Introduction to Chinese Culture

Author: Jianzhong Li
Publisher: Wuhan University Press
Book Description:
This book is part of a series of textbooks for general education in higher education institutions. It comprehensively and systematically introduces the basic knowledge, main types, theoretical principles, and spiritual qualities of Chinese culture, presenting authentically and profoundly the vastness, depth, and long history of Chinese culture. It strives to examine traditional culture from a modern perspective and explore the path of modernization for Chinese culture. Its content specifically covers all aspects of Chinese culture, including philosophy, politics, academia, aesthetics, customs, science and technology, and artifacts.
It provides macro-level interpretations of theoretical issues in the history of contemporary literature, such as historiographical perspectives, logical construction, and spatiotemporal concepts, as well as micro-level analyses of historical narration, creative trends, and literary works in the history of contemporary literature. This book will be beneficial for readers to gain a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of the history of contemporary literature, filling gaps in systematic research on this field.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: An Overview of "Chinese Culture"
1. What is "Culture"?
2. What is "Chinese Culture"?
3. What Are the Characteristics of "Chinese Culture"?
Chapter 1: Philosophical Culture
1.1 Confucian Philosophy
1.2 Taoist Philosophy
1.3 Buddhist Philosophy
Chapter 2: Political Culture
2.1 Ritual and Governance
2.2 Legal and Administrative Systems
2.3 Governmental Offices and Officials
2.4 Imperial Examinations and Education
Chapter 3: Academic Culture
3.1 Pre-Qin Neo-Confucianism
3.2 Han Dynasty Classics
3.3 Wei-Jin Neo-Daoism
3.4 Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism
3.5 Qing Dynasty School of Pragmatism
Chapter 4: Aesthetic Culture
4.1 Music, Go, Calligraphy, and Painting
4.2 Prose, Poetry, and Verses
4.3 Opera and Fiction
4.4 Music and Dance
Chapter 5: Folk Culture
5.1 Surnames and Address Terms
5.2 Clan and Family System
5.3 Etiquette and Customs
5.4 Seasonal Festivals
Chapter 6: Technological Culture
6.1 Astronomy and Calendar
6.2 Traditional Medicine
6.3 Forestry, Agriculture, and Mathematics
6.4 Inventions and Creations
Chapter 7: Artifactual Culture
7.1 Attire and Dress
7.2 Food and Cooking
7.3 Palaces and Gardens
7.4 Vehicles and Miscellaneous Items
7.5 Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Conclusion: The Modernization of Chinese Culture
1. The Historical Process of Western Learning in East
2. Cultural Reconstruction in the Era of Globalization
3. "Though Zhou is an old state, its destiny is always renewal"
Main References
Postscript