Fifteen Lectures On Traditional Chinese Culture

This book explores the essence of traditional Chinese culture and its relevance to modern society, arguing that it can contribute to modernization while also addressing the problems caused by Western society's modernization. It adopts a vertical structure and horizontal method of comparison with Chinese, Western, and Indian cultures, highlighting the particularities and advantages of Chinese culture. The author also discusses the modern disdain for and misunderstandings of the traditional culture, Montesquieu's views of China, and the revitalization of Chinese civilization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 548 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2022
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd

This book is a comprehensive exploration of Chinese cultural history, derived from a series of lectures delivered at Peking University in 2004. It stands out for its unique methodology and distinctive perspective, making it a popular read among readers. Since its Chinese edition was first published in 2006, it has gone through 17 reprints, testament to its enduring appeal.

In the past, traditional culture in China often faced criticism and was viewed in a negative light. However, attitudes began to change in the 1980s, with the belief that traditional culture could contribute to modernization. As a result, many books on this theme have been written in accordance with the principle of extracting the essence of traditional culture while discarding its perceived flaws.

However, this book takes a different approach. The author argues that while the modernization of Western society has brought about certain benefits, it has also led to a number of problems. Therefore, there is a need for reflection and re-examination of our cultural practices. Traditional Chinese culture serves as a valuable source for comparison and reflection, allowing us to uncover its long-hidden meanings and develop contrastive resources for collaborative development in the future.

The discussions in this book adopt a vertical structure, beginning with how Chinese define a human and then moving on to topics such as the human body, Qi, food, male and female, home and state, the relationship between heaven and human beings, ritual systems, historical consciousness, thinking patterns, the art of expressing sentiments, commitments to the politics of virtues and achievements, and cultural practices. In each chapter, a horizontal method of comparison is also employed, highlighting the particularities and advantages of Chinese culture in contrast to Western and Indian cultures.

Apart from elaborating on the major characteristics of traditional Chinese culture, the book also delves into the modern disdain for and misunderstanding.

Weight: 936g
Dimension: 160 x 235 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811239755