Indian Philosophy: A Brief Overview

Author: Tang Yutong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The Century Human Culture Series encompasses five sub-series: "The Century Library," "The Century Frontier," "Pocket Classics," "University Classics," and "Open Humanities." Each series stands on its own yet complements the others. "Clarifying the lineage of Western thought and revitalizing the academic tradition of China" serves as the editorial principle of "The Century Library." The library is divided into two major book series: the Chinese Studies series and the Western Studies series. The Chinese Studies series, starting from the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, comprehensively organizes academic works since modern China, aiming to provide a progressive framework for contemporary reflection on the social and spiritual conditions of modern China. The Western Studies series aims to systematically translate and introduce classic texts from Western civilization since ancient Greece and Rome, thereby showcasing the emergence and evolution of Western thought traditions and laying a solid textual foundation for addressing the core issues of modern China. This book is part of the Western Studies series, written by Tang Yutong. Mr. Tang Yutong was a renowned scholar of Buddhist history in China, and his work A Brief History of Indian Philosophy was the first important work in China to study the history of Indian philosophy using modern scientific methods. In the preface, the author writes: "Gathering materials from both China and India, drawing on recent research by others, and compiling several essays, starting from ancient times up to Shankara, I have now revised and expanded them into twelve chapters, striving to have them published, perhaps offering some temporary assistance to scholars." This book covers the philosophy of the Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, and other schools from ancient India up to the origins and development of Buddhism, as well as the various foreign paths and philosophical schools of the time, culminating in Shankara's Vedanta. It provides a comprehensive overview of the religion and philosophy of India before the eighth century in the Western Regions. The book offers a meticulous analysis of Indian philosophy, the origins and evolution of Buddhism, and remains an internationally recognized academic classic to this day.