Synopses & Reviews
Wei-Bin Zhang offers an authoritative guide to the philosophy of Confucian regions, covering mainland China Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore. All, except Singapore, employed Confucianism as the state ideology before the West came to East Asia. The differences and similarities between the variety of Confucian schools are examined. The author concludes that the philosophical and ethical principles of Confucianism will assist in the industrialization and democratization of the region.
About the Author
Wei-Bin Zhang is Associate Professor at the Swedish Institute for Futures Studies, Stockholm.
Table of Contents
Introduction *
Part I: Confucius and His Doctrines * The Master: The Historical Conditions and His Life * Free Will, Benevolence, and the Vision * Knowledge and Action * Social Organizations and Government * Wealth and Profit *
Part II: The Dynamics of Confucianism * Mencius (371-389 BC): Human Nature is Good * Hsün Tzu (298-238 BC): Human Nature is Evil * Chu Hsi (1130-1200): Chinese Rationalism and the Great Synthesis * Wang Yang-ming (1472-1529): Chinese Idealism *
Part III: Modernization of the Confucian Regions * Industrialization of the Confucian Regions * Democracy and Confucianism