Description
What Is Taoism? traces, in nontechnical language, the history of the development of this often baffling doctrine. Creel shows that there has not been one "Taoism," but at least three, in some respects incompatible and often antagonistic. In eight closely related papers, Creel explicates the widely used concepts he originally introduced of "contemplative Taoism," "purposive Taoism," and "Hsien Taoism." He also discusses Shen Pu-hai, a political philosopher of the fourth century B.C.; the curious interplay between Confucianism, Taoism, and "Legalism" in the second century B.C.; and the role of the horse in Chinese history.
Library's review
'This volume will be very helpful to the students at the intermediate and advanced levels of understanding of Chinese cultural history. It is well written, superbly researched, and affords one of the first detailed views of Taoism's relationship to governmental patterns as then developed in the
What is Taoism? traces, in nontechnical language, the history of the development of this often baffling doctrine. Creel shows that there has not been one 'Taoism,' but at least three, in some respects incompatible and often antagonistic to each other. In eight closley related papers, Creel explicates the widely used concepts he originally introduced of 'Contemplative Taoism,' 'purposive Taoism.' and 'Hsien Taoism.' He also discusses Shen Pu-hai, a political philosopher of the fourth century B.C.; the curious interplay between Confucianism, Taoism, and 'Legalism' in the second century B.C.; and the role of the horse in Chinese history.
'This collection of eight papers moves with ease and facility within the scope of Chinese history and culture, and should be of considerable importance to scholars interested in this field.'-William C. Finley, Philosophy East and West
Herrlee G. Creel is the Martin A. Ryerson distinguished Service Profesor Emeritus of Chinese History at the University of Chicago, and a past president of the American Oriental Society (1955-56). He is the author of many books, incuding Chinese Thought from Confucious to Mao Tse-tung, The Origins of Statecraft in China, and Shen Pu-hai: A Chinese Political Philosopher of the Fourth Century B.C.
Contents
Preface
1 What is Taoism?
2 The great clod
3 On two aspects in early Taoism
4 On the origin of Wu-wei
5 The meaning of Hsing-ming
6 The Fa-chia: 'Legalists' or 'Adminstrators'?
7 The beginnings of Bureaucracy in China: the origin of the Hsien
8 The role of the horse in Chinese history
Index
Show More
late Chou, Ch'in and Han dynasties.'-ChoiceWhat is Taoism? traces, in nontechnical language, the history of the development of this often baffling doctrine. Creel shows that there has not been one 'Taoism,' but at least three, in some respects incompatible and often antagonistic to each other. In eight closley related papers, Creel explicates the widely used concepts he originally introduced of 'Contemplative Taoism,' 'purposive Taoism.' and 'Hsien Taoism.' He also discusses Shen Pu-hai, a political philosopher of the fourth century B.C.; the curious interplay between Confucianism, Taoism, and 'Legalism' in the second century B.C.; and the role of the horse in Chinese history.
'This collection of eight papers moves with ease and facility within the scope of Chinese history and culture, and should be of considerable importance to scholars interested in this field.'-William C. Finley, Philosophy East and West
Herrlee G. Creel is the Martin A. Ryerson distinguished Service Profesor Emeritus of Chinese History at the University of Chicago, and a past president of the American Oriental Society (1955-56). He is the author of many books, incuding Chinese Thought from Confucious to Mao Tse-tung, The Origins of Statecraft in China, and Shen Pu-hai: A Chinese Political Philosopher of the Fourth Century B.C.
Contents
Preface
1 What is Taoism?
2 The great clod
3 On two aspects in early Taoism
4 On the origin of Wu-wei
5 The meaning of Hsing-ming
6 The Fa-chia: 'Legalists' or 'Adminstrators'?
7 The beginnings of Bureaucracy in China: the origin of the Hsien
8 The role of the horse in Chinese history
Index
Show Less
Genres
ISBN
226120422
Publication
The University of Chicago Press Chicago and London