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  • © 2020

History of Chinese Philosophy Through Its Key Terms

  • Provides a conceptual overview of the evolution of Chinese philosophy from its earliest beginnings to the end of the imperial era

  • Focuses a broad field – the history of Chinese philosophy – using the lens of key terms

  • All chapters are self-contained and can be read separately

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Table of contents (37 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
  2. Way (Dao, 道)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 1-18
  3. Charismatic Power (de, 德)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 19-29
  4. The Heavens (tian, )

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 31-43
  5. Mandate (ming, 命)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 45-58
  6. Heart-Mind (xin, 心)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 59-74
  7. Natural Tendencies (Xing, 性)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 75-90
  8. Human Disposition (qing, 情)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 91-105
  9. Sincerity (cheng, 诚)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 107-116
  10. Trustworthiness (xin, 信)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 117-124
  11. Humaneness (ren, 仁)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 125-140
  12. Ritual Propriety (li, 礼)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 141-149
  13. Filial Piety (xiao, 孝)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 151-158
  14. Coherence (li, 理)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 159-176
  15. Vital Energy (qi, 气)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 177-190
  16. Being and Non-being (youwu, 有无)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 191-200
  17. Yin and Yang (yinyang, 阴阳)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 201-210
  18. The Five Phases (wuxing, 五行)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 211-220
  19. The Great Ultimate (taiji, 太极)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 221-231
  20. Self-so (ziran, 自然)

    • Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan
    Pages 233-241

About this book

This book provides a conceptual overview of the evolution of Chinese philosophy from its earliest beginnings to the end of the imperial era, highlighting 38 of the most essential terms in the Chinese philosophical tradition. Written by prominent contemporary scholars from Mainland China, the respective chapters cover topics ranging from cosmology, benti metaphysics, human nature, self-cultivation, and methodology, to views on history and politics. Each chapter addresses one of the constitutive terms of the Chinese philosophical tradition and provides clear historical information on how it was used and developed during the key periods of Chinese philosophy.
Highlighting both central concepts and essential structures of Chinese philosophy, the book allows readers to view the history of Chinese philosophy from the perspective of the Chinese themselves. Offering content that is both academically rigorous and accessible for a wider audience, this book is an indispensable reference guide for all students of Chinese philosophy.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Nanjing, China

    Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan

About the authors

Yueqing Wang is currently a Professor of Philosophy at Nanjing University, China. He has written many works on Chinese Buddhism. His works have been honored with various awards. In addition, he was the main editor of Classics of Chinese Philosophy (both the Chinese and English editions), which won the 14th Excellence in Chinese Export Award.

Qinggang Bao is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Marxism and Traditional Chinese Culture Research Center. His main areas of research are Confucian philosophy, Daoist philosophy, and Wei-Jin neo-Daoism. He has authored the works Reflection and Reconstruction: Researches in Guo Xiang’s Commentaries to the Zhuangzi and Wandering Far and Unfettered Through the Ages: Zhuangzi, and has co-authored several books, including Classics of Traditional Chinese Philosophy, Ten Influential Classics of Chinese Culture and Ten Influential Philosophers of Chinese Culture (all in Chinese). 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: History of Chinese Philosophy Through Its Key Terms

  • Authors: Yueqing Wang, Qinggang Bao, Guoxing Guan

  • Translated by: Shuchen Xiang

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2572-8

  • Publisher: Springer Singapore

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Nanjing University Press 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-15-2571-1Published: 17 March 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-15-2574-2Published: 17 March 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-15-2572-8Published: 16 March 2020

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XII, 439

  • Number of Illustrations: 10 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: History of Philosophy, Non-Western Philosophy, History of China

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access