KSCB042 Neo-Confucianism

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2014
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Ping-tzu Chu, Ph.D. (lecturer), Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc.
Center for Chinese Studies – Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Center for Chinese Studies – Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 15. 9. 10:50–12:25 zrusena M25, 14:10–15:45 M22, Tue 16. 9. 10:50–12:25 C43, 14:10–15:45 M22, Wed 17. 9. 10:50–12:25 zrusena M25, 14:10–15:45 U34, Mon 22. 9. 10:50–12:25 zrusena M25, 14:10–15:45 M22, Tue 23. 9. 10:50–12:25 C43, 14:10–15:45 M22, Wed 24. 9. 10:50–12:25 zrusena M25, 14:10–15:45 U34
Prerequisites (in Czech)
KSCA019 Chinese philosophy II
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives (in Czech)
This lecture series aims at increasing the listeners' understanding of an intellectual movement which began in the mid Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and last till the end of the imperial China period. This movement, Neo-Confucianism, appeared as one of the options proposed by the anxious literati in the court area and finally made itself into the dominant position in the civil service examination system. Its influence was not confined to China. Korea, Japan, and Vietnam have also imported Neo-Confucian philosophy to be a major school of thought for centuries. Even though its impact greatly faded after all these areas were westernized, its heirs, the so-called New Confucians in Hong Kong and Taiwan, have been struggling to keep it alive and believe that the wisdom, the truth, and the faith it contains would bring China a brighter future. This belief got echoed in China in late 1980s and 1990s and still pops up here and there now. However in general now it only survives in academics but not a shared belief for the majority. Even so, the history of Neo-Confucianism still sheds light on a very important aspect for us to understand the past of China or East Asia.
Syllabus (in Czech)
  • Lecture 1 Why Talking about Neo-Confucianism Now?

    A current proposal: Confucian democracy for China? (1993-)

    The Confucius Institute as the soft power (2004-)

    The economic power of the east Asian countries and Confucian ethics (late 1980s to early 1990s)

    The Contemporary Confucians' declaration to the whole world (1958)

    Mr. Democracy and Mr. Science and the old feudal cultural tradition (early 20th century)

    Lecture 2 What Is Neo-Confucianism?

    An intellectual movement beginning in the Northern Song (960-1127)

    The main concern I – how to restore the sage's teaching

    The main concern II – how to become a perfect person

    The political and social connotations of the main concern

    The philosophical outline

    Lecture 3 The Confucianism before Neo-Confucianism

    Personal Ethics within a Feudal System (the pre-Qin era)

    Ideology for the Empire (the Han dynasty)

    Clan Ethics during the Six Dynasties

    The Three Teachings: Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism

    "China Turning inward"

    Lecture 4 Cosmology and Ethics I: Shao Yong and Zhou Dunyi

    Understanding the cosmological process as a foundation for people to become a sage

    "Explanation on the Chart of the Great Polarity" and the Book of Penetrating the Changes

    Magnificent Polarity for Ordering the World

    Comparison between Zhou Dunyi's and Shao Yong's thought

    Lecture 5 Cosmology and Ethics II: Zhang Zai (1020-1077)

    The Great Harmony, the Great Void, and the material force

    Human nature as the foundation for human beings to communicate with the cosmos

    Expanding one's mind beyond the limitation of sensual organs

    Lining up the cosmological, the individual, the familial and the political order: the "Western Inscription"

    Lecture 6 Human Nature and Ethics: Cheng Hao and Chen Yi

    You are not what you are: the dualism of human nature

    The metaphor of the spring

    "Human nature is Principle"

    Investigating things to actualizing the understanding

    Lecture 7 Cosmological Principle, Material Force and Ethics: Zhu Xi

    Principle and the material force

    Extending the statement that "human nature is Principle"

    The heart-and-mind include and lead human nature and emotions

    Investigating things to exhaust the principles

    Re-annotating the Classics

    Lecture 8 Lu Jiuyuan and the Statecraft Thinkers

    "The heart-and-mind is Principle"

    A moral person does not need to read to be moral

    Serving the court and the practical knowledge to govern

    Tension between Neo-Confucianism and the civil service examination

    Lecture 9 From the Yuan to the era of Wang Yangming

    China under the Mongol's rule

    Restoration of the civil service examination with the Neo-Confucian set of interpretation to the Classics

    Practice is more important than reading books or creating ideas

    "Actualizing one's innate knowledge"

    "Acting and knowing is one thing"

    Lecture 10 The End of the Flourishing of Neo-Confucianism: The Beginning of the Intellectualism of the Evidential Research

    The Rule of the Manchu (1664-1911)

    Political Ideology Subscribed by the Court

    Restore the Sage's Teaching through Another Channel

    The End of Civil Service Examination (1905): The End of Confucianism?

    Lecture 11 The Future of Confucianism in the East Asia

    Close Ties of Economical Relationship and Hostile Military Geo-Political Tension

    The Problematic of the Global Ethics

    The Problematic of "East Asia"

    The Dead Confucianism in a Competitive Ethics Era

Literature
  •  Bol, Peter. K. (2008). Neo-Confucianism in History. Cambridge, Mass. and London, Harvard University Asia Center.
  • Chan, Wing-tsit. (1963). A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy. Princeton, Princeton University Press.
  • DE BARY, Wm. Theodore, Richard John LUFRANO and Wing-tsit CHAN. Sources of Chinese tradition. Edited by John H. Berthrong. 2nd ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000, xviii, 636. ISBN 9780231112710. info
  • DE BARY, Wm. Theodore, Irene BLOOM and Wing-tsit CHAN. Sources of Chinese tradition. Edited by Joseph A. Adler. 2nd ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999, xxxiii, 99. ISBN 9780231109390. info
Teaching methods (in Czech)
lectures, discussions
Assessment methods (in Czech)
written test, attendance (not more than 2 absences allowed)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
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