GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education
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This module examines the historical origins and development of major Chinese schools of philosophical thought such as Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Yin Yang and Buddhism in traditional China. Special attention is given to the contributions of leading Chinese thinkers, their works and theories in shaping the country’s historical development. This module also adopts a comparative perspective to help students understand the main themes and issues of the traditional Chinese thoughts.
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. comprehend traditional Chinese thought, especially Classical Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism in ancient China;
b. explore the diversity and to gain a better understanding of these value systems;
c. critically analyse similar issues of the West by comparison;
d. demonstrate a broad understanding of the history of major philosophical thoughts, values, and human endeavors of the world as a whole.
Examine the meanings and values of human phenomena from Chinese traditional thoughts
1. Introduction: historical and philosophical background
2. Major theme: the theory of pendulum or cycle of Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism
Articulate the representations of Chinese traditional thoughts in various forms
3. The life and times of Confucius
3.1 The development of literature under the influence of Confucianism
4. The thought of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu
4.1 Art appreciation from Taoist perspective
5. Confucianism and Taoism in the Spring-Autumn and Warring States periods
6. Legalism states in the Ch’in and Han dynasties
6.1 Which one is the core value of Chinese governments in history? Legalism or Confucianism?
7. Confucianism, the Yin-Yang School, and Legalism in Han China
7.1 The major aspects of Han Confucianism
7.2 The relationship between Emperor Wu’s promotion of Confucianism and his political reforms
7.3 The nature of the Disillusionment of Later Han thinker
7.4 Taoism in Eastern/Later Han & the Wei-Chin dynasties
Changes and transformations of Chinese traditional thoughts in modern day life
8. Traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese thoughts
9. The Spread of Chinese thoughts in Modern Society
1. Class Participation (10%)
2. Quiz (20%)
3. Group presentation (20%)
4. Individual final essay (50%)
1. Confucius. (1992). The Analects. (2nd ed.). (Lau, D.C trans.). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.
2. Creel, H.G. (1953). Chinese Thought. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
3. Creel, H. G. (1970). What is Taoism? Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
4. Fung, Y.-l. (1952). A History of Chinese Philosophy. (Bodde, D trans.). Princeton: Princeton University Press.
5. Goldin, P. R. (2005). After Confucius: Studies in Early Chinese Philosophy. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
6. Goldin, R. (1999). Rituals of the Way: the Philosophy of Xunzi. Chicago, Ill.: Open Court.
7. Goldin, P. R. (2002). The Culture of Sex in Ancient China. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
8. Hsiao, K.-c. (1979). A History of Chinese Political Thought. (Mote, F. trans.). Princeton: Princeton U. Press, 1979.
9. Lao Tzu (1982). Tao Te Ching. (Lau, D.C. trnas). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press, 1982.
10. Mencius. (1984). Mencius. (Lau, D.C. trans). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.
11. Mote, F. W. (1989). Intellectual Foundations of China (2nd ed.). New York: McGrawHill.
12. Shun, K.-l. (1997). Mencius and Early Chinese Thought. Stanford: Stanford Univeristy Press, 1997.
13. Shun, K.-l. (1986). Virtue, Mind and Morality: A Study in Mencian Ethics (Mencius, Confucianism, Character Development, China). [Electronic resource] PhD dissertation. Stanford: Stanford University,.
14. Shun, K.-l. & Wong, D. B. (2004). Confucian Ethics: A Comparative Study of Self, Autonomy, and Community. Cambridge: Cambridge U. Press.
15. Twitchett, D. C. & Loewe, M. (1986). Cambridge History of China Vol.1: The Ch’in and Han Empires. Cambridge: Cambridge U. Press.
16. Weber, M. (1951). The Religion of China: Confucianism and Taoism. Tr. & ed. by Hans H. Gerth, with an Introduction by Yang, C.K. New York: Free Press.
