Series of Special Topic Histories of Chinese Culture -- History of Chinese Scholarship

Author: Zhang Guogang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This book comprehensively and systematically elaborates on the basic development and major achievements of Chinese academic thought from the pre-Qin period to the late Qing Dynasty. It provides appropriate discussions on the evolution of traditional academic thought and its trends over three thousand years, including the pre-Qin philosophers, Han Dynasty Confucianism, Wei-Jin Neo-Daoism, Sui-Tang Buddhism, Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, and late Qing pragmaticism. In the author's view, the history of Chinese academic thought is the history of Chinese scholars exploring the mysteries of nature and society. It encompasses both conceptual forms such as processes, achievements, and ideas, as well as tangible outcomes like conclusions, results, and thoughts. It is analytical, covering specific aspects of traditional academic categories such as classics, history, poetry, and philosophy; yet it is also synthetic, encompassing the academic trends and thought of an era. Therefore, while fully discussing the historical characteristics of major academic trends in each period, the book also introduces academic achievements in other fields in a coherent and organized manner. The text is concise, fluent, highlights key points, and is easy to understand, making it a highly academic introductory read on specialized academic topics.