Eastern Asia

Abstract

In mainland China, at Beijing University, Jin Xiping studies Husserl, Heidegger, and ancient Greek philosophy. Zhang Xianglong not only studies phenomenological literature, but also brings the spirit of phenomenology to the study of Chinese traditional philosophy. In Taiwan, at National Chengchi University, Wang Wen-sheng concentrates on the exploration of Husserl’s and Heidegger’s phenomenology. Chang Ting-kuo, who suffered an untimely death, has left a concise and very rich corpus on phenomenology and hermeneutics. Heidegger’s philosophy appeals to Korean phenomenologists at least for two reasons. First, his critique of modernity becomes more and more meaningful in South Korea, insofar as its society and citizens are rapidly modernizing, with many problems that Europe has already encountered. Second, Heidegger’s interest in East Asian thinking and his approach to it have inspired many Korean phenomenologists to make comparative studies of his philosophy and East Asian thinking, including Korean traditional philosophy.