with the views of contemporary philosophers. Angle''s book is therefore both an exposition of Neo-Confucian philosophy and a sustained dialogue with many leading Western thinkers--and especially with those philosophersTrade ReviewRarely is a work in comparative philosophy itself an original philosophical contribution. But that is the case in this instance in which Angle...brings Neo-Confucian philosophy into fruitful conversation with contemporary Western, virtue-ethics based analytic philosophers...The result is a presentation of Neo-Confucianism that advances it beyond any previous Neo-Confucian: Angle is the best in the line so far, at least among those writing or written about in English. * Robert Cummings Neville, The Review of Metaphysics *This book does an outstanding job of engaging a wide range of sources not only from different areas of philosophy (such as virtue ethics and Chinese philosophy) but also from the disciplines of religious studies and Asian studies. Indeed, one thing that makes this book worth reading is the way it puts new and interesting sources into conversation with one another in order to shed new light on the topics at hand. While this work is certainly recommended for specialists in comparative ethics and Chinese philosophy, it is also a resource for philosophers interested in learning how non-Western philosophy might potentially contribute to work in ethics today. * Erin Cline, Mind *Throughout the book, Angle makes good use of recent empirical studies.... His book is very accessible for readers with a wide variety of backgrounds. Philosophers with no background in Chinese thought will find challenging and interesting discussions of many issues relevant to their own work. Furthermore, I think this book is also quite appropriate to assign to strong undergraduate students. I recommend it highly. * Bryan W. van Norden, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Table of ContentsDedication; Preface; Chronology and Dramatis Personae; ; PART I: KEYWORDS: ; 1 - Sheng/Sage; ; 1.1 "Sage" in the Confucian Tradition; ; 1.1.1 Historical Survey; ; 1.1.2 Neo-Confucianism; ; 1.1.3 Shengren versus Junzi ; 1.2 Western Ideals; ; 1.2.1 Greece; ; 1.2.2 Contemporary Saints and Heroes; ; 1.3 Concerns About Sagehood; ; 1.3.1 Is Sagehood Realistic ? ; 1.3.2 Is Sagehood Desirable? ; 2 - Li/Coherence; ; 2.1 First Steps; ; 2.2 Subjective and Objective; ; 2.2.1 Nature and Subjectivity; ; 2.2.2 Settled Coherence and Objectivity; ; 2.3 Li and Qi ; 2.4 One and Many; ; 2.5 Normativity and Creativity; ; 3 - De/Virtue; ; 3.1 Virtue as a Bridge Concept; ; 3.2 Early ; 3.3 Neo-Confucian ; 3.4 Final Thoughts; ; 4 - He/Harmony; ; 4.1 Early Classical Sources; ; 4.1.1 Complementary Differences; ; 4.1.2 Natural Patterns and Creativity; ; 4.2 The Zhongyong ("Doctrine of the Mean"); ; 4.3 Song Neo-Confucianism; ; 4.4 Wang Yangming: Summary and Initial Engagement; ; 4.4.1 Harmony, Coherence and One Body; ; 4.4.2 A Contemporary Example; ; 4.4.3 Politics; ; PART II: ETHICS AND PSYCHOLOGY; ; 5 - The Scope of Ethics: Dialogue with Slote and Murdoch; ; 5.1 Balance and Harmony in Slote's Agent-Based Ethics; ; 5.1.1 Caring, Humaneness (Ren ?), and Empathy; ; 5.1.2 Two Kinds of Balance; ; 5.1.3 The Motivation for Overall Balance; ; 5.1.4 Agent-Basing; ; 5.1.5 Reverence; ; 5.2 Murdoch on the Importance of a Transcendent Good; ; 5.2.1 Unity, Mystery, and Faith; ; 5.2.2 Selflessness; ; 5.3 Conclusion: The Scope of Ethics; ; 6 - Challenging Harmony: Consistency, Conflicts, and the Status Quo; ; 6.1 Nussbaum and Stohr Against "Harmony"; ; 6.2 Imagination; ; 6.3 Maximization; ; 6.4 Residue; ; 6.4.1 Complicating the Picture; ; 6.4.2 Grief versus Regret; ; 6.5 Dimensions of Dilemmas; ; 6.6 Emotional Vanilla?; ; 6.6.1 Myers's Challenge; ; 6.6.2 Neo-Confucians on Anger; ; 6.6.3 Conclusions; ; 7 - Sagely Ease and Ethical Perception; ; 7.1 Wang Yangming on Analects ; 2:4; the Centrality of "Commitment"; ; 7.1.1 Commitment in Classical Texts; ; 7.1.2 Commitment in Wang Yangming; ; 7.1.3 Deepening Our Commitment; ; 7.2 Connecting "Commitment" to "Unity of Knowledge and Action"; ; 7.3 Cua on commitment to realizing a harmonious world; ; 7.3.1 Active Moral Perception; ; 7.3.2 Creativity Revisited; ; 7.4 A Fuller Picture; ; 7.4.1 Murdoch on M and D; ; 7.4.2 Intrusions of the Self; ; 7.4.3 "True Vision Occasions Right Conduct"; ; PART III: EDUCATION AND POLITICS: ; 8 - Learning to Look for Harmony; ; 8.1. Stages of Ethical Education; ; 8.1.1 Lesser Learning; ; 8.1.2 Establishing a Commitment; ; 8.1.3 Matur(ing) Commitment; ; 8.2. Practices of self-improvement; ; 8.2.1 Spiritual Exercises; ; 8.2.2 Ritual; ; 8.2.3 Reading; ; 8.2.4 Attention - First Steps; ; 8.2.5 Reverence; ; 8.2.6 Further Implications; ; 8.2.7 Reverence and Coherence; ; 8.2.8 Self-Restraint and Quiet Sitting; ; 8.2.9 Conclusion; ; 9 - Engaging Practices; ; 9.1 The Nature of Commitments; ; 9.2 Stages and the Accessibility of Sagely Ideals; ; 9.3 Attention Revisited; ; 9.4 Imagination and Fantasy; ; 9.5 Dialogue; ; 9.6 Faith and Belief; ; 10 - The Political Problem; ; 10.1 Introduction: The Trouble with Sagehood; ; 10.2 Sage and Politics in Song-Qing Neo-Confucianism; ; 10.2.1 Sage-King ideal; ; 10.2.2 Limits and Guidance; ; 10.2.3 Ritual; 10.2.4 Institutions; ; 10.2.5 Vaulting Ambition: Rulers Who Think They are Sages; ; 10.3 Confucian Soft Authoritarianism; ; 10.4 Separating the Moral from the Political?; ; 10.4.1 Yu Yingshi and Xu Fuguan; ; 10.4.2 Mou Zongsan; ; 11 - Sages and Politics: A Way Forward; ; 11.1 Perfection and Fallibility; ; 11.2 Reverence and Ritual; ; 11.3 Perfectionism and Institutions; ; 11.3.1 Moderate Perfectionism; ; 11.3.2 Confucian State Perfectionism; ; 11.3.3 Specificity and Particularism; ; 11.4 Participation; ; 11.4.1 Three Arguments; ; 11.4.2 Implications and Objections; ; 11.5 Laws and Rights as a System of Second Resort; ; 11.5.1 Rule by Law; ; 11.5.2 Law and Morality; ; 11.5.3 A Confucian Approach; ; Conclusion: The Future of Contemporary Confucianisms; Bibliography; Index Locorum; General Index

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Book SynopsisFor more than two thousand years, the writings of the Confucian philosopher Mengzi have been a source of guidance and inspiration for those set on doing something to improve the state of the world. In Doing What You Really Want, Franklin Perkins presents a coherent, systematic, and accessible explanation of Mengzi''s philosophy. He covers everything from the place of human beings in nature, to human psychology and philosophy of emotions, to the various ways in which we can deliberately change and cultivate ourselves. Mengzi was concerned not just with theory but also effective action. Perkins thus includes a collection of practical advice and a Confucian analysis of politics oriented toward how individuals can make a difference in the world. These topics are integrated around Mengzi''s philosophy as a way of life dedicated to changing the world, providing an alternative approach for understanding the contemporary relevance of Confucianism. Mengzi offers theoretical and practical resourTrade ReviewScholars from disciplines such as (intercultural) philosophy and religious studies will have much to gain from this. * Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Why Confucianism? Chapter One: Harmony with Nature Chapter Two: What People Really Want Chapter Three: Emotions and Enjoying Life Chapter Four: Cultivating Feelings Chapter Five: Learning Chapter Six: Ritual, Music and Embodied Emotions Chapter Seven: Temptations, Excuses, and Putting Ideas into Practice Chapter Eight: Power, Politics and Action Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAs a living and evolving tradition, Confucianism has been continuously defined and redefined in response to the changing political and social context of China''s history. Extending this effort in reconstructing Confucianism, philosopher Chenyang Li critically analyzes and develops a series of core ideas that originated from classic Confucian texts and does so in the context of contemporary scholarly discourse. These core ideas include he (dynamic harmony), ren (care-centered virtue), li (ritual propriety), xiao (filial care), bie (gender equilibrium), you (friendship), shou (longevity), sheng (sagehood), ziyou (freedom), ping (equality), zheng (politics), and jiao (civic education). Li combines in-depth analysis of historical teachings with systematic deliberation on their contemporary significance, reflecting the current state of the field of research. Each chapter shows how seminal ideas in Confucianism were conceived and developed by ancient thinkers and how these ideas can be reconTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction: Progressive Confucianism I. Foundational Concepts Chapter 1: Dynamic Harmony Chapter 2: Care-Centered Virtue Chapter 3: Ritual as Cultural Grammar II. Self and Others Chapter 4: Filial Care Chapter 5: Differentiated Gender Equilibrium Chapter 6: Friendship Chapter 7: Virtuous Life and Longevity Interlude: Chapter 8: Can Sages be Wrong? III. Socio-Political Reconstructions Chapter 9: Freedom through Choosing Chapter 10: Two Forms of Equality Chapter 11: Kingliness without Kings Chapter 12: Education for Humanity References Index

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Book SynopsisNeo-Confucianism is the sophisticated revival of Confucian theorizing, responding to challenges from Buddhism and Daoism, which began around 1000 C.E. and came to dominate the Chinese intellectual scene for centuries thereafter. What would happen if we took Neo-Confucianism and its central ideal of sagehood seriously as contemporary philosophy? Sagehood represents supreme human virtue: a flawless, empathetic responsiveness to every situation in which one finds oneself. How could this be possible? How might one work toward such a state? According to Neo-Confucians, we should all strive to become sages, whether or not we ultimately achieve it. Taking neo-Confucianism seriously means to explore the ways that its theories of psychology, ethics, education, and politics engage with the views of contemporary philosophers. Angle''s book is therefore both an exposition of Neo-Confucian philosophy and a sustained dialogue with many leading Western thinkers--and especially with those philosophersTrade ReviewRarely is a work in comparative philosophy itself an original philosophical contribution. But that is the case in this instance in which Angle...brings Neo-Confucian philosophy into fruitful conversation with contemporary Western, virtue-ethics based analytic philosophers...The result is a presentation of Neo-Confucianism that advances it beyond any previous Neo-Confucian: Angle is the best in the line so far, at least among those writing or written about in English. * Robert Cummings Neville, The Review of Metaphysics *This book does an outstanding job of engaging a wide range of sources not only from different areas of philosophy (such as virtue ethics and Chinese philosophy) but also from the disciplines of religious studies and Asian studies. Indeed, one thing that makes this book worth reading is the way it puts new and interesting sources into conversation with one another in order to shed new light on the topics at hand. While this work is certainly recommended for specialists in comparative ethics and Chinese philosophy, it is also a resource for philosophers interested in learning how non-Western philosophy might potentially contribute to work in ethics today. * Erin Cline, Mind *Throughout the book, Angle makes good use of recent empirical studies.... His book is very accessible for readers with a wide variety of backgrounds. Philosophers with no background in Chinese thought will find challenging and interesting discussions of many issues relevant to their own work. Furthermore, I think this book is also quite appropriate to assign to strong undergraduate students. I recommend it highly. * Bryan W. van Norden, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Table of ContentsDedication ; Preface ; Chronology and Dramatis Personae ; PART I: KEYWORDS ; 1 - Sheng/Sage ; 1.1 "Sage" in the Confucian Tradition ; 1.1.1 Historical Survey ; 1.1.2 Neo-Confucianism ; 1.1.3 Shengren versus Junzi ; 1.2 Western Ideals ; 1.2.1 Greece ; 1.2.2 Contemporary Saints and Heroes ; 1.3 Concerns About Sagehood ; 1.3.1 Is Sagehood Realistic? ; 1.3.2 Is Sagehood Desirable? ; 2 - Li/Coherence ; 2.1 First Steps ; 2.2 Subjective and Objective ; 2.2.1 Nature and Subjectivity ; 2.2.2 Settled Coherence and Objectivity ; 2.3 Li and Qi ; 2.4 One and Many ; 2.5 Normativity and Creativity ; 3 - De/Virtue ; 3.1 Virtue as a Bridge Concept ; 3.2 Early "De" ; 3.3 Neo-Confucian "De" ; 3.4 Final Thoughts ; 4 - He/Harmony ; 4.1 Early Classical Sources ; 4.1.1 Complementary Differences ; 4.1.2 Natural Patterns and Creativity ; 4.2 The Zhongyong ("Doctrine of the Mean") ; 4.3 Song Neo-Confucianism ; 4.4 Wang Yangming: Summary and Initial Engagement ; 4.4.1 Harmony, Coherence and One Body ; 4.4.2 A Contemporary Example ; 4.4.3 Politics ; PART II: ETHICS AND PSYCHOLOGY ; 5 - The Scope of Ethics: Dialogue with Slote and Murdoch ; 5.1 Balance and Harmony in Slote's Agent-Based Ethics ; 5.1.1 Caring, Humaneness (Ren), and Empathy ; 5.1.2 Two Kinds of Balance ; 5.1.3 The Motivation for Overall Balance ; 5.1.4 Agent-Basing ; 5.1.5 Reverence ; 5.2 Murdoch on the Importance of a Transcendent Good ; 5.2.1 Unity, Mystery, and Faith ; 5.2.2 Selflessness ; 5.3 Conclusion: The Scope of Ethics ; 6 - Challenging Harmony: Consistency, Conflicts, and the Status Quo ; 6.1 Nussbaum and Stohr Against "Harmony" ; 6.2 Imagination ; 6.3 Maximization ; 6.4 Residue ; 6.4.1 Complicating the Picture ; 6.4.2 Grief versus Regret ; 6.5 Dimensions of Dilemmas ; 6.6 Emotional Vanilla? ; 6.6.1 Myers's Challenge ; 6.6.2 Neo-Confucians on Anger ; 6.6.3 Conclusions ; 7 - Sagely Ease and Ethical Perception ; 7.1 Wang Yangming on Analects 2:4; the Centrality of "Commitment" ; 7.1.1 Commitment in Classical Texts ; 7.1.2 Commitment in Wang Yangming ; 7.1.3 Deepening Our Commitment ; 7.2 Connecting "Commitment" to "Unity of Knowledge and Action" ; 7.3 Cua on commitment to realizing a harmonious world ; 7.3.1 Active Moral Perception ; 7.3.2 Creativity Revisited ; 7.4 A Fuller Picture ; 7.4.1 Murdoch on M and D ; 7.4.2 Intrusions of the Self ; 7.4.3 "True Vision Occasions Right Conduct" ; PART III: EDUCATION AND POLITICS ; 8 - Learning to Look for Harmony ; 8.1 Stages of Ethical Education ; 8.1.1 Lesser Learning ; 8.1.2 Establishing a Commitment ; 8.1.3 Matur(ing) Commitment ; 8.2. Practices of self-improvement ; 8.2.1 Spiritual Exercises ; 8.2.2 Ritual ; 8.2.3 Reading ; 8.2.4 Attention - First Steps ; 8.2.5 Reverence ; 8.2.6 Further Implications ; 8.2.7 Reverence and Coherence ; 8.2.8 Self-Restraint and Quiet Sitting ; 8.2.9 Conclusion ; 9 - Engaging Practices ; 9.1 The Nature of Commitments ; 9.2 Stages and the Accessibility of Sagely Ideals ; 9.3 Attention Revisited ; 9.4 Imagination and Fantasy ; 9.5 Dialogue ; 9.6 Faith and Belief ; 10 - The Political Problem ; 10.1 Introduction: The Trouble with Sagehood ; 10.2 Sage and Politics in Song-Qing Neo-Confucianism ; 10.2.1 Sage-King ideal ; 10.2.2 Limits and Guidance ; 10.2.3 Ritual ; 10.2.4 Institutions ; 10.2.5 Vaulting Ambition: Rulers Who Think They are Sages ; 10.3 Confucian Soft Authoritarianism ; 10.4 Separating the Moral from the Political? ; 10.4.1 Yu Yingshi and Xu Fuguan ; 10.4.2 Mou Zongsan ; 11 - Sages and Politics: A Way Forward ; 11.1 Perfection and Fallibility ; 11.2 Reverence and Ritual ; 11.3 Perfectionism and Institutions ; 11.3.1 Moderate Perfectionism ; 11.3.2 Confucian State Perfectionism ; 11.3.3 Specificity and Particularism ; 11.4 Participation ; 11.4.1 Three Arguments ; 11.4.2 Implications and Objections ; 11.5 Laws and Rights as a System of Second Resort ; 11.5.1 Rule by Law ; 11.5.2 Law and Morality ; 11.5.3 A Confucian Approach ; Conclusion: The Future of Contemporary Confucianisms ; Bibliography ; Index Locorum ; General Index

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Book SynopsisIn essays exploring the relationship of contemporary human rights doctrine to the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, this volume investigates concepts such as the individual in relation to the state; the notion of "rights" in ritual and law; and justice, constitutionalism, and intellectual freedom in Chinese and Western traditions.Trade ReviewAn ambitious book, dealing with human nature, according to classical Confucian philosophers, analogies between rights and rites, and Confucian influences in 20th-century China. -- Stefan B. Polter Asian Affairs This rich volume, a feast for the mind, a joy to the soul, is so wise in seeing that the human rights discourse is not the singular fruit of a peculiar liberal individualistic Western tradition, not the unique genetic child of Jews or Christians or Greeks. -- Edward Friedman Asian Thought and Society It reduces the lack of clarity that has characterized discussions of this subject to date. -- Lynn Struve China Quarterly The essays explore such vital subjects as the normative foundation of human rights claims, the relationship of the individual to the nation-state, rites as rights, due process, harmony versus freedom of thought, constitutionalism, and the rule of law... each one does stand on its own as a solid piece of scholarship. Choice This engaging book is propaedeutic to a study of how Confucianism might contribute to decisions respecting rights. -- Dale Maurice Riepe International Studies in PhilosophyTable of Contents1. The Chinese Tradition in Antiquity 1. The Oracle-Bone Inscriptions of the Late Shang DynastyDavid N. Keightley 2. Classical Sources of Chinese Tradition Burton Watson, by David S. Nivison, Irene Bloom 3. Confucius and the AnalectsIrene Bloom 4. Mozi: Utilitarianism, Uniformity, and Universal Love, by Burton Watson 5. The Way of Laozi and Zhuangzi 6. The Evolution of the Confucian Tradition in Antiquity 7. Legalists and Militarists 8. The Han Reaction to Qin Despotism 9. Daoist Syncretisms of the Late Zhou, by Qin, and Early Han 10. The Imperial Order and Han Syntheses 11. The Economic Order Burton Watson, by Wm. Theodore deBary 12. The Great Han Historians Burton Watson 3. Later Taoism and Mahyna Buddhism in China 13. Learning of the MysteriousRichard John Lynn, by Wing-tsit Chan, Irene Bloom 14. Daoist ReligionFranciscus Verellen, by Nathan Sivin, et al. 15. The Introduction of Buddhism 16. Schools of Buddhism 17. Schools of Buddhism 4. The Confucian Revival and Neo-Confucianism 18. Social Life and Political Culture in the Tang 19. The Confucian Revival in the Song 20. Neo-Confucianism: The Philosophy of Human Nature and the Way of the Sage 21. Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucian Program Wm. Theodore deBary 22. Ideological Foundations of Late Imperial China 23. Neo-Confucian Education 24. Continuity and Crisis in the Ming

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Book SynopsisTrade Review[Watson's] translation... is not only perhaps the most faithful to the writer's intentions, but also one of the few readable ones. -- Donald Richie Japan Times Watson's gem... captures the wit, freedom, and spontaneous intimacy of this tireless treasure... Highly recommended. CHOICE A new, concise translation. Journal of Chinese Studies A lucid and accessible translation. Toronto Globe & MailTable of ContentsIntroduction Book One Book Two Book Three Book Four Book Five Book Six Book Seven Book Eight Book Nine Book Ten Book Eleven Book Twelve Book Thirteen Book Fourteen Book Fifteen Book Sixteen Book Eighteen Book Nineteen Book Twenty Glossary of Persons and Places

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewGu Yanwu is a towering figure in modern Chinese thought, and the political ideas and research methods in his Record of Daily Knowledge inspired the major intellectual movements of the Qing Dynasty. Ian Johnston makes Gu's notoriously difficult writings accessible to English-language readers for the first time. Meticulously translated, Johnston's Gu is a gift to China studies and to the comparative history of political thought. -- John Delury, Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies (Seoul) Gu Yanwu's Record of Daily Knowledge consists of more than a thousand notes and essays he wrote after the collapse of Ming China in the seventeenth-century. For those who have the impression that Confucian political philosophy is essentially "applied virtue ethics," focusing on the cultivation of personal virtues of literati-officials, Gu offers a refreshing alternative vision of Confucianism as the art of statecraft, emphasizing the need for institutional reform, the balance of power, and the importance of a humane economy. Gu's hope for an ideal society, in which people are free from the domination of arbitrary political and economic power, still speaks to us today. In this sense, Ian Johnston's lucid and compelling translation is a timely gift. -- Yang Xiao, Kenyon CollegeTable of ContentsAcknowledgments List of Bibliographical Abbreviations Introduction Part I. Essays from the Record of Daily Knowledge (Rizhi Lu-RZL) 1. RZL 1-7: The Classics 2. RZL 8-12: Administration and Economics 3. RZL 13-15: Customs and Mores 4. RZL 16-17: The Examination System 5. RZL 18-21: Literature and Philosophy 6. RZL 22-32: Miscellaneous Part II. Essays, Letters, and Prefaces from Collected Poems and Essays (Tinglin Shiwenji-SWJ) 1. SWJ 1: Statecraft Essays 2. SWJ 2: Prefaces 3. SWJ 3: Letters 1 4. SWJ 4: Letters 2 5. SWJ 5: Records, Inscriptions, and Other Writings 6. SWJ 6: Miscellaneous Part III. Poems from Collected Poems and Essays (Tinglin Shiwenji-SWJ) Appendix 1. Biographical Summary Appendix 2. Works by Gu Yanwu Appendix 3. Zhang Binglin's Preface to Huang Kan's Rizhi Lu Jiaoji Appendix 4. On the Feudal System (Fengjian Lun)-Liu Zongyuan Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisShows how Western psychology can reinforce and renew the theoretical underpinnings of Confucian thought about children and the family.Trade ReviewA remarkably comprehensive and powerful defense of a distinctive view about child welfare. No other work describes and engages Eastern and Western traditions and combines them with such an analysis of contemporary feminism and empirical social science. -- Philip J. Ivanhoe, City University of Hong Kong An impressive example of a successful multidisciplinary work, in which Cline skillfully combines Chinese thought, the history of Western philosophy, empirical developmental psychology, and public policy proposals. This is clearly a work that will make a significant contribution to multiple fields. -- Bryan Van Norden, Vassar College Outstanding-highly original, carefully argued, and clearly written. -- Michael Puett, Harvard University Its greatness... rests in how it reminds the reader that the care, love, andeducation of children, from before they are born and into their early years, should be ofcentral interest to all concerned with individual moral cultivation and the bettering ofsociety. DaoTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I. What Did Early Confucian Philosophers Think About Parent-Child Relationships, Early Childhood, and Moral Cultivation? 1. Moral Cultivation, Filial Piety, and the Good Society in Classical Confucian Philosophy 2. Infants, Children, and Early Confucian Moral Cultivation II. How Are Early Confucian Views of Parent-Child Relationships, Early Childhood, and Moral Cultivation Distinctive, Compared with Views in the History of Western Philosophy? 3. Parents, Children, and Moral Cultivation in Traditional Western Philosophy 4. Feminist and Confucian Perspectives on Parents, Children, and Moral Cultivation III. Why Do Confucian Views of the Relationship Between Parent-Child Relationships, Early Childhood, and Moral Cultivation Warrant Serious Consideration, and What Can They Contribute to Our Understanding of These Areas? 5. Early Childhood Development and Evidence-Based Approaches to Parents, Children, and Moral Cultivation 6. The Humanities at Work: Confucian Resources for Social and Policy Change Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisShows how Western psychology can reinforce and renew the theoretical underpinnings of Confucian thought about children and the family.Trade ReviewA remarkably comprehensive and powerful defense of a distinctive view about child welfare. No other work describes and engages Eastern and Western traditions and combines them with such an analysis of contemporary feminism and empirical social science. -- Philip J. Ivanhoe, City University of Hong Kong An impressive example of a successful multidisciplinary work, in which Cline skillfully combines Chinese thought, the history of Western philosophy, empirical developmental psychology, and public policy proposals. This is clearly a work that will make a significant contribution to multiple fields. -- Bryan Van Norden, Vassar College Outstanding-highly original, carefully argued, and clearly written. -- Michael Puett, Harvard University Its greatness... rests in how it reminds the reader that the care, love, andeducation of children, from before they are born and into their early years, should be ofcentral interest to all concerned with individual moral cultivation and the bettering ofsociety. DaoTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I. What Did Early Confucian Philosophers Think About Parent-Child Relationships, Early Childhood, and Moral Cultivation? 1. Moral Cultivation, Filial Piety, and the Good Society in Classical Confucian Philosophy 2. Infants, Children, and Early Confucian Moral Cultivation II. How Are Early Confucian Views of Parent-Child Relationships, Early Childhood, and Moral Cultivation Distinctive, Compared with Views in the History of Western Philosophy? 3. Parents, Children, and Moral Cultivation in Traditional Western Philosophy 4. Feminist and Confucian Perspectives on Parents, Children, and Moral Cultivation III. Why Do Confucian Views of the Relationship Between Parent-Child Relationships, Early Childhood, and Moral Cultivation Warrant Serious Consideration, and What Can They Contribute to Our Understanding of These Areas? 5. Early Childhood Development and Evidence-Based Approaches to Parents, Children, and Moral Cultivation 6. The Humanities at Work: Confucian Resources for Social and Policy Change Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book gives a clear, systematic and detailed exposition of the thought of the Chinese Buddhist monk Qisong (1007-1072), which serves as a bridge to communicate between Chan Buddhism and Confucianism in the early Song dynasty of China. The author presents a vivid interpretation of Qisong's thought through a very detailed textual analysis of his works and a comparison between Qisong's theoretical system and that of the great Song Neo-Confucian Zhu Xi who lived about a century later. There is no doubt that Qisong's thought represents a significant mode of synthesis of Chinese Buddhist and Confucian theories, and should assume a position in the intellectual history of China. To me, this book successfully demonstrates the Chan Buddhist thought of Qisong inspired and stimulated the Neo-Confucian philosophical awareness of the metaphysical insight latent in the Confucian classics and in turn contributed to the rise and flourish of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism."—Simon Man Ho Wong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology"Although the great intellectual traditions of Buddhism and Confucianism existed alongside each other in a complex manner through several centuries of Chinese history, truly sophisticated attempts at mutual intellectual understanding between them were almost nonexistent for most of this period. It was not until the Song dynasty when the necessary impetus and intellectual erudition manifested itself in the mind of the eminent Chan master Qisong (1007–1072). Qisong, who was also deeply conversant in the texts of Confucianism, brought the Buddhist-Confucian dialogue to a new philosophical level in his writings. In this book Diana Arghirescu has provided us with a rich annotated translation of some of Qisong's central works, along with a substantial introduction to their philosophical role. This book goes far in filling in a large gap in our understanding of Song intellectual history."—A. Charles Muller, Musashino University"An impressive in-depth analysis. It introduces a prominent voice of early Song Buddhism. At the same time, the author is adding a crucial perspective on the formative stage of daoxue Confucianism in the 11th century."—Christian Soffel, Universität TrierTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsAbbreviations and ConventionsIntroduction1. Chan Scholar-Monk Qisong on the Affinities and Differences Between Chan Buddhism and Confucianism in Inquiry into the Teachings (Yuanjiao )2. An Eleventh Century Confucianized and Cohesive Form of Chan: Qisong's Interpretation of "Teaching" (jiao ) in the Extensive Inquiry into the Teachings (Guang Yuanjiao )3. Qisong's Letter of Advice (Quanshu ): An Examination and Correction of the Deficiencies of Confucianism4. Qisong on Buddhist Filial Devotion (xiao ): A Buddhist-Confucian Comparative Perspective5. Heart-Mind (xin), Emotions (qing) and Nature-Emptiness (xing) in Qisong's Thought: A Song-Dynasty Interpretation of Cohesive Chan Practice Intended for Confucian Scholars6. Qisong on Universal Principle (li), Nothingness (wu) and the Encomium of the Platform Sutra (Tanjing zan): Answers avant la Lettre to Zhu Xi's Twelfth-Century Criticism7. Spiritual Discipline, Emotions and Behavior during the Song Dynasty: Zhu Xi's and Qisong's Commentaries on the Zhongyong in Comparative PerspectiveConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book gives a clear, systematic and detailed exposition of the thought of the Chinese Buddhist monk Qisong (1007-1072), which serves as a bridge to communicate between Chan Buddhism and Confucianism in the early Song dynasty of China. The author presents a vivid interpretation of Qisong's thought through a very detailed textual analysis of his works and a comparison between Qisong's theoretical system and that of the great Song Neo-Confucian Zhu Xi who lived about a century later. There is no doubt that Qisong's thought represents a significant mode of synthesis of Chinese Buddhist and Confucian theories, and should assume a position in the intellectual history of China. To me, this book successfully demonstrates the Chan Buddhist thought of Qisong inspired and stimulated the Neo-Confucian philosophical awareness of the metaphysical insight latent in the Confucian classics and in turn contributed to the rise and flourish of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism."—Simon Man Ho Wong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology"Although the great intellectual traditions of Buddhism and Confucianism existed alongside each other in a complex manner through several centuries of Chinese history, truly sophisticated attempts at mutual intellectual understanding between them were almost nonexistent for most of this period. It was not until the Song dynasty when the necessary impetus and intellectual erudition manifested itself in the mind of the eminent Chan master Qisong (1007–1072). Qisong, who was also deeply conversant in the texts of Confucianism, brought the Buddhist-Confucian dialogue to a new philosophical level in his writings. In this book Diana Arghirescu has provided us with a rich annotated translation of some of Qisong's central works, along with a substantial introduction to their philosophical role. This book goes far in filling in a large gap in our understanding of Song intellectual history."—A. Charles Muller, Musashino University"An impressive in-depth analysis. It introduces a prominent voice of early Song Buddhism. At the same time, the author is adding a crucial perspective on the formative stage of daoxue Confucianism in the 11th century."—Christian Soffel, Universität TrierTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsAbbreviations and ConventionsIntroduction1. Chan Scholar-Monk Qisong on the Affinities and Differences Between Chan Buddhism and Confucianism in Inquiry into the Teachings (Yuanjiao )2. An Eleventh Century Confucianized and Cohesive Form of Chan: Qisong's Interpretation of "Teaching" (jiao ) in the Extensive Inquiry into the Teachings (Guang Yuanjiao )3. Qisong's Letter of Advice (Quanshu ): An Examination and Correction of the Deficiencies of Confucianism4. Qisong on Buddhist Filial Devotion (xiao ): A Buddhist-Confucian Comparative Perspective5. Heart-Mind (xin), Emotions (qing) and Nature-Emptiness (xing) in Qisong's Thought: A Song-Dynasty Interpretation of Cohesive Chan Practice Intended for Confucian Scholars6. Qisong on Universal Principle (li), Nothingness (wu) and the Encomium of the Platform Sutra (Tanjing zan): Answers avant la Lettre to Zhu Xi's Twelfth-Century Criticism7. Spiritual Discipline, Emotions and Behavior during the Song Dynasty: Zhu Xi's and Qisong's Commentaries on the Zhongyong in Comparative PerspectiveConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIn this original study, Joshua Brown seeks to demonstrate the fruitfulness of Chinese philosophy for Christian theology by using Confucianism to reread, reassess, and ultimately expand the Christology of the twentieth-century Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar. Taking up the critically important Confucian idea of xiao (filial piety), Brown argues that this concept can be used to engage anew Balthasar's treatment of the doctrine of Christ's filial obedience, thus leading us to new Christological insights. To this end, Brown first offers in-depth studies of the early Confucian idea of xiao and of Balthasar's Christology on their own terms and in their own contexts. He then proposes that Confucianism affirms certain aspects of Balthasar's insights into Christ's filial obedience. Brown also shows how the Confucian understanding of xiao provides reasons to criticize some of Balthasar's controversial claims, such as his account of intra-Trinitarian obedience. Trade Review“Balthasar in Light of Early Confucianism is unique in its comparison between Western Catholic Christology’s concept of Jesus’s Sonship, especially as developed by Balthasar, and the Confucian ideal of sonship. Academic theologians, specifically comparative or constructive theologians, and religious scholars will benefit from this project.” —Sunggu Yang, author of King’s Speech and Evangelical Pilgrims from the East“In this highly original book, Joshua Brown approaches the dialogue between traditional Chinese culture and Christianity in a fresh way, showing how the ancient Confucian institution of filial piety can cast a surprisingly helpful light on Hans Urs von Balthasar’s central notion of the Son’s obedience to the Father. Balthasar in Light of Early Confucianism not only deepens our understanding of Confucius and Balthasar, but gives us a whole new way to think about what the ‘inculturation of faith’ could mean.” —D.C. Schindler, author of Freedom from Reality"The book began as a doctoral dissertation but has become much more than that: a full-fledged, original treatise on intercultural and comparative theology. The main thesis is that the early Confucian concept of xiao or 'filial piety' has a unique potential to shed new light on the nature of Jesus Christ's obedience to God as Father." —Religious Studies Review"Recent years have seen a fortunate surge in contributions to Confucian-Christian comparison. Joshua Brown’s Balthasar in Light of Early Confucianism stands tall among them. Brown matches rigorous methodology with original insights. ...as accessible as it is scholarly." —Reading Religion

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Book SynopsisConfucianism and Catholicism, among the most influential religious traditions, share an intricate relationship. Beginning with the work of Matteo Ricci (15521610), the nature of this relationship has generated great debate. These ten essays synthesize in a single volume this historic conversation. Written by specialists in both traditions, the essays are organized into two groups. Those in the first group focus primarily on the historical and cultural contexts in which Confucianism and Catholicism encountered one another in the four major Confucian cultures of East Asia: China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. The essays in the second part offer comparative and constructive studies of specific figures, texts, and issues in the Confucian and Catholic traditions from both theological and philosophical perspectives. By bringing these historical and constructive perspectives together, Confucianism and Catholicism: Reinvigorating the Dialogue seeks not only to understand better tTrade Review“Confucianism and Catholicism is a fascinating book that explores the dialogue between Confucianism and Christianity and highlights how the two traditions have enriched each other in the past four hundred years, and how they can continue to promote further their intellectual, moral, and spiritual visions.” —Thierry Meynard, S.J., author of The Jesuit Reading of Confucius“This is a rich and stimulating collection of essays that is in many ways a model for multi-authored comparative work in religious and philosophical thought. Confucianism and Catholicism will appeal to all students of comparative religious thought and interreligious dialogue.” —Aaron Stalnaker, author of Religious Ethics in a Time of Globalism“Confucianism and Catholicism is a unique collection of essays that provides ample testimony to the complexities of cross-cultural comparisons of religions, but demonstrates that religions with significantly different cosmologies share many aspects of thought and practice that emerge from their common foundation in human experience.” —Harold D. Roth, coeditor of The Essential Huainanzi

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Book SynopsisIn this first systematic study in English of the highly influential yet overlooked thinker Xue Xuan (1389–1464), author Khee Heong Koh seeks to redress Xue’s marginalization while showing how a study interested mainly in “ideas” can integrate social and intellectual history to offer a broader picture of history.

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Book SynopsisHow has Confucius, quintessentially and symbolically Chinese, been received throughout Japanese history? The Worship of Confucius in Japan provides the first overview of the richly documented and colorful Japanese version of the East Asian ritual to venerate Confucius, known in Japan as the sekiten.Trade ReviewA major contribution to understandings of Japanese political and cultural history as mediated by ritual and forms of apparent religiosity related to Confucius and company…Future sekiten studies will certainly have strong shoulders on which to stand. -- John A. Tucker * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Scholars of Japanese history have been looking forward to James McMullen’s book on the worship of Confucius in Japan for a long time…By far the most comprehensive study of sekiten in Japan in any language. It is a must-read for teachers and students of Japan-China studies, Japanese Confucianism, and Sinosphere studies…This is a great work. -- Benjamin Wai-ming Ng * Journal of Japanese Studies *Rigorously researched and enriched by a useful set of appendixes, this volume is an indispensable tool for a better understanding of Confucianism in Japanese cultural history and its enduring influence in the present despite the lack of institutional developments. It is warmly recommended to established specialists and students of East Asian religions. -- Ugo Dessì * Religious Studies Review *

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Book SynopsisUnder the Ancestors' Eyes elucidates the role of Neo-Confucianism as an ideological and political device by which the elite in Korea regained and maintained dominance during the Choson period. Using historical and social anthropological methodology, Martina Deuchler highlights Korea's distinctive elevation of the social over the political.

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Book SynopsisAs China continues to transform itself, many assume that the nation will eventually move beyond communism and adopt a Western-style democracy. This book provides a standard for evaluating political progress in China and enriches the dialogue of possibilities available to this rapidly evolving nation.Trade Review"This thought-provoking volume by Jiang offers a vision for a Confucian constitutional order that may serve as a compelling alternative to both the status quo in China and a Western-style liberal democracy."--Choice "Qing's ideas are likely to be fairly widely known in China and will probably become more so... [The] book is significant because it breaks new ground by putting forward a fairly detailed proposal by a mainland Chinese academic for a non-Communist future Chinese system."--Kenneth C. Walker, Asian Affairs "No doubt, the book will generate thought-provoking debates. Although we may not agree with Jiang's political vision, we have to admit that he is a true believer who is not afraid to stand alone... For this, I give the book thumbs up. Last but not least, a special credit goes to Edmund Ryden, the translator, whose superb English rendering makes Jiang's basic political philosophy a fantastic read."--Ellen Y. Zhang, Dao "[T]his volume helps readers to see that there are many different ways that Confucianism may be able to play roles in political thinking both in China and more generally. Jiang Qing's is an important and provocative perspective."--Stephen C. Angle, Philosophy East and West "An excellent introduction to Jiang's thought and, more broadly, to some recent developments in the Chinese intellectual scene. Bell and Fan should be congratulated for their efforts, and Edmund Ryden should be proud of his translations... A Confucian Constitutional Order should surely take pride in its place among the Princeton-China Series publications."--Yuri Pines, China Review InternationalTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction 1 Daniel A. Bell Part I: A Confucian Constitutional Order * The Way of the Humane Authority: The Theoretical Basis for Confucian Constitutionalism and a Tricameral Parliament 27 Jiang Qing * The Supervisory System of Confucian Constitutionalism: Reflections on the Supervision of the State by the Academy 44 Jiang Qing * A Confucian Constitutionalist State: The Constitutional Role and Contemporary Significance of Republicanism under a Symbolic Monarch 71 Jiang Qing Part II: Comments * On the Legitimacy of Confucian Constitutionalism 99 Joseph Chan * An Old Mandate for a New State: On Jiang Qing's Political Confucianism 113 Bai Tongdong * Transcendent Heaven? A Critique of Jiang Qing's Grounding of the Right to Rule 129 Chenyang Li * Is the Way of the Humane Authority a Good Thing? An Assessment of Confucian Constitutionalism 139 Wang Shaoguang Part III: Response to the Commentators * Debating with My Critics 161 Jiang Qing Notes 209 Bibliography 241 Contributors 249 Index 251

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Book SynopsisSince the very beginning, Confucianism has been troubled by a serious gap between its political ideals and the reality of societal circumstances. This title examines and reconstructs both Confucian political thought and liberal democratic institutions, blending them to form a Confucian political philosophy.Trade Review"[T]he political vision that emerges from the pages of this book is reasonable, humane and inspiring."--Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "Chan has created a very interesting work in the Confucian tradition of revival and reinterpretations for current times."--Choice "[This book is] at the forefront of contemporary attempts to grapple with the normative and empirical issues presented by East Asian politics and the relationship of those issues with democracy. [It] supplies important insights into, and reasons for, considering alternatives to liberal democracy, but also raises equally important questions and problems related to those alternatives."--David J. Lorenzo, Perspectives on Politics "Joseph Chan's book is an exceptionally ambitious yet moderate reconstruction of Confucianism for such an inhospitable world and, as such, it is important both in its own right and as an exemplar of a steadily expanding normative enterprise."--Jiwei Ci, Dao "Chan's writing is very clear and wellstructured. His arguments and in-depth analysis of issues shows that he has a thorough understanding of the strengths and limitations of both western liberal democracy and ancient Confucianism."--Andrew T.W. Hung, European Political ScienceTable of ContentsForeword by Series Editor ix Preface xi Introduction. Interplay between the Political Ideal and Reality 1 PART I. Political Authority and Institution 25 Chapter 1. What Is Political Authority? 27 Chapter 2. Monism or Limited Government? 46 Chapter 3. The Role of Institution 65 Chapter 4. Mixing Confucianism and Democracy 81 PART II. Rights, Liberties, and Justice 111 Chapter 5. Human Rights as a Fallback Apparatus 113 Chapter 6. Individual Autonomy and Civil Liberties 131 Chapter 7. Social Justice as Sufficiency for All 160 Chapter 8. Social Welfare and Care 178 Conclusion. Confucian Political Perfectionism 191 Appendix 1: Notes on Scope and Methods 205 Appendix 2: Against the Ownership Conception of Authority 213 Bibliography 233 Index 247

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Book SynopsisThe intellectual legacy of Confucianism has loomed large in efforts to understand China's past, present, and future. While Confucian ethics has been thoroughly explored, the question remains: what exactly is Confucian political thought? Classical Confucian Political Thought returns to the classical texts of the Confucian tradition to answer this viTrade Review"A probing, well-organized, clearly written work. . . . She contextualizes her arguments knowledgeably in historical and textual terms alike, constructing a surprisingly sophisticated presentation of a wide-ranging yet clearly defined reading of Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi. . . . . This sinologically and philosophically solid study deserves a wide readership and belongs in all collections."---Russell Kirkland, Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Note on Translations and Transliterations xi Prologue 1 * Ethics and Politics in Classical Confucianism 2 * The Thesis of This Book 9 * Historical Background 16 * Chapter Outline 26 Chapter 1. Ruler and Ruled 29 * The Virtue Argument 30 * The People-Continued 37 * Hegemons 51 * Conclusion 61 Chapter 2. Rules and Regulations 62 * Security 63 * Welfare 68 * Promoting the Worthy 73 * Conclusion 80 Chapter 3. A Harmonious Society 82 * The Case against the Mohists 84 * Rituals 91 * Filiality 107 * Conclusion 114 Chapter 4. Rulers and Ministers 117 * Xunzi's Vision 118 * Insubordinate Ministers 124 * Revisiting the Question of Virtuous Rulership 135 * Conclusion 140 Chapter 5. Political Involvement 143 * Biographical Preliminaries 144 * The Virtue of Political Involvement 145 * Dilemmas of Political Life 151 * Conclusion 174 Chapter 6. Heaven in Politics 176 * Heaven's Allotments 180 * Uncertainty and Political Involvement 184 * Heaven's Patterns 190 * Conclusion 193 Epilogue 194 Bibliography 197 Index 207

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Of Note in the 2018 Freeman Book Awards (Young Adult / High School Books), Weatherhead East Asian Institute of Columbia University"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"An insightful guide to a mode of thinking becoming ever stronger in a China that has turned strongly against liberalism."---Rana Mitter, Financial Times"Sprawling and ambitious. . . . A great accomplishment."---Russell Arben Fox, The Review of Politics"An important contribution to contemporary Confucian political theory."---Sungmoon Kim, The Review of Politics

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"An insightful guide to a mode of thinking becoming ever stronger in a China that has turned strongly against liberalism."---Rana Mitter, Financial Times"Sprawling and ambitious. . . . A great accomplishment."---Russell Arben Fox, The Review of Politics"An important contribution to contemporary Confucian political theory."---Sungmoon Kim, The Review of Politics

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Iulian Shchutskii's groundbreaking Researches on the I Ching remains an inspiring work for anybody with an interest in the Yijing’s history, traditions, structure, and significance." * Contemplating the I Ching *

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Book SynopsisThe role of Confucianism in the development of East Asian Cultures has only recently begun to be fully appreciated. Even with this recognition, there is still little understanding of the tradition as a religious tradition. This book presents Confucianism as a religious tradition. In no other book has there been a sustained presentation of the many and varied religious dimensions of the tradition.

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Book SynopsisThe Ling Ch''I Ching was first created by an unknown Chinese scholar who consciously sought to present the world with a more accessible oracle than the esoteric I Ching . For centuries the Ling Ch''I Ching has been a popular divination device for attaining self-knowledge and wisdom. Like its more famous cousin, the I Ching , the Ling Ch''I Ching is rich in poetic language and metaphorical imagery, linking the dynamic principles of heaven and earth with the affairs of people. But the Ling Ch''I Ching is far more accessible than the I Ching , focusing on the concerns of day-to-day life and positive accomplishment, with no moving lines to interpret. The method of consultation includes throwing twelve coins, which are then arranged in three rows to yield one of 125 possible trigraphs. In the text, each trigraph is represented by a core oracle describing a situation, problem, or event, and its internal dynamic, along with a verse emphasizing the trigraph''s more subtle, intuitive qu

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Book SynopsisTraces the history of the Jesuits' invention of Confucius and of themselves as native defenders of Confucius' teaching. This book demonstrates how sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Western missionaries used translations of the ancient ru tradition to invent the historical figure who has since been globally celebrated as philosopher, and prophet.Trade Review“A thesis that will scandalize cultural purists: the ‘Confucius’ we love, honor and emulate springs from the intercultural trafficking of seventeenth-century Jesuit missionaries. Jensen argues his case on many planes, with nuance and bedrock affection for both China and sinology.”—Haun Saussy, Stanford University, and author of The Problem of a Chinese Aesthetic“Jensen makes his case with a forceful combination of detailed sinological research and rigorous reasoning. It is certain to be a focus of discussion for many decades to come. Indeed, it will be a significant milestone in the field.”—Hoyt Cleveland Tillman, Arizona State University, and author of Confucian Discourse and Chu Hsi’s Ascendancy

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Book SynopsisTraces the history of the Jesuits' invention of Confucius and of themselves as native defenders of Confucius' teaching. This book demonstrates how sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Western missionaries used translations of the ancient ru tradition to invent the historical figure who has since been globally celebrated as philosopher, and prophet.Trade Review“A thesis that will scandalize cultural purists: the ‘Confucius’ we love, honor and emulate springs from the intercultural trafficking of seventeenth-century Jesuit missionaries. Jensen argues his case on many planes, with nuance and bedrock affection for both China and sinology.”—Haun Saussy, Stanford University, and author of The Problem of a Chinese Aesthetic“Jensen makes his case with a forceful combination of detailed sinological research and rigorous reasoning. It is certain to be a focus of discussion for many decades to come. Indeed, it will be a significant milestone in the field.”—Hoyt Cleveland Tillman, Arizona State University, and author of Confucian Discourse and Chu Hsi’s Ascendancy

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Book SynopsisThe Zhongyong - translated here as Focusing the Familiar has been regarded as a document of enormous wisdom for more than two millennia and is one of Confucianism's most sacred and seminal texts. This translation seeks to provide a distinctly philosophical interpretation.

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Book Synopsis

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