The author here surveys the key texts and philosophical systems of Chinese thinkers in a completely original and illuminating way. Ranging from the Han dynasty to the present, he discusses the six classical schools of Chinese philosophy (Yin-Yang, Ru, Mo, Ming, Fa and Dao-De); the arrival of Buddhism in China and its distinctive development; the central figures and movements from the end of the Tang dynasty to the introduction into China of Western thought; and the impact of Chinese philosophers ranging from Confucius and Laozi to Tu Weiming on their equivalents in the West.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• Ontology: Questions about the Nature of Reality
• Introduction
• The Formation of the Early Chinese Worldview
• Lao-Zhuang (c.350–139 BCE) Daoist Ontology
• Buddhist Ontologies
• Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucian Views on Reality
• Wang Yangming (1472–1529)
• Shifting Paradigms in Chinese Ontologies
• Epistemology: Questions about the Nature and Scope of Knowledge
• Introduction
• The Mozi and the Later Mohist Debaters (bianshi)
• The Lao-Zhuang Tradition on Knowing the Truth (c.350–139 BCE)
• Mencius and Analogical Argumentation
• Wang Chong (c.27–100 CE): Critical Chinese Philosophy in the Classical Period
• Tiantai Buddhism's Threefold Truth Epistemology
• Wang Yangming (1472–1529): Pure Knowledge
• Zhang Dongsun (1886–1973): Pluralistic Cultural Epistemology
• Value Theory: Questions about the Nature and Application of Morality
• Introduction
• Confucius and the Analects on Self-cultivation and the Exemplary Person (c.500–300 BCE)
• Mohist Moral Philosophy (c.470–391 BCE)
• Lao-Zhuang Views of Morality (c.350–139 BCE)
• Mencius (c.372–289 BCE): Morality as Cultivated Human Nature
• Xunzi (310–220 BCE): On the Carving and Polishing of the Human Being
• Buddhist Moralities in the Chinese Context
• Zhu Xi (1130–1200): Fashioning the Human Being
• Wang Yangming (1472–1529): Moral Willing as Moral Knowing
• Dai Zhen (1724–77): The Proper Place of Desire in Morality
• Mou Zongsan (1909–95): Moral Metaphysics
• Political Philosophy: Questions about the Nature and Purpose of Government
• Introduction
• Confucius (551–479 BCE) on Rulership and the Function of Government
• Mencius's (c.372–289 BCE) Political Philosophy
• Lao Zhuang and Yellow Emperor Daoists on Rulership and Government
• Legalism and the Hanfeizi (c.280–233 BCE)
• Political Views of the Masters of Huainan (Huainanzi) (139 BCE)
• Yan Fu (1854–1921): China Not Ready for Democracy
• Liang Qichao (1873–1929): Emergent Chinese Nationalism
• Mao Zedong (1893–1976): The Sinification of Marxism in China
• Forms of Current Confucian Political Theory
• Other Current Confucian Models for Political Theory
• Guide to Philosophers and Significant Works
• The Chronicles of Zuo (Zuozhuan)
• Confucius and the Analects
• Dai Zhen (1723–77)
• “Great Commentary” of the Classic of Changes
• The “Great Plan” (Hong Fan) in the Classic of History (Shujing)
• Han Fei (c. 280–33 BCE)
• Hu Shi (1891–1962)
• Lao-Zhuang Tradition (c.350–139 BCE)
• Legalist School (fa jia)
• Liang Qichao (1873–1929)
• Lotus Sutra (i.e., The Sutra of the Lotus Blossom of the Subtle Dharma, Miaofa Lianhua Jing)
• Mao Zedong (1893–1976)
• Masters of Huainan (Huainanzi)
• Mencius (372–289 BCE)
• Mozi (a.k.a. Mo Di, c.470–391 BCE)
• Mou Zongsan (1909–95)
• Tu Weiming (1940–)
• Wang Chong (c.25–100 CE)
• Wang Yangming (1472–1529)
• Xuanzang (c.596–664)
• Xunzi (c.310–220 BCE)
• Yan Fu (1854–1921)
• Zhang Dongsun (1886–1973)
• Zhu Xi (1130–1200)
• Quick Guide to Pronunciation
• Comparative Chronology of Philosophers
• References