Advanced Topics
- Han Synthesis
- Buddhism Enters China
- Medieval Daoism
- Ethics & Moral Psychology
- Language, Logic & Epistemology
- XI. Comparative Philosophy
The remaining sections are deeper dives or branch extensions. You do not need to study all of them. Pick 1–3 tracks that interest you most after finishing the core path.
- V. Han Synthesis → Interested in how Confucianism became a state ideology and cosmology?
- VI. Buddhism Enters China → Want to understand how Indian Buddhism was transformed in China and gave rise to Chan (Zen)?
- VII. Medieval Daoism → Curious about religious Daoism and its later metaphysical developments?
- IX. Ethics & Moral Psychology → Want to focus on contemporary relevance of Confucian virtue ethics and emotional cultivation?
- X. Language, Logic & Epistemology → Interested in technical questions about language, reasoning, and knowledge in Chinese thought?
- XI. Comparative Philosophy → Want to actively compare Chinese philosophy with Western or other global traditions?
Han Synthesis
Confucianism becomes a state metaphysical system.
| Topic | Resource |
|---|---|
| Dong Zhongshu | Dong Zhongshu and the Chunqiu Fanlu (SEP Han overview) |
| Confucian cosmology | SEP “Han Confucianism” |
Buddhism Enters China
A. Indian Foundations (for Chinese Buddhism)
| Topic | Resource |
|---|---|
| Core Buddhist philosophy | Mark Siderits, Buddhism as Philosophy (related SEP) |
| Free background | SEP Buddha |
B. Chinese Buddhist Schools
| School | Resource |
|---|---|
| Sanlun (Madhyamaka) | SEP “Madhyamaka in China” |
| Yogācāra | SEP “Yogācāra” |
| Chan (Zen) | John McRae, Seeing Through Zen (SEP Chan context) |
Medieval Daoism
| Topic | Resource |
|---|---|
| Religious & metaphysical Daoism | Livia Kohn, Daoism and Chinese Culture (SEP religious Daoism) |
| Free supplement | SEP “Daoism (Later Developments)” |
Ethics & Moral Psychology
| Topic | Resource |
|---|---|
| Confucian virtue ethics | Confucian Moral Self-Cultivation (Tu Weiming) (SEP ethics context) |
| Emotion & ritual | Philip Ivanhoe, Confucianism and Emotion (related) |
| Free background | SEP “Confucian Ethics” |
Language, Logic & Epistemology
| Topic | Resource |
|---|---|
| Classical Chinese logic | Chad Hansen, Language and Logic in Ancient China (JSTOR) (SEP logic entry) |
| Zhuangzi & skepticism | SEP “Zhuangzi” |
| Buddhist epistemology |
XI. Comparative Philosophy
| Topic | Resource |
|---|---|
| Chinese vs Western philosophy | Bryan Van Norden & Jay Garfield, Engaging Buddhism (SEP comparative) |
| Global philosophy | SEP “Comparative Philosophy” |