Chinese Philosophy Research Articles

Ethics of Motherhood in Chinese Traditions

Abstract In this essay, I aim to highlight the neglected fundamental notion of Motherhood as an ethical principle within Chinese philosophy, particularly in Taoism. Traditionally, it has been relegated to the realm of the Yin-Principle or the Feminine, serving as a complementary as well as opposite pole to the Yang- or Masculine-Principle. However, this interpretation would lead to the narrowing of the primordial essence and potentially misinterpret the fundamental ethos of Taoism. This exploration has implications that reach beyond its very theme. Through the discussions within contemporary Confucianism surrounding concepts like Tian-Xia (天下, All under Heaven), Qinqin (亲亲, Family), or role ethics, it becomes evident that a patriarchal emphasis often prevails, overshadowing the maternal character of Chinese Philosophy and Culture. In contrast to monotheistic traditions where an almighty God creates ex-nihilo (out of nothing), Chinese mythology, as seen in the stories of Pangu and Nüwa, depicts an archaic development of the cosmos, distinct from the creation myths found in Western religions. Notably, the goddess Nüwa is credited with the creation of human beings. In the following, I will explore the ethical dimensions of motherhood within Chinese philosophical traditions, notably within the intertwined contexts of Confucianism, Sinicized Buddhism, and particularly Taoism. Through this examination, my objective is to scrutinize the ethical and cultural underpinnings of Confucianism by juxtaposing the interplay between Confucian tenets like Ren (仁, benevolence, humanity) and self-cultivation with maternal ethical principles. This will underscore the differences between maternal and paternal roles within familial relationships and unveil the implicit authoritarianism inherent in Confucian paternalism.

Introduction: How Can Unearthed Documents Push Forward the Study of Early Chinese Philosophy?

Introduction: How Can Unearthed Documents Push Forward the Study of Early Chinese Philosophy?

Embedded Agency in Early Chinese Philosophy: Time, Place, and Orientation

Embedded Agency in Early Chinese Philosophy: Time, Place, and Orientation

Prudence in the Anthropocene

Abstract The deliberative judgment referred to in the history of rhetoric as phronesis, practical wisdom, or prudence might have prevented the existential crisis of the Anthropocene era, but it seems unable to reverse the damage or provide a basis for ecological sustainability. This essay offers several considerations for adapting this traditional model of judgment to take up the new challenge. The normative, calculative, and performative modalities of prudential thinking, along with insights provided by the Chinese philosopher Xu Changfu, provide a basis for examining political, technocratic, ethical, and artistic mentalities for addressing global warming, assessing their strengths and weaknesses in respect to effective advocacy, and learning from them to improve and expand practical wisdom. Special emphasis is given to paying attention to art, artists, and aesthetic values on behalf of developing an attitude of ecological mindfulness.

The Main Framework of Ancient Chinese Management Thought from the Perspective of Traditional Culture

Ancient Chinese management philosophy is an important component of traditional Chinese culture, reflecting the thinking and summary of management practices by ancient Chinese people. This article summarizes the core viewpoints of major schools of thought such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism from the perspective of traditional culture, as well as their implications for modern management. Through in-depth exploration of ancient management ideas, we can better understand the values and management concepts of traditional Chinese culture, and provide inspiration and reference for contemporary management practices.

Integrating classical Chinese philosophy with (Kantian) pragmatist metaphysics: comments on JeeLoo Liu’s essay

This paper is a brief comment on JeeLoo Liu’s interpretation of classical Chinese philosophy, especially Wang Yangming’s (1472–1529) views, in terms of pragmatist metaphysics primarily drawn from William James and Hilary Putnam. Liu’s reading of Wang Yangming both in the context of the Chinese tradition and in relation to pragmatism is most welcome as a novel contribution to comparative and intercultural philosophy. However, in such comparisons, we also have to be careful to avoid anachronistically attributing, e.g., Kantian and/or pragmatist ideas to earlier thinkers coming from a very different cultural context.

Transtegrasi Ilmu dalam Persfektif Sejarah Filsafat

This research aims to determine the historical development of philosophy and science as well as the transintegration of internal science from a philosophical perspective using the literature study method. Philosophy is considered to be the mother of science and is considered to be the first and last science which logically requires that other sciences be mastered, so that to understand philosophy one must also master other sciences, therefore philosophy can be transintegrated with various other sciences. In fact, to achieve true truth is knowledge. How philosophy can establish the transintegration of knowledge from various perspectives, one of which is history. To obtain the truth of philosophy when viewed from history. Human society, culture and the natural environment have a close relationship and are interconnected. This is what has structured and filled the history of philosophy with the various characteristics it carries and is inherent in. Based on these four things, philosophers generally divide philosophy into 4 (four) major traditions, namely Indian, Chinese, Islamic and Western philosophy. These 4 (four) great philosophical traditions gave birth to modern philosophy which then gave birth to the transintegration of science. Truth in philosophy and science is the truth of reason. Meanwhile, truth in religion is revelation. Thus, if philosophy, science and religion are united, there will be a transintegration of sophisticated and modern knowledge.

Understanding the Notion of Self-Experience and Its Psychoanalytic and Cultural Implications in Working with Chinese Clients

ABSTRACT “Self-experience” is a popular phrase among Chinese psychotherapist professional circles. This article provides a historical overview of the development of this term and explores the underlying social, cultural, and historical elements of the dynamics of this unique lexical choice. We argue that the preference for using “self-experience” instead of “personal treatment” implies a tendency of the Chinese collective consciousness to depathologize the inner feelings of traumatic experience, reflecting the Chinese philosophy of life, that is, emphasizing the upward potential to grow and learn to change. On the other hand, we need to be careful in assessing whether psychoanalysis is comprehending patients’ cultural and historical contexts so that we are healing the trauma rather than creating new ones.

PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TRADITIONAL IMAGE OF NATURE IN ANCIENT CHINESE PHILOSOPHY

The article is devoted to the modern analysis of approaches to the image of nature in Ancient Chinese philosophy. In the research, the author focuses attention on the image of nature as an important element for research in ecological and philosophical discourses. The concept of understanding the concept of Nature in ancient Chinese philosophy is revealed. Attention is drawn to the peculiarity of Ancient Chinese philosophy as one of the oldest philosophies in the world, the specifics of its thinking and understanding of nature are revealed, which influenced the development of human civilization in general. The main question of this study is the analysis of approaches to the transcription of the image of nature in ancient Chinese philosophy and its significance for modern human civilization. By reviewing and analyzing the relevant literature, the evolution of this phenomenon is revealed.

Vklad russkih emigrantov v kul'turnyj obmen mezhdu Zapadom i Vostokom v Severo-Vostochnom Kitae (1896–1959 gg.)

After the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway began in 1896, a large number of Russian emigrants appeared in Northeastern China, who were involved in cultural, educational and religious activities in settlements located along the CER. This contributed to the spread of European social and natural science, culture and religion in Northeast China. At the same time, Russian emigrants used Western methodology and philosophy of science to study Chinese politics, economics, history, geography, religion, art and philosophy, contributing to the spread of Chinese studies in Russia and in the world. This activity was aimed at demonstrating authentic Chinese culture to the world, and its representatives acted as cultural intermediaries, promoting cultural exchange between Russia and China and spreading the achievements of Western civilization among the Chinese.

PENGGUNAAN MOTIF DAN ORNAMENTASI CINA DALAM PEMBINAAN RUMAH WARISAN: KAJIAN KE ATAS RUMAH DEMANG ABDUL GHANI

The Demang Abdul Ghani House is a heritage residence that has been gazetted as a museum under the Malacca State Heritage Department. Built at the end of the 18th century, this house holds high artistic value as it incorporates a mix of diverse motifs and architectural styles, including English, Javanese, Portuguese, Dutch, and Chinese. However, this study focuses solely on the Chinese motifs and ornamentation present in the house. The first objective of this research is to examine the forms of Chinese motifs and ornamentation found in the house. The second objective is to explore the underlying meanings behind the use of these Chinese motifs in the house. This study employs observational methods to collect data and descriptive methods to interpret each motif. The findings reveal that the Chinese motifs and ornamentation in the house fall into three categories: floral, animal, and cosmic. All these motifs are interrelated and possess implicit meanings believed to bring benefits and prosperity to the house's occupants, according to Chinese philosophy and culture.

COSMOLOGICAL CONCEPT OF TIME IN “THE CHANGE OF ZHOU” (“THE BOOL OF CHANGE”)

This paper represents one chapter from my PhD dissertation, written and successfully defended at Beijing Normal University in 2012. The whole content is translated from my doctoral dissertation that was originally written in Chinese language. According to the existing references, the earliest Chinese philosopher who mentioned in his essays the word “cosmos – yuzhou” was Shi Jiao (390-330 BC). He said: “four directions of Heaven and Earth are called ′yu′, time since ancient times till today is called ′zhou′”. In other words, yu represents space, while zhou symbolizes time, and that is why Chinese ancient cosmology may be even called “concept of space and time”. Inscriptions on the oracle bones and tortoiseshells with the symbols called “ganzhi”, originating from the Yin dynasty, were used to record hours, days, months and years i.e. time, but at the same time, Chinese people used these symbols to mark the directions of space, too. All of the cosmological diagrams used by “The Change of Zhou” and yijingologists, like Fuxi’s transcendental bagua diagram, king Wen’s empirical bagua diagram, river map and Luo book simultaneously depict time and space. In the eyes of the Chinese people, since ancient times, time and space are one whole and inseparable unity. However, being a foreigner, the writer of these lines will separately analyze the meaning of time in “The Book of Change”. As a foreigner, I find that the greatest charm of Chinese characters is that every character holds the whole history and etymology of one word or term in it. In other words, the most prominent feature of Chinese characters is symbolism. Therefore, if we want to explore “the time” concept, we must start from the character 时- shi meaning “time”. Character shi is formed of one radical meaning “sun”, and another meaning “measure”. This shows that the meaning of character shi is “measuring the sun”, i.e. measuring the length of sun shadow. The shorter the sun shadow is, the weather is being warmer and the Yang energy gets more abundant. It explains that character shi depicts increasing and decreasing of Yin and Yang energy in the cosmos and on the Earth. This paper analyzes time concept in “The Change of Zhou” from the Chinese and Western point of view. It explains meanings of Heavenly dao, Heavenly time, chance and synchronicity. The paper uses time theories (like simplicity of time, presentism, etc.) of German scientist Leibniz（1646 – 1716）, and famous Swiss psychologist Carl Jung’s（1875 - 1961） concepts (like cosmical archetypes and synchronicities), and compare them with ideas of “the cognition of subtle”, “progress through change” and “capability to grasp the chance” in “The Change of Zhou”. Finally, it combines and summarises the concept of time from “The Change of Zhou” and Western point of view.

The development of music education philosophy in mainland China during 1990–2022: A corpus-based thematic review

This study used corpus-based text analysis to examine the discourse on Music Education Philosophy (MEP) in 346 Chinese scholarly articles published after 1990. Applying topic modelling techniques, the study identified 685 key terms in the corpus that collectively established six prevailing themes: Aesthetics, Praxis, Confucianism, Teaching and Learning, Values of music education, and Influence factors of music education. It was discovered that Aesthetics, Praxis, and Confucianism were three streams in Chinese literature that significantly influenced the MEP study landscape. In contrast, the other three topics served as the ‘battleground’ for these competing philosophical paradigms. The study discussed the sources of contemporary MEP in China, where combined influences from European North American Chinese philosophies are evident. It was argued that music, education, and philosophy emerge as three equally critical components that collectively define the inherent ‘nature’ of MEP. Thus, while the nature of music does not predetermine the nature of music education, the foundation of music education was shaped collectively by understandings, judgements, and expectations of music and education in the Chinese context. In addition, corpus analysis presented a promising methodological approach for tracing the evolution of discourse over time and facilitating critical inquiries in MEP discourses.

The essence of dance. A study of Chinese and Western dance philosophy: socio-cultural, historical and educational aspects

ABSTRACT The art of dance is an intangible cultural heritage that occupies a special place in the social and cultural policy of China. The purpose of this research is to identify the specifics of Chinese and Western dance philosophy. The dance philosophy is a complex notion, which is possible to study through various research methods, including the following: dialectical, semiotic, specific historical, socio-cultural and analytical as well as expert evaluation. This study concludes that the philosophical framework of Chinese and Western dance art plays an essential role. The authors developed a conceptual framework for understanding Chinese and Western dance philosophies. The research revealed that the unique traditions of Chinese national dance are an integral part of the country’s cultural heritage and reflect the philosophical aspects of dance within the multicultural environment. The research results can be used in dance pedagogy, choreography, and dance lessons to improve the techniques and skills of dancers. Further research is needed to compare the philosophies of Chinese folk dances and Western folk dances from different countries and historical periods.

Chinese philosophy—embodied philosophy

Chinese philosophy—embodied philosophy

The Practice of Chinese Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence Education

The Practice of Chinese Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence Education

Interpreting Confucianism in Chinese Philosophical Context with Qualia Structure

Chinese philosophy understood through the key philosophical terms has been made familiar to Western readers by first “Christianizing” it, and then by “Orientalizing” it. Many of new translations of these canonical texts are uncritically perpetuating the same formula for rendering key philosophical terms proffered in the earlier efforts at cultural translation. Those who are working with the Master of Confucianism in China reconsider the Confucian values and attempt to interpret Confucianism in Chinese philosophical context. This paper employs the qualia structure (Pustejovsky 1991) to verify the validation of three important Confucian concepts, rén (仁), lǐ(礼) and dé (德), of the total 92 Confucian conceptual terms from The Analects (Lúnyǚ,《论语》) and Tao-Te Ching (Dàodéjīng,《道德经》) as the case studies. The qualia structure investigates the semantic information of the core characters in both source and target text which can effectively clarify the correspondence in Chinese-English translation in that the equivalent semantic information can be regarded as the equivalent translation. Furthermore, through this research, misunderstandings can be avoided and foreigners will find it easy to understand Chinese culture.

“Chineseness”: A Discussion on Cases Related to Tulou in Contemporary Chinese Architecture

The article delves into the concept of “Chineseness” in contemporary Chinese architecture, a strategic tool for creating distinctive styles rooted in Chinese identity. It serves not only to distinguish projects from market-driven trends but also to establish a pivotal position in the global architectural landscape. "Chineseness" among 24 identified keywords represents a practical strategy embraced by many young architects with international exposure. The traditional Chinese dwelling, a symbol of familial and cultural essence, particularly in the context of home culture, is a primary inspiration for contemporary architects. The research adopts a case study approach, focusing on Tulou-related cases from the last fifteen years, encompassing various building types. The Tulou, a mountain-dwelling with rich cultural connotations, is introduced, reflecting ancient Chinese philosophies in its architectural principles. The case studies, including URBANUS’s “Tulou Collective Housing 2008" and Chengdu’s “Tulou Theater,” demonstrate how Tulou prototypes can be creatively adapted. These designs not only replicate forms but also capture the communal spirit inherent in traditional dwellings. “Stepped Courtyards” by OPEN Architecture reinterprets Tulou typology for a staff dormitory, emphasizing community awareness. In conclusion, the concept of “Chineseness” emerges as a prominent topic, showcasing the dynamic and adaptable nature of traditional Chinese culture and modern architectural expressions. The cases illustrate the evolving intersection between traditional Chinese culture and modern architecture, offering insights into the future trajectory of Chinese architectural culture. The interrelated keywords highlight the nuanced and evolving nature of “Chineseness” in architectural practices.

From individual resilience to collective response: reframing ecological emotions as catalysts for holistic environmental engagement.

The ongoing international study on the mental health implications of climate change has prompted a deeper exploration of ecological emotions such as eco-anxiety, eco-worry and eco-grief, which are associated with environmental degradation and the escalating climate crisis. Although psychological and mental health literature has mainly presented preliminary conceptual analyses, the understanding of ecological emotions remains unclear. This narrative review aims to clarify the definition, highlight precipitating factors, and outline the effects of ecological emotions on mental health, emphasizing the need for thorough research to shift the nonclinical intervention approach from merely promoting individual resilience to encouraging collective engagement. Our analysis of the literature reveals that the existing theoretical framework, which predominantly focuses on bolstering individual resilience, provides only temporary relief for acute symptoms without addressing the foundational social and environmental factors that trigger these ecological emotions. We conclude that it is crucial to overcome the limitations of Western anthropocentrism's human-to-human interaction approach and embrace the unity of humans and nature to effectively manage the increasing ecological emotions. This perspective draws insights from the holistic and collective wisdom of indigenous cultures and traditional Chinese philosophy, offering a potential pathway toward maintaining a sustainable emotional balance amid the worsening global ecological turmoil.

Visual Analysis of the Design Thinking Process of Yixing Zisha Teapots

Yixing Zisha teapots are an integral part of China's intangible cultural heritage, with their design traditions primarily relying on oral teaching and practice rather than systematic theoretical research. To address this research gap, this study engaged 10 expert practitioners in a design workshop, where numerous design sketches were produced. Using visual analysis, these sketches were thoroughly visually analyzed to explore the design processes and thinking patterns of Yixing Zisha teapot creation. The results reveal that the design process involves six distinct aspects: design form, design methods, design themes, design proportion, Classical Chinese philosophy, and decorative design. By systematically analyzing these aspects, this study preliminarily constructs a model of the design thinking process for Yixing Zisha teapots. This finding provides valuable perspectives and theoretical support for standardizing and systematizing the design processes of Yixing Zisha teapots, aiding in the education of new designers, and preserving the vitality of this traditional craft. These achievements not only open new research directions for the future development of Yixing Zisha teapot design but also offer insights and inspiration for the design research of other traditional crafts.