Emerson and China -- A Reflection on Individualism

Author: Qian Manru
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-04-01
Features: Emerson and China—A Reflection on Individualism
Emerson is a central figure in the history of American thought. The transcendentalist philosophy he proposed in the mid-19th century represents the essence of American culture and is the key to understanding the American spirit. This book not only comprehensively grasps Emerson's thought but also opens up a nearly blank field in Western Emerson studies—Emerson's adoption and rejection of the spirit of Confucianism. In this sense, the book is a pioneering achievement in the field of international American studies. By examining Emerson's adoption and rejection of Confucianism, the author compares and contrasts the cultural spirit of Confucian tradition with the Western one. On the one hand, it points out the strengths and weaknesses of the American cultural spirit that starts from the individual. On the other hand, through a positive and negative analysis of the concept of "individualism" from historical, philosophical, cultural, social, and political perspectives, it guides readers to reflect on and re-examine traditional Chinese culture. The line of thought is sharp and novel, and the arguments are incisive. It is both academically rigorous and practically significant. —Zhu Hong