Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction

— —

Daniel K. Gardner (Dwight W. Morrow Professor of History, Dwight W. Morrow Professor of History, Smith College)

Confucianism

A Very Short Introduction

Daniel K. Gardner (Dwight W. Morrow Professor of History, Dwight W. Morrow Professor of History, Smith College)

$21.95

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Oxford University Press
10 August 2014

Oriental & Indian philosophy; Confucianism

Series: Very Short Introductions

To understand China, it is essential to understand Confucianism. First formulated in the sixth century BCE, the teachings of Confucius would come to dominate Chinese society, politics, economics, and ethics. In this Very Short Introduction, Daniel K. Gardner explores the major philosophical ideas of the Confucian tradition, showing their profound impact on state ideology and imperial government, the civil service examination system, domestic life, and social relations over the course of twenty-six centuries. Gardner focuses on two of the Sage's most crucial philosophical problems-what makes for a good person, and what constitutes good government-and demonstrates the enduring significance of these questions today. This volume shows the influence of the Sage's teachings over the course of Chinese history--on state ideology, the civil service examination system, imperial government, the family, and social relations--and the fate of Confucianism in China in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as China developed alongside a modernizing West and Japan. Some Chinese intellectuals attempted to reform the Confucian tradition to address new needs; others argued for jettisoning it altogether in favor of Western ideas and technology; still others condemned it angrily, arguing that Confucius and his legacy were responsible for China's feudal, ''backward'' conditions in the twentieth century and launching campaigns to eradicate its influences. Yet Chinese continue to turn to the teachings of Confucianism for guidance in their daily lives. In addition to a survey of the philosophy and history of Confucianism, Gardner offers an examination of the resurgence of Confucianism in China today, and explores what such a revival means for the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

About the Series:

Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.

By: Daniel K. Gardner (Dwight W. Morrow Professor of History Dwight W. Morrow Professor of History Smith College)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 112mm, Width: 170mm, Spine: 13mm
Weight: 141g
ISBN: 9780195398915
ISBN 10: 0195398912
Series: Very Short Introductions
Pages: 144
Publication Date: 10 August 2014
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

List of Illustrations 1. Confucius (551-479 BC) 2. The Individual and Self-Cultivation in the Teachings of Confucius 3. Government in Confucian Teachings 4. Variety Within Early Confucianism 5. The Reorientation of the Confucian Tradition after 1000 AD: The Teachings of Neo-Confucianism 6. Confucianism in Practice References Further Reading Index

Daniel K. Gardner is Dwight W. Morrow Professor of History at Smith College.