There is a view that Ruists never put much emphasis on qing and even saw it in a negative light. This is perhaps a misunderstanding, especially in regard to pre-Qin Ruism. In the Guodian Xing zi ming chu, the passage "dao begins in qing" (dao shi yu qing) plays an important role in our understanding of the pre-Qin notion of qing. This article concentrates on the "theory of qing" in both pre-Qin Ruism and Daoism and attempts a philosophical interpretation of (...) "dao begins in qing," and in the process offers philosophical interpretations of a number of important notions. (shrink)

This essay will not attempt to provide an analysis or a study of the entire history of Indian Buddhism's introduction into China. Instead, we will simply explore the relationship that existed between Buddhism after it was introduced into China in the Wei-Jin-Northern and Southern dynasties period and the intellectual or ideological culture that already existed in China at the time, and from this demonstrate the significance of studying comparative philosophy and comparative religions.

Is there the possibility for Confucianism to have a third-phase development? In saying this we mean to regard the school of thought advocated by Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi during the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States as the first-phase development of Confucianism. After the Han Dynasty Buddhism spread to China. Under the impact of Buddhist ideas, a Confucian school of idealist philosophy emerged during the Song and Ming dynasties. It greatly pushed forward the Confucian doctrines and constituted the (...) second-phase development of Confucianism. Over the last century, Western civilization has found its way into China. Especially around the time of the "May Fourth" [1919] Movement Marxism was also disseminated into our country. That gave an even bigger and more serious impact on China's traditional thought and culture. Under such circumstances, is it possible for Confucianism to have a third-phase development? Can it be brought back to life? Can it still have a role to play in China and the world? In my opinion, it is perhaps too early to conduct an all-round discussion of this issue. However, to raise questions and opinions from certain angles in an attempt to push the inquiry forward may prove helpful. (shrink)

In this essay I do not intend to analyze or study the entire history of the introduction of Indian Buddhism into China; rather, I wish simply to investigate a bit the relationships which existed between Buddhism, after it was introduced into China in the period of the Wei, the Jin, and the North and South dynasties, and the prior-existing ideologies and cultures in China at the time, and use that to illustrate the meaning of studying comparative philosophy and comparative religions.

Recently a "Seminar to Coordinate the Comparative Study of Eastern and Western Cultures" was held at Shenzhen University. The focus of the meeting was the discussion of the meaning and significance of "comparative studies in Eastern and Western cultures." Why did we discuss this problem? To us, studying comparisons between Eastern and Western Cultures is, fundamentally, for the purpose of resolving the question, "How did, and how does, China's culture develop?" Naturally this is a question that cannot be resolved in (...) a short time, and neither can a consensus on this issue be achieved in the short run. Nonetheless, it is a lesson that holds epochal significance for us at present and therefore has to be proposed for discussion and commands our careful and earnest consideration. (shrink)

Study of the history of Chinese philosophy has been in full swing in China over the recent years. The Society of the History of Chinese Philosophy has been set up, and in publication are two journals entitled Studies of the History of Chinese Philosophy and Chinese Philosophy, dedicated to publishing research results in this area. A number of books specializing in the subject have come off press and dozens of seminars have been held to discuss special issues. Thus a variety (...) of different views in regard to Chinese philosophers ranging from Confucius to Sun Yat-sen have come forth. All this signals the new progress made in the study of the history of Chinese philosophy. However, I do not propose to discuss here the concrete issues; rather, I would like to talk about the prevailing trends in the study. They can probably, I think, give a better picture of the new progress made in this area and project what new prospects will open up in the studies. In light of this, I would like to address myself to four mutually related issues. (shrink)

Religion is a social ideology. Today the study of the history of the development of a religion as an ideology not only has a general significance but also a particular significance. It is possible for us to discern, from a plethora of evidence in places outside of China, that while scientific technology may be progressing and developing rapidly, progress has not brought about a decline in religious ideology but has indeed strengthened people's pursuit of religion. From our own domestic conditions, (...) too, we can see that for all sorts of reasons, there is a growing trend among people to adhere to one religion or another. Such a phenomenon, therefore, suggests a number of theoretical questions related to religion that ought to be studied seriously, such as: What is the essence of religion? "Is it a psychological characteristic of human beings to need some kind of religious faith? Axe religion and religious belief one and the same thing? Can religious faith be of benefit to social life? Are religion and science mutually contradictory? Are they mutually supplementary? Can religion be modernized? Naturally, these problems do not fall within the scope of this essay. Nonetheless, there are, I believe, related questions that ought to be given consideration by those who write the history of religions, such as why we study the history of religions at all, whether a good study in the history of religions ought to have a strong sense of the times, and whether or not it is sufficient to bring the people who have read such a study to consider seriously and earnestly the religious questions that exist in the contemporary world. (shrink)

Confronting us now is the problem of prospects for the study of Chinese philosophy, that is, the problem of how to evaluate the traditional philosophy of China.

As we enter the new millennium, it has become more important to review and discover ancient wisdom. The project to build a harmonious society requires us to know our own " culture." The biggest conflicts we human beings face are the conflicts between man and nature, man and man, and body and mind. The three philosophical propositions, " the unity of Heaven and man," " the unity of self and others," and " the unity of body and mind " of (...) Confucianism may provide precious insight in dealing with the three above - mentioned conflicts, and we should pay special attention to these resources. /// 踏入新千年 ， 要求我们更加重视对古代思想智慧的温习与发掘 ; 建设 " 和谐 社会 ", 也必要求对自身 " 文化 " 上的自觉 。 当前人类遇到的最大问题就是人和自然 的矛盾 、 人与人 的矛盾 、 人自身的矛盾 。 儒家的 " 天人合一 "、" 人我 合二 "、" 身心合一 " 这三个哲学命题 ， 也许可以为我们解决上述三大矛盾提供某些 宝贵的思路和应该特别重视的思想资源 。. (shrink)