Dao Companion to Classical Confucian Philosophy (Dao Companions to Chinese Philosophy Book 3)

This volume presents both a historical and a systematic examination of the philosophy of classical Confucianism. Taking into account newly unearthed materials and the most recent scholarship, it features contributions by experts in the field, ranging from senior scholars to outstanding early career scholars. The book first presents the historical development of classical Confucianism, detailing its development amidst a fading ancient political theology and a rising wave of creative humanism. It examines the development of the philosophical ideas of Confucius as well as his disciples and his grandson Zisi, the Zisi-Mencius School, Mencius, and Xunzi. Together with this historical development, the book analyzes and critically assesses the philosophy in the Confucian Classics and other major works of these philosophers. The second part systematically examines such philosophical issues as feeling and emotion, the aesthetic appreciation of music, wisdom in poetry, moral psychology, virtue ethics, political thoughts, the relation with the Ultimate Reality, and the concept of harmony in Confucianism. The __Philosophy of Classical Confucianism__ offers an unparalleled examination to the philosophers, basic texts and philosophical concepts and ideas of Classical Confucianism as well as the recently unearthed bamboo slips related to Classical Confucianism. It will prove itself a valuable reference to undergraduate and postgraduate university students and teachers in philosophy, Chinese history, History, Chinese language and Culture. Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction: Classical Confucianism in Historical and Comparative Context....Pages 1-19 Front Matter....Pages 21-21 The Fading of Political Theology and the Rise of Creative Humanism....Pages 23-51 The Philosophy of Confucius....Pages 53-80 The Philosophy of Confucius’ Disciples....Pages 81-117 Zisi and the Thought of Zisi and Mencius School....Pages 119-138 The Daxue ( Great Learning ) and the Zhongyong ( Doctrine of the Mean )....Pages 139-152 Philosophical Thought of Mencius....Pages 153-178 Xunzi as a Systematic Philosopher: Toward Organic Unity of Nature, Mind, and Reason....Pages 179-199 Front Matter....Pages 201-201 Early Confucian Perspectives on Emotions....Pages 203-225 Art and Aesthetics of Music in Classical Confucianism....Pages 227-244 Wisdom and Hermeneutics of Poetry in Classical Confucianism....Pages 245-262 Early Confucian Moral Psychology....Pages 263-289 Early Confucian Virtue Ethics: The Virtues of Junzi ....Pages 291-334 Early Confucian Political Philosophy and Its Contemporary Relevance....Pages 335-361 Ultimate Reality and Self-Cultivation in Early Confucianism: A Conceptual/Existential Approach....Pages 363-378 Confucian Harmony: A Philosophical Analysis....Pages 379-394 Back Matter....Pages 395-404