History of Chinese Philosophy (2 Volumes)

Author: Zhong Tai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-01-01
Features: This book was written by Mr. Zhong Tai over three years, reflecting the subtleties of wisdom and presenting objective and fair discussions on various schools of thought. As a work completed early in its publication, it is grand in scope, profound in thought, yet rare in existence, making it highly valuable for philosophy enthusiasts and researchers. The book is divided into two volumes and can be broadly categorized into four periods: the period from the beginning of recorded history to the Qin Dynasty as ancient history; second, the Han and Tang Dynasties as medieval history; third, the Song and Ming Dynasties as near ancient history; and fourth, the Qing Dynasty as modern history. In the ancient philosophy section, the author primarily discusses six key concepts: "being heaven," "fulfilling humanity," "prioritizing filial piety," "using the middle way," "governing the people," and the six arts of the learned officials, as well as the main ideas of Laozi (including the Dao, wuwei, the Three Treasures, the infant, enriching education, the Great Unity and the Small Unity, and the study of fame and knowledge), Mengzi (including universal love, non-attack, moderation in expenditure, the Heavenly Will, the Mohist Canon), Yangzi (including self-interest, nurturing life, on life and death, and on fame and reality), Shangjun (including agriculture and warfare, opening borders, and reforming laws), Zhuangzi (including the Grand Master, On the Equality of Things, the Master of Nourishing Life, and Responding to the Emperor), Mengzi (including the goodness of nature, expansion, and the debate on righteousness and profit), Hui Shi and Gongsun Long's "White Horse Argument," as well as the main ideas of Xunzi and Han Feizi. In the medieval philosophy section, the focus is on the rise of Confucianism in the Han and Tang Dynasties, the thoughts of Jia Sheng and Dong Zhongshu, the ideas of King Huai of Huainan, as well as the main ideas of Yang Xiong, Wang Chong, and Zheng Xuan. In the near ancient philosophy section, the focus is on the Neo-Confucianism of the Song scholars. In the modern philosophy section, the focus is on the philosophy advocated by Qing scholars. The entire book adopts a historical and biographical style, pioneering a new chapter in the compilation of philosophy history. Its content is presented in a very objective and accurate manner, making it highly worth reading for philosophy enthusiasts and researchers.