The Frustration of Modern Chinese Thinking

Author: (Japan) Shinkichi Shimada
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This book presents a broad perspective, depicting the development of modern Chinese intellectual history from Wang Yangming through the Taizhou School to Li Zhuowu, known as the "Left Wing of Wang Xue." It recreates the vibrant atmosphere of society and intellectual movements at the time and points out the emergence of the seeds of modern civic consciousness during this period. At the same time, the book portrays a picture where these new developments, due to their early emergence, ultimately suffered meaningless setbacks. In Japan, this book is a groundbreaking study that was among the earliest to propose the concept of "modern China" in the study of Chinese intellectual history. It is a must-read for Japanese scholars researching Chinese thought and an important work that examines the post-WWII Japanese historical school's reflection on pre-war Japan while exploring the significant post-war academic topic of the "Theory of Asian Stagnation." In fact, the study of modern Chinese thought in post-WWII Japan began with this book.