Traditional Chinese Philosophy Research Articles

Chinese Philosophical Practice toward Self-Cultivation: Integrating Confucian Wisdom into Philosophical Counseling

Traditional Chinese philosophy has always paid much attention to the cultivation of one’s body and mind, speeches and behaviors. The contemporary rise of philosophical practice, especially in the context of philosophical counseling, presents an opportunity to integrate the rich legacy of Confucian self-cultivation. This paper endeavors to delineate the practical applications of Confucian principles in philosophical counseling, with special emphasis on the actionable concepts of “gongfu” and “jingjie” and their synthesis in the “unity of knowledge and action”. Through a series of illustrative examples and proposed session outlines, we offer a vivid portrayal of how Confucian thought can be operationalized within a counseling framework to address the existential and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals in ancient and modern times. We argue that the nuanced understanding and practical implementation of these Confucian concepts can significantly enhance the efficacy of philosophical counseling. Additionally, we outline the requisite qualifications for becoming a Confucian philosophical counselor, suggesting a certification process that ensures counselors are both philosophically adept and exemplars of moral cultivation. Thus, this paper not only expounds on the theoretical underpinnings of Confucian thought in philosophical practice but also provides a clear blueprint for its application in contemporary settings.

Analizando la Vacuidad y Sustancia Literaria: Una Perspectiva Informada por la Filosofía Neoconfuciana de Tang Junyi

Abstract: The objective of this study is to thoroughly analyze and interpret Tang Junyi’s ideas about emptiness and substance in literature and art in a systematic manner. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of Tang Junyi’s viewpoints, we initially employed the “close reading method” to carefully examine all of his works. Additionally, we utilized the “conceptual analysis method” to focus on identifying and explaining key concepts in his literary ideas. At the same time, we compared Tang Junyi’s ideas with other scholars’ research findings, using the “literature comparison method”. After conducting a thorough examination, the author concludes that Tang Junyi’s perspective on emptiness and substance in literature and art is not an independent intellectual construct, but rather a unique viewpoint formed within the backdrop of traditional Chinese culture and philosophy. This concept is central to his literary theory and serves as a prominent element within his philosophical framework. By exploring the realm of “emptiness and substance” within Tang Junyi’s literary ideas, we can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for his impact on literature and philosophy. This exploration also presents fresh perspectives and conceptual structures for the examination of Chinese literary theory and culture.

Ancient Chinese Philosophy and the formation of Modern Chinese Piano Art

The article examines the influence of ancient Chinese philosophical concepts on the formation of modern piano art in China. Ancient Chinese materialistic philosophy is based on such teachings as Wu-xing and Yin-Yang, the Great Limit (Tai Chi), the eight trigrams and others. With the passage of time and the rapid development of science, these philosophical concepts not only did not lose their significance, but also had a powerful influence on the formation of modern Chinese piano creativity, deeply influenced the form and cultural connotation of Chinese music, and also became the theoretical basis for the works of many modern composers. The philosophical and aesthetic Taiji system presented by composer Zhao Xiaosheng, integrated into the modern piano composition system, marked the beginning of a revolution in the field of piano art, combining the theoretical foundations of traditional Chinese philosophy and the principles of modern composition methods. The research methodology is based on philosophical and cultural analysis, musicological analysis, and semantic analysis. Of particular interest is the comparative analysis of the musical and philosophical "Tai chi composition system" by Zhao Xiaoshen, the dodecaphony of A. Schoenberg and the set theory of M. Babbitt and A. Fort, which the Chinese composer considers the sources of his creativity. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that a correlation is proposed between the key categories of ancient Chinese philosophy and modern experiments in the field of musical expression. The authors managed to demonstrate the high degree of influence of Chinese philosophy on music, to clearly show that the basic postulates of ancient Chinese philosophy have been encoded in the basis of traditional Chinese music since ancient times, and in the twentieth century they were the basis of modern Chinese theory of composition, while playing a colossal role in identifying the common foundations of modern composition of the West and East, while preservation of local features of the diverse sphere of these cultures. The emergence and formation of a philosophical and theoretical system of musical composition, based on the concepts of classical Chinese philosophy, organically refracted in the latest achievements of Western music composition, emphasizes the ontological significance of these concepts for both Eastern and Western culture. And the creation of appropriate musical works undoubtedly leads to positive trends in the development of modern Chinese music and classical Chinese philosophy.

Актуальные вопросы китайских глобальных исследований

Every science has certain conditions for its emergence and development. China’s policy of “reform and opening up” (1978) was introduced during the wave of increased interest in globalization. In the 1990s, China’s integration into the world economic system led to a growing interest in global studies based on globalization and global issues. In the early 21st century, especially after China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, China’s global studies have also expanded and deepened. Due to China’s active policy of openness, global governance has become a central theme in global studies, and traditional Chinese philosophy was incorporated into the theoretical system of globalism. After Xi Jinping’s “Belt and Road” initiative and the “Community of Common Destiny for Mankind” idea in 2013, the global turn in various sciences has greatly enriched the content of China’s global studies. Passing through three phases of development: introduction, borrowing, and innovation, Chinese global studies has moved from “global problem studies”, “globalization studies”, and “global governance studies” to comprehensive theoretical globalistics. This article describes the phases, features, schools, and recent results of contemporary Chinese global studies, reflecting the theoretical thinking and academic innovation of Chinese scholars in this field.

Comparison of Traditional Chinese Thought and Xi Jinping's Understanding of Governance through the Hundred Schools of Thought

Xi Jinping, often referred to as the contemporary Mao, has introduced numerous development plans on a national and global scale since taking office as President in 2012. Having learned lessons from the disastrous Cultural Revolution which aimed to implant socialist ideas in China and resulted in the deaths of millions, Xi Jinping declared a new era in governance by emphasizing the importance of "Chinese Characteristics". Now, a Chinese government that has overcome the 'century of humiliation’ and is capable of confronting Western powers through a concerted effort, has successfully integrated Marxist-Leninist ideology with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping's philosophy, which combines modern requirements with the principles of traditional Chinese governance, has become part of the CCP ideology. Xi's comprehension of governance stems from traditional Chinese philosophy. The Warring Principalities era and the emergence of the Hundred Schools of Thought are the foundations of Xi's understanding of governance. This article investigates the heritage and evolution of Xi Jinping's governing ideology from ancient Chinese traditional beliefs, using the example of the "Hundred Schools of Thought". The article aims to explore the value implications of traditional Chinese governance thought in contemporary political life. Additionally, it seeks to promote the essence of ancient Chinese traditional culture, investigate its relevance in modern times, reveal patterns of cultural development, and offer guidance on how to carry forward and inherit the traditional Chinese cultural perspective.

АНТРОПОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ИДЕИ В ФИЛОСОФСКОЙ ТРАДИЦИИ ДРЕВНЕГО КИТАЯ

The article analyzes the problem of human nature in the philosophical tradition of Ancient China, starting from the mythological worldview to the prominent representatives of Confucianism - Mencius and Xunzi. It is noted that in ancient Chinese philosophical traditions, man is part of the cosmos, as well as in many ancient Greek teachings. The author makes a comparative analysis of anthropological ideas in ancient Chinese philosophy and in the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle, and European philosophers of the 17th – 18th centuries. Considering human nature in the worldview of Mencius and Xunzi, he shows the distinctive features in their worldview. It is noted that Mencius, when revealing the character of human nature, tended to start with goodness, while Xunzi believed that man is evil by nature. In conclusion, it is concluded that in ancient Chinese philosophy, ultimately, human nature and his destiny depend on Heaven

Alister E. McGrath and China: Toward a Chinese theology and science on transhumanism for the third millennium

AbstractIn the past three decades, Alister E. McGrath's popularity has been constantly on the rise in China. More than 20 of his books have been translated into Chinese. To the Chinese intellectual mind, the most fascinating among McGrath's works are his writings on theology and science. This is not surprising due to China's ambitions to achieve scientific and technological dominance by boosting creativity. However, such a daunting task faces insurmountable difficulties due to a prevailing lack of innovation, which might contribute to the rising interest in McGrath's work on science and theology. Due to the dominant political ideology in China, theology is by and large put aside, if not marginalized. This essay suggests that the wide‐scale reception of McGrath's works by Chinese academia and churches not only opens a door for the public square to change their attitude toward Christian theology, but also challenges Chinese theology to contextualize McGrath's scientific theology on Chinese soil and to engage Chinese worldview with its pragmatic epistemology. This paper seeks to adapt McGrath's scientific theology on the topic of transhumanism, which has received increasing scholarly attention from the perspective of traditional Chinese philosophies and religions, such as Confucianism and Daoism. Unfortunately, Chinese theology has largely failed to grasp the opportunity to offer any significant constructive proposal to this interdisciplinary discussion. This paper argues that a Chinese theology of science built on a sympathetic and critical engagement with McGrath's scientific theology has a rich potential to dialogue with modern sciences and traditional Chinese philosophies and religions on transhumanism. Such constructive theology not only serves as a conversation partner, but also provides a theological critique to the prevalent scientism and humanism in China.

Gender Aspirations in Chinese Marriage Market: A Study of Differences in Gender and the History of the Standards of Marriage

Throughout the history of China, the conception of marriage in Chinese traditional philosophy, such as Confucianism, has remained longstanding and influential even in modern Chinese society. The standards and the social and familial obligations for both sexes that result from such matrimonial beliefs, however, have developed in conflict with modern lifestyles and mindsets, especially for females. This article, through an in depth analysis of the expectations of marriage of both genders, their views on marriage and their expectations of the other spouse, and a variety of current events and movements, aims to further understand the status quo and future outlook in the Chinese marriage market from social, cultural, and economic perspectives. In the current Chinese marriage market, there remain two stereotypical sets of standards for a perfect spouse for both males and females, which are both reinforced through prevalent dating attitudes and disapproved of by modern feminism, the new lifestyle pursuits of the younger generation, and the deprioritization of marriage by females.

동서철학의 지평에서 본 유교 인성론

This Article intend to articulate The Theory of Confucian theory of Human- nature in the Horizon of East-West Philosophy. Confucianism regarded Human- nature(mind-heart's nature) with importance more than any other schools at all the time. The most critical question in Confucian philosophy was what are truly a human Virtues and a good life? We begins with on definition of reverence(敬) and Te(德) in Confucian tradition. Confucius was the first philosopher to bring up the concept of Human- nature(mind-heart's nature) in the history of chinese traditional philosophy. Mencius was a protector to block heterodoxy after succeeding Confucius's the The Theory of Confucian theory of Human-nature(doctrine of mind-heart's nature). Mencius was the first founder to demonstrate reality of Human-nature(mind- heart's nature) systematically and scientifically. Human-nature provided by Mencius are a) what distinguishes human beings from other animals. b)comprised of benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom. Chu-Hui introduced The four beginnings are the issuance of LI, and protected Human-nature(mind-heart's nature) differed with other beings after succeeding Confucius-Mencius's the doctrine of mind-heart's nature. According to Chu-Hui, The four beginnings was to present a moral motivation of human beings in their relation to metaphysical composition(Li-Ki). Such viewpoints about theory of Human-nature(mind-heart's nature) plays an important role in the Age of AI.

(Concept of) Rectification of Names and Putin’s War-time Euphemisms

In the given paper, the notion of rectification of language in the Chinese philosophical tradition is discussed, which will be linked to the concept of political discourse in general, and specifically to the use of euphemisms in the language of politics. In addition, we will attempt to apply practical examples from the current Russian political discourse to the discussed concepts.Key words: rectification, euphemism, Confucius, Putin, discourse, war

Confucianism in the Films of Edward Yang

As one of the most prestigious directors in the Chinese-speaking world, Edward Yang uses film as a way to construct and convey his own thinking. Like all Chinese literati since the New Culture Movement, Yang repeatedly wanders between modernity and traditional Chinese philosophy, calmly analyzing the existential dilemmas of the urban middle class as a masterful deconstructionist and authoritative critic. Confucianism, as the most deeply rooted traditional thought in Chinese society, has profoundly shaped interpersonal communication and social values in Chinese society. The principles of benevolence, morality, sacrificing life for righteousness, reverence for propriety, and patriarchal thinking have long been the rules of Chinese society and are still the supreme beliefs of some Chinese people. In Edward Yang, one can find both his idealized intellectual Confucianism and his self-deprecation and criticism of Confucianism. This research will analyze three of Yang's representative films, A Brighter Summer Day, A Confucian Confusion, and A One and A Two, and explore Yang's Confucian identity as a film author in the context of his other works, and analyze his thoughts and confusion in the intertwined and contradictory nature of modernity and Confucianism. In these three films, Edward Yang's inner contradiction in his thinking of Confucianism in Chinese society is insightful and inspiring.

Open Letter to President Xi Jinping on the Climate Crisis

Although climate models predict that global heating will prove more devastating for China than for many other countries, and economic models have shown that a transition to a low-carbon economy would strengthen China in the long run, the Chinese leadership has failed to reduce fossil fuel consumption enough to avoid extremes of weather that are devastating the country. Not long after becoming president, Xi Jinping announced a project to ground “socialism with Chinese characteristics” in selected ideas from ancient Chinese philosophy and culture, promoting the agenda through quotations in his speeches from the Chinese classics, and especially Confucian and Daoist thought. These ideas turn out to be perfectly suited for a ‘reframing’ of worldviews that is required for thinking more productively about the climate crisis and developing political measures for dealing with it effectively. However, the Chinese leadership has failed to live up to its inspiring words, and has instead reverted to aggressive and repressive policies that are more in line with Chinese Legalism and Stalinism than with the Confucian, Daoist, and Marxist ideas that Xi Jinping has advocated. This has dealt a severe blow to China’s standing in the world and caused a huge loss of ‘soft power’ accumulated by previous regimes. With the United States in a shambles, the way is open for China to follow through on its promotion of traditional Chinese philosophy and take the lead, for the sake of the long-term well-being of its own people, in tackling the climate crisis—and thereby gain the greatest soft power triumph in history.

The Metaphysical Analysis of the Chinese Taoism of Immortality: Case Study on Continuity and Changes of Ancient Excavated Jade Artifacts

Taoist philosophy and metaphysics show an important role in ancient and modern Chinese society with its thinking about the value and meaning of life and has become an important resource for both traditional Chinese philosophy and modern. This article discusses the concept of immortality in Taoism from the point of view of metaphysics. The goal was to metaphysically analyze the symbolism of the immortality of jade artifacts found during archaeological excavations. The object of the study is the Taoist symbolism of the immortality of ancient jade artifacts, the subject is the continuity of Taoist symbols. The article is intended to expand knowledge in this direction. The author gives an idea of the metaphysical system of jade culture, at the same time considering Taoism from the point of view of metaphysics, as well as religion and an indispensable attribute of everyday life. Based on the analysis of 20 jade artifacts, the main characteristics of the symbols of Taoist immortality were revealed. The author comes to the conclusion that the theme of Taoist immortality, expressed in jade artifacts, accompanied the evolutionary process of inheritance, continuation, change and universal life and in a certain way influenced it. In different historical periods, people understand the Taoist thought of immortality in different ways, use different practices in different ways, regulate jade mining, so in different historical periods for Taoism, jade culture is a different form, reflecting the aesthetics of the characteristics of the ancient Chinese era and the pursuit of eternal thought and continuation of Taoism. The conclusions are discussed in three aspects: 1) the embodiment of the metaphysical worldview system of Taoism using the theme of "eternal life" and "immortality" in popular culture; 2) the embodiment of the metaphysical system of the ideology of jade culture; 3) takes into account the analysis of the continuation and change of the process of mutual integration of Taoist and jade culture. Thus, from the perspective of man and soul, the universality of the continuation of Taoism in jade can be clarified in order to fill the academic gap in this field.

The evolution of Li Dazhao’s Chinese nationalism

ABSTRACT Studies on Chinese nationalism in Western academia have been influenced by a popular theory called ‘the culturalism-to-nationalism thesis’, a loosely formulated interpretive paradigm which emerged in late 1960s. The literature on this topic, however, reveals an inadequate understanding of traditional Chinese thinking and its influence on Chinese thought in modern history. An examination of the work of Li Dazhao (1889–1927) and his philosophical heritage not only will open up a valuable source for us to rethink about this thesis and its defects, but also will shed light on the complicated background and perspective that give rise to modern Chinese nationalism. Given the interest in Chinese nationalism in contemporary world, an understanding of its historical roots is particularly timely, since in order to understand China’s current and future actions one must understand the origins of Chinese nationalist thinking and its transformations in time. This paper makes a contribution to that historical understanding. I argue that traditional Chinese philosophy, especially the Daoist world view and Confucian ethics played a significant role in shaping Li’s patriotic and nationalist stance. It also predisposed him intellectually to accept the internationalist characteristic of Marxism.

Exploring the determinants of food choice in Chinese immigrants living in Australia and Chinese people living in mainland China: A qualitative study.

The present study aimed to qualitatively explore the food choice determinants of both Chinese immigrants living in Australia and Chinese people living in mainland China. Eight Chinese Australian participants (female, n = 5; male, n = 3) and ten mainland Chinese participants (female, n = 5; male, n = 5) were recruited from Australia (primarily in Melbourne, Victoria) and China (predominantly in Zhengzhou, Henan province) between June 2021 and March 2022. Participants were diverse in age, socio-economic background, occupation and health status. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in Mandarin either face-to-face or using online video/voice calls. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Investigator triangulation was used to enhance scientific rigour. Four themes were identified: (1) food choice determinants were shaped by traditional and modern nutrition perceptions and personal food philosophy; (2) physiological responses to food provide direct feedback that impacts future food choices; (3) consideration of convenience was a predominant influencer of food choice; and (4) the differences in food environments between China and Australia promoted distinctive food choice determinants for Chinese people. Chinese Australian and mainland Chinese participants' food choices are shaped by traditional Chinese nutrition philosophy, modern Western nutrition science and the contemporary food environment. There are clear cultural characteristics in their food choice determinants that should be considered by health educators, nutrition professionals and nutrition policymakers when developing culturally appropriate health interventions for Chinese people.

MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE FURNITURE

This article focuses on the origin, development and evolution of the materials of traditional Chinese furniture, as well as the evolution of traditional sitting postures and etiquette norms in China which significantly influenced the furniture design. Scientific developments, changes in construction and decorative techniques and the usage of various materials are analyzed in this context. The article focuses on the analysis of the unique characteristics of the wooden materials of traditional Chinese furniture, as well as the wood products of different furniture used in various eras. In the article, while studying the wooden furniture materials, authors also examine the impact of China’s political, economic and trade background on the timber trade in a given historical period, which directly affects the choice of wooden materials in the later stage of Chinese traditional furniture development. The article introduces the types and uses of different wooden materials by taking the materials of Chinese Ming-style furniture as an example, and scrutinizes the reasons why Chinese traditional furniture manufacturers have been relying on wooden materials for thousands of years. The article expounds in detail the characteristics and reasons of Chinese traditional furniture in choosing wooden materials from three aspects: physical characteristics of the materials from the standpoint of materials science and engineering, the psychological characteristics of color and the decorative characteristics of patterns. The article summarizes the traditional Chinese design concepts and philosophy of creation, and the influence of these traditional design concepts on the selection of materials for Chinese traditional furniture. Finally, the article summarizes the modernization of traditional wooden furniture materials and their activity in China's current market, indicating that the wooden materials of traditional Chinese furniture still have a profound impact on the design of modern Chinese furniture.

The Influence of Chinese Traditional Philosophical Ideas on Ancient Chinese Architecture

The formation and development of any architectural form and system has its own historical and cultural background. The ancient Chinese architectural system has a long history and characteristics inseparable from the historical development of Chinese traditional philosophy. Chinese philosophy, as a theory of human self-consciousness, does not give knowledge, but mainly gives ideas and ways of thinking for the needs of human self-development; At the same time, ancient Chinese architecture became a physical object reflecting the idea of traditional Chinese philosophy. Therefore, in order to explore ancient Chinese architecture, it is necessary to analyze and study it from the point of view of traditional Chinese philosophy. Like Confucius' thoughts on etiquette, the idea of the "doctrine of the middle" and the concept of hierarchical division; These ideas had a profound influence on ancient Chinese architecture, including urban planning, traditional dwellings, the environment, Lao Tzu's desire for harmony and unity between man and nature, worship of the gods, etc., as well as the theory that emerged later "Feng Shui", etc. temple space and garden architecture in the south of the Yangtze River. This article is devoted to the analysis of the influence of Confucianism and Taoism on the general principle of designing spaces of ancient Chinese architecture. The article selects some typical examples of ancient Chinese architecture for analysis. The following principles are manifested in the design of spaces of Chinese architecture under the influence of Confucianism and Taoism: moderation of living space; the principle of symmetry, balance and coordination; architectural hierarchy formed on the basis of the needs of "rituals"; integration of architecture and the environment; design of spaces according to "Feng Shui".

One Health concept: Viewed by Chinese traditional philosophy from a millennial history

Abstract “One Health” has increasingly been accepted as a contemporary theoretical framework to target complex health issues. Historical documents and original records from China’s history can provide important perspectives on how Chinese traditional philosophy dealt with the harmonious relationship between humans, animals, plants, and the environment in the millennial years of civilization. In this commentary, we also presented the active engagements of Chinese scholars in promoting “One Health” and “One Health Action” in China to build a community with a shared future for mankind. One Health Impact Statement One Health Impact StatementHistorical documents and original records from China’s history can help us learn how Chinese traditional philosophy has dealt with the harmonious relationship between human, animal, plants and the environment in the thousands of years of civilization. In this commentary, we make an in-depth elaboration on the Chinese meaning of the concept of “One Health” which has been translated into “全健康” in Chinese, meaning as holistic health, based on the history and culture in China, so as to promote “One Health” to play a greater role in building a “community with a shared future for mankind”. China should take a global perspective, pivoting on the “Healthy China” strategy, based on the three interaction fields of “human, animal and environment”, and continuously improve the capabilities in the fields of public health and “One Health” to face the emerging challenge.

The Return of Actors’ Body Essence in Theaters

Experimental theaters of dance and drama are gaining international attention for finding unique aesthetics core of Chinese traditional philosophy.Via actors’ body to embody mans’ inner world without lines artists had been seeking more primitive and sheer forms of artistic expression like the ancients.From the perspective of Somaesthetics,this paper discusses the Chinese traditional somaesthetic consciousness embodied in Dance Theater and Physical Theater.Then we recapitulate viewpoints of body in Chinese traditional philosophy that found expression in Somaesthetics proposed by Richard Schusterman.A type of new relationship of actors and spectators will be the field that is worth to develop further in dramatic aesthetics.

Reflection of the eastern civilizational paradigm features in the Chinese philosophical tradition

Reflection of the eastern civilizational paradigm features in the Chinese philosophical tradition