From Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism to Contemporary Neo-Confucianism / By CHENG Chung-yi

Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism is often perceived as abstruse. How, then, can one access its intricate world of ideas? This book guides readers into its depths by drawing upon the scholarly achievements of contemporary Neo-Confucians, also known as Hong Kong/Taiwanese Neo-Confucians. This group represents the most original and speculative intellectual community in 20th-century Chinese philosophy, with Tang Junyi and Mou Zongsan standing as towering figures. The book offers a detailed analysis of their contrasting interpretations of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, outlining two distinct yet reconcilable research approaches. Furthermore, in the face of modern cultural impacts, do Confucianism and traditional culture still hold value and meaning? Using the contemporary Neo-Confucian endeavor of returning to origins and forging anew as an example, this book elucidates how their thinking powerfully refutes anti-traditionalism, demonstrating that Confucianism can be reborn, much like a phoenix from ashes. The entire work is divided into three interconnected parts: The first part elaborates on the core concepts of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism. The second part explores the research of contemporary Neo-Confucians, particularly Messrs. Tang Junyi and Mou Zongsan, on Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, comparing their divergent methods, interpretations, and conclusions. The third part analyzes how contemporary Neo-Confucians, by drawing upon the wisdom of Song-Ming scholars, carry on the legacy while reimagining "Confucianism" to welcome the influx of Western philosophical thought, critically responding to the impact of modernity, and even participating in current global ethical and religious dialogues. Full Title: From Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism to Contemporary Neo-Confucianism Author: CHENG Chung-yi ISBN: 978-988-237-323-5 Binding: Cloth Hardcover Language: Traditional Chinese Pages: 472 Dimensions: 229 x 152 mm **About the Author** **CHENG Chung-yi** was born in Hong Kong in 1965. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Chinese Philosophy and Culture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of "Chinese Philosophy and Culture." His main research areas include Confucian philosophy (Pre-Qin, Song-Ming, and contemporary), the history of Chinese philosophy, and Sino-Western comparative philosophy. His published works include *An Analysis of the Transformation of Confucianism in the Ming and Qing Dynasties—From Liu Zongzhou to Dai Zhen* (First published 2000, Revised Edition 2009), *Confucianism, Philosophy, and the Modern World* (2010), and nearly a hundred articles in Chinese and English. He has also edited *Contemporary Confucian Thinkers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong* (2006), *New Directions in Chinese Philosophy Research* (2014), and *New Directions in Chinese Philosophy* (2014). **Endorsements** This book compiles the author's recent research findings on Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism and contemporary Neo-Confucianism. It seamlessly integrates textual interpretation, philosophical exposition, and philosophical outlooks, consistently showcasing the author's unique perspectives. —**LI Ming-hui** (Retired Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute of Chinese Literature and Philosophy, Academia Sinica) This book offers a unified and coherent discourse that encompasses the academic scope of research on Song-Ming and contemporary Neo-Confucian thought. In each chapter, by introducing and reflecting on relevant contemporary academic topics, it raises profound theoretical questions, thereby demonstrating the author's distinctive stance and meticulous deliberation. This work further advances the understanding of Song-Ming philosophical principles and the thought of Tang and Mou, and is a rare academic achievement in charting the future development of Confucianism. —**DONGfang Shuo** (Professor, School of Philosophy, Fudan University) The Chinese University of Hong Kong, in its sixty years of establishment, has been home to many distinguished scholars of humanities and history. Qian Mu, Tang Junyi, who founded New Asia College, and later joined by Mou Zongsan and Xu Fuguan, are revered as masters of contemporary Neo-Confucianism. Consequently, the history and research of Confucianism have become a distinctive academic domain for CUHK. Following Qian, Tang, Mou, and Xu, Professor Liu Shu-hsien has led the research in Confucianism. CHENG Chung-yi, his student, has also dedicated many years to studying the history and research of Confucianism, offering profound insights and establishing his own unique school of thought. The essays in this book, ranging from various schools of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism to the discourse of contemporary Neo-Confucian thinkers, are well-supported in their analysis and clear in their logic, exhibiting the style of a master. It can be considered a representative work of Confucian research at the current stage at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. —**LEUNG Yuen-sang** (Professor Emeritus, Department of History, The Chinese University of Hong Kong) This book specifically examines figures and topics in Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism that were not deeply explored by earlier Neo-Confucian predecessors. It analyzes the respective lines of thought of Tang Junyi and Mou Zongsan and their differing interpretations of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, clarifying the Neo-Confucian response to the impact of modernity. The three parts are interconnected, presenting numerous profound insights with a blend of rationality and warmth that readers should not miss. —**PENG Guo-xiang** (Professor, School of Philosophy, Zhejiang University) This book explores contemporary Confucian issues with detailed analysis and robust argumentation. Its comparison of the Confucian research approaches of Tang Junyi and Mou Zongsan offers particularly novel insights and is an indispensable reference for scholars of Neo-Confucianism. —**YANG Ruo-bin** (Distinguished Professor, Graduate Institute of Philosophy, National Tsing Hua University)