Details

Subject(s)

• Fan wu liu xing [Browse]
• Philosophy, Chinese—To 221 B.C. [Browse]

Series

• SUNY series in Chinese philosophy and culture [More in this series]
• Suny series in Chinese philosophy and culture

Summary note

• "A complete translation and analysis of "All Things Flow into Form" (Fan wu liu xing), a recently discovered manuscript from the Warring States period (481-221 BCE)"-- Provided by publisher.
• At the heart of "All Things Flow into Form" (Fan wu liu xing), an ancient Chinese manuscript recently salvaged from the black market, is a concern with the process of self-cultivation, particularly the advancement through the incremental stages and outcome that awaits one in the end: enlightenment, transparency, and self-possession. Critical to this discussion is a conception of a mind within a mind, the unity of which is obtained through the isolation of an innermost core free from extraneous distractions. Such a state is presented as an ideal for kingship, and the text, despite its possibly very ancient roots, is focused on the ruler's ethical training rather than his political maneuvers, his obligation to Heaven and the spirits rather than his dominance over his subjects. Probing deep into this text, we may observe heretofore unappreciated aspects of many of the transmitted literary sources, and in turn, come to more definite conclusions about the manuscript itself. To the extent that this analysis is successful, it illustrates an approach that can be tested against future efforts to read ancient Chinese texts in the light of newly unearthed documents--back cover.

Bibliographic references

Includes bibliographical references (pages 113-140) and index.

Contents

• Part I. "All Things Flow into Form"
• Part II. Analysis.

Other title(s)

• Fan wu liu xing.
• Fan wu liu xing. English.

ISBN

• 9781438491776 (hardcover)
• 1438491778 (hardcover)

LCCN

2022022713

OCLC

1337142687

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