Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism and Taoism, Volume 1 and 2

Author: Kong Linghong
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: The development of Chinese philosophy can be traced back to ancient times, passing through the Shang and Zhou dynasties, to the pre-Qin period when Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Legalism, and other schools flourished. Each clearly recognized its existence among diverse others, mutually influencing one another while competing as peaks, each leading its own era—arguably the golden age of Chinese philosophy. Among these, Confucianism and Taoism had the deepest impact on Chinese culture. Later, the Yellow Elder Taoism thrived during the Han dynasty, and Emperor Wu of Han even exclusively honored Confucianism. However, if it could not continue to expand and transcend, deepen its intellectual foundations, and instead become self-enclosed, even Confucianism and Taoism would inevitably decline. The second stage began in the Eastern Han dynasty and reached its peak in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. During this period, while new Taoism found opportunities for self-transcendence in metaphysics, reviving its vitality, Taoist philosophy ultimately relied on the development of Taoism to continue its legacy. The third stage is the period of Song and Ming Confucianism, primarily based on Confucian thought while further integrating the Buddhist, Taoist, and Taoist Daoist ideas that had previously challenged it. The fourth stage is the modern period of Chinese philosophy, which began in 1583 when the Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci introduced Western science, philosophy, and Christianity, posing new challenges to Chinese philosophy.