An ambitious comparative introduction to Asian thought, expertly written for undergraduate courses in Asian Studies, Asian philosophy and neighboring disciplines
Recent decades have witnessed a sharp increase of interest in the cultures and regions of South and East Asia, owing in part to the prominent role Asian economies have played in the era of globalization. Asian Worldviews: Religions, Philosophies, Political Theories is a unique, reader-friendly introduction to the intellectual heritage of the region. Assuming no previous background in Asian cultural history, Asian Worldviews moves beyond chronological and geographic boundaries to present an integrated treatment of the beliefs, teachings, and ideologies that have shaped the worldviews of approximately half of the global population. Rein Raud explores forms of knowledge in China, India, Tibet, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, providing balanced coverage of all historical periods from antiquity to the modern day.
Asian Worldviews embraces the connections rather than the divisions between the religious and philosophical dimensions of South and East Asian thought, and emphasizes a robust engagement with each culture's political, social, and economic contexts. Clear, accessible chapters discuss the development of religious, philosophical, and political thought in India, China, and Japan, and provide succinct overviews of the history of ideas in Korea, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. Throughout the book, Raud uses a comparative approach to examine the mutual influence and productive dialogue, past and present, between Asian cultures as well as with the West, and considers the impact of various worldviews on the development of modern Asian societies.
Comprehensive and well-informed by recent developments in the scholarship, Asian Worldviews: Religions, Philosophies, Political Theories is an unparalleled resource for a broad range of courses in Asian studies, philosophy, religious studies, and global politics, as well as an excellent introduction for non-specialist readers looking for a contextual foothold in the rich cultural and intellectual history of South and East Asia.
By:
Rein Raud (Tallinn University Estonia)
Imprint: Blackwell Publishing
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 226mm,
Width: 150mm,
Spine: 28mm
Weight: 408g
ISBN: 9781119165972
ISBN 10: 1119165970
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 18 March 2021
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Preface vii Acknowledgements xi 1 India 1 The Brahmanist Worldview 6 Reform Movements: Jains and Buddhism 21 The Development of Hinduism 45 Philosophical Systems 54 Indian Worldviews Under Muslim Rule 66 Modern Indian Thought 73 2 China 89 The Beginnings 94 Classical Chinese Thought: The Hundred Schools 102 From Han to Tang 138 From Song to Qing 164 From the Fall of the Empire to the Present 185 3 Japan 207 Prehistory and the Aristocratic Period 211 The Age of the Warriors: From Kamakura to Edo 225 Japanese Modernity: From Meiji to the Present 241 4 Korea, Tibet, and South East Asia 257 Korea 257 Tibet 268 Indic South East Asia 274 Vietnam 281 Further Reading 287 Glossary of Names and Terms 293 Chronological Table 311 Index 319
Rein Raud?is Professor of Asian and Cultural Studies?at?Tallinn University, Estonia.?He has published widely on Asian?philosophy?and?cultural theory, and is?the?author of several?books including?Meaning in Action: Outline of an Integral Theory of Culture, an innovative work which unites?textual and sociological approaches to culture?based on?examples from?around?the world.?
