An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy: From Ancient Philosophy to Chinese Buddhism

An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy is the most comprehensive book of its kind. Highly accessible, the text takes an analytical approach to successfully demystify the themes of ancient Chinese philosophy and unravel the complexities of early Chinese Buddhism.

Beginning with the philosophy of Yijing, Part I covers seven additional major philosophers from the ancient period: Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, Mozi, Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Hanfeizi. Part II introduces the reader to the four major schools in Chinese Buddhism: the Consciousness-Only, the Hua-yan, the Tian-tai, and the Chan. Mutual themes connect chapters, highlighting the continuity of thought, while an unbiased analysis helps to define their differences. Contemporary commentaries and debates on the central issues in Chinese philosophy round out the book, presenting an incisive introduction to the field.