Key Concepts in Chinese Thought and Culture

Fan, Hao; Shao, Yanan

This book interprets the concepts, philosophies and cultural traditions of lunli (roughly construed as “relationships and rationality”) from the perspective and domain of ‘dialogue civilization.’ On the conceptual level, it expounds the common reference and different tenets of the Chinese lunli and the Western “ethic”, exploring the characteristics of lunli and "ethic" in civilization history, considering notably the difference between unification of family and state and division of the two at the embryonic stage of civilization. The book draws on the lunli-oriented culture and religion-based culture to demonstrate the difference between Chinese lunli and Western “ethic” in their respective top design and ultimate care, by exploring the issue “What the world would be like, if there were no lunli” for the Chinese and “What the world would be like, if there were no God” for westerners. Since lunli is the most prominent feature of “being Chinese”, or the most symbolic and interpretative Chinese cultural concept, this pivot provides a key introduction for Western readers not only to the concept itself, but also to modern day Chinese culture.

Details

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 2025-07-13

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 9789819991075

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-9105-1

Dimensions: 210cm x148cm

Pages: 191