The Third Birth of Confucius: Reconstructing the Ancient Chinese Philosophy in the Post-Mao China

by Kashi Ram Sharma

Overview

The Third Birth of Confucius deals with the Chinese sage and philosopher Confucius and his philosophical and politico-cultural legacies.
As the title suggests, Confucius has once again taken birth in China. Confucius ‘died’ for the first time when he gave way to Buddhism in the tenth century, but was reinvented again (Neo-Confucianism). This was the second birth of Confucius.
In the twentieth century, under the influence of western ideas, China’s liberals and Marxists abandoned Confucius again.
But how long can a civilization live without any ideational orientation? Hence, the third birth of Confucius from AD 2000 onwards. Confucius is emerging as a proxy word for cultural nationalism.
In fact, it is not one Confucius who is taking birth in China but two. One is the common man’s Confucius, which is authentic and genuine. The other Confucius is promoted by the Chinese Government. The author believes that soon either China will embrace democracy or it may implode and disintegrate like the former Soviet Union.
This book is an attempt to unravel the muddled reality of China and will definitely prove a landmark work in the field of Chinese Studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000588491
Publisher:	Manohar
Publication date:	04/27/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	388
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Kashi Ram Sharma was initiated into Chinese Studies in 1965-7 at the Australian National University, Canberra Australia. He was Professor and Head in the Department of Chinese Politics, Delhi University, for almost a decade. He has authored several books and research papers and travelled widely to deliver lectures on different aspects of China.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Confucius 2. From Confucius to Confucianism 3. Buddhism Conquers China 4. Neo-Confucianism: Zhuxi (AD 1130-1200) and the Second Birth of Confucius 5. Confucianism (Neo): From Zhuxi to Chinese Republic 6. When Confucius was Ridiculed, Abused and Disowned by the Radicals and Marxists 7. Understanding Chinese Culture, Legacy and Narratives of Modernity through her Literature 8. Confucius is Born for the Third Time 9. Concluding Remarks