The World of Thought in Ancient China (Belknap Press)

The center of this prodigious work of scholarship is a fresh examination of the range of Chinese thought during the formative period of Chinese culture. Benjamin Schwartz looks at the surviving texts of this period with a particular focus on the range of diversity to be found in them. While emphasizing the problematic and complex nature of this thought he also considers views which stress the unity of Chinese culture. Attention is accorded to pre-Confucian texts; the evolution of early Confucianism; Mo-Tzu; the "Taoists,"; the legalists; the Ying-Yang school; and the "five classics"; as well as to intellectual issues which cut across the conventional classification of schools. The main focus is on the high cultural texts, but Mr. Schwartz also explores the question of the relationship of these texts to the vast realm of popular culture. "The center of this prodigious work of scholarship is a fresh examination of the range of Chinese culture thought during the formative period of Chinese culture. Benjamin Schwartz looks at the surviving texts of this period with a particular focus on the range of diversity to be found in them. While emphasizing the problematic and complex nature of this thought he also considers views which stress the unity of Chinese culture. Attention is accorded to pre-Confucian texts, to the evolution of early Confucianism, to Mo-Tzu, to the "Taoists" the legalists, the Ying-Yang school, the "five classics" as well as to intellectual issues which cut across the conventional classification of schools. The main focus is on the high cultural texts, but Mr. Schwartz also explores the question of the relationship of these texts to the vast realm of popular culture." -- Publisher

The center of this prodigious work of scholarship is a fresh examination of the range of Chinese culture thought during the formative period of Chinese culture. Benjamin Schwartz looks at the surviving texts of this period with a particular focus on the range of diversity to be found in them. While emphasizing the problematic and complex nature of this thought he also considers views which stress the unity of Chinese culture.

Attention is accorded to pre-Confucian texts, to the evolution of early Confucianism, to Mo-Tzu, to the "Taoists" the legalists, the Ying-Yang school, the "five classics" as well as to intellectual issues which cut across the conventional classification of schools. The main focus is on the high cultural texts, but Mr. Schwartz also explores the question of the relationship of these texts to the vast realm of popular culture.

Contents 10 Introduction 14 1. Early Cultural Orientations: Issues and Speculations 29 2. Early Chou Thought: Continuity and Breakthrough 53 3. Confucius: The Vision of the Analects 69 4. Mo-tzu's Challenge 148 5. The Emergence of a Common Discourse: Some Key Terms 186 6. The Ways of Taoism 199 7. The Defense of the Confucian Faith: Mencius and Hs眉n-tzu 268 8. Legalism: The Behavioral Science 334 9. Correlative Cosmology: The "School of Yin and Yang" 363 10. The Five Classics 396 Postscript 420 Notes 436 Selected Bibliography 474 Glossary 482 Index 486 Examines the development of the philosophy, culture, and civilization of ancient China and discusses the history of Taoism and Confucianism MY OBJECT in this volume is to examine once again some major themes and issues in the history of ancient Chinese thought.