Categories of exemplary persons such as the sage (shengren 聖人), the gentleman (junzi 君子) and the worthy (xian 賢) play a significant role in the Confucian tradition. Oftentimes interpreted as...Show moreCategories of exemplary persons such as the sage (shengren 聖人), the gentleman (junzi 君子) and the worthy (xian 賢) play a significant role in the Confucian tradition. Oftentimes interpreted as embodiments of moral quality, virtue and skill, these exemplars serve as admirable ideals for Confucian thinkers throughout history. This thesis, by using Zagzebski’s theory of exemplarism as an interpretative framework, examines the views of Ming Neo-Confucian thinker Luo Qinshun 羅欽順 (1465 – 1547 CE) on exemplary persons in the Kunzhiji 困知記. With a specific focus on admiration and emulation, this thesis argues that Luo considers the sage, the gentleman and the worthy to be part of an orderly sequence of attainment, in which the sage stands as the ultimate exemplary person, but that Luo’s primary objects of admiration are the virtues and qualities involved in the pursuit to become a sage rather than the actual state of sagehood itself.Show less
This thesis explores the conceptualization of selfhood, self-interest, and self-sacrifice in ancient Chinese thought by performing an intra-textual analysis of several anecdotes in the Han Feizi, a...Show moreThis thesis explores the conceptualization of selfhood, self-interest, and self-sacrifice in ancient Chinese thought by performing an intra-textual analysis of several anecdotes in the Han Feizi, a canonical text on ancient Chinese political philosophy dating back to the 3rd century BCE. More specifically, this thesis describes a paradox in early Chinese thought, particularly in the Han Feizi, about conceptions of self-hood as articulated in anecdotes involving self-interest and self-sacrifice. A close reading of relevant passages demonstrates that, according to the Han Feizi, the contradictory tension between self-interest and self-sacrifice that instigated the premise for this study is in fact not so paradoxical after all. According to the Han Feizi, individuals are motivated by their self-interested nature, even when they sacrifice their limbs, their children, or their lives in the pursuit of personal aggrandizement.Show less
In this thesis, I argue against the view that takes individual cultivation as the primary concern and union with Heaven as the ultimate end in early Confucianism. I propose that with the collapse...Show moreIn this thesis, I argue against the view that takes individual cultivation as the primary concern and union with Heaven as the ultimate end in early Confucianism. I propose that with the collapse of Heaven in Chunqiu period, Confucius endorsed history as the authority, for history revealed a normative order for society. History also held authority over humans because it was in history that humans sought for existential meaning. In this light, I propound new interpretations of some of the most important concepts in early Confucianism.Show less
The Liezi is often regarded as the most important Daoist document after the Laozi and the Zhuangzi (both dating from the Warring States period; 475-221 BCE), yet the existing academic literature...Show moreThe Liezi is often regarded as the most important Daoist document after the Laozi and the Zhuangzi (both dating from the Warring States period; 475-221 BCE), yet the existing academic literature leaves a large gap on the philosophical significance of the Liezi, mainly because it is widely considered a forgery of the fourth or fifth century. Philosophically, the Liezi applies Daoist principles to human destiny by example of the Daoist sage, who despite his humanness, is said to be invulnerable. This is contrasted with ordinary people, who perceive their life as a series of fortunate and/or unfortunate events that either were happening as a result of their free will or were determined by forces beyond human control. Whereas for ordinary people free will and determinism are two separate entities, sages unify the manifestations of both concepts within themselves, realizing free will and determinism to be the same but two viewpoints on life which arise naturally due to the duality of existence. By examining the interrelationship between destiny and the sage based on its Daoist metaphysics, this study on the Liezi shows how the seemingly paradoxical relation between free will and determinism is reconciled in personal freedom and happiness through Daoist self-cultivation.Show less
This study analyzes the experience of Daoism in the Netherlands among practitioners of three body practices: taijiquan, qigong and Healing Tao. It describes how this ancient Chinese tradition has...Show moreThis study analyzes the experience of Daoism in the Netherlands among practitioners of three body practices: taijiquan, qigong and Healing Tao. It describes how this ancient Chinese tradition has found its place in the daily life of practitioners of three “Daoist” body practices and how the practitioners experience Daoism. Through analyzing qualitative interviews with teachers and students practicing taijiquan, qigong and Healing Tao, this thesis shows that Daoism in the Netherlands is mostly experienced as a practical guideline and serves as the basis for these body practices. For a significant number of practitioners, Daoism is applicable everywhere and gives meaning to life. It explains the world around the practitioners without requiring a strong “belief” in anything. Some practitioners connect Daoism and their body practice to its Chinese origin, whereas others believe the underlying principles are the most important. Through this analyzation, it becomes clear that Daoism is experienced stronger in the Netherlands than was expected prior to this research.Show less
Dit werkstuk gaat over de morele principes die weduwen volgens het boek Lienüzhuan van Liu Xiang moesten kennen en de juiste gedragslijn die deze weduwen moesten volgen.
An account of Mozi's political philosophy from the perspective of his synthesis of power and knowledge through the formulation of a meritocratic bureaucracy designed to employ and empower officials...Show moreAn account of Mozi's political philosophy from the perspective of his synthesis of power and knowledge through the formulation of a meritocratic bureaucracy designed to employ and empower officials with the appropriate skills and expertise for governing.Show less
The development of Buddhism in modern China is really a big issue to deal with, especially for a short Master thesis. In order to narrow down my subject, I would like to focus on the posts on Sina...Show moreThe development of Buddhism in modern China is really a big issue to deal with, especially for a short Master thesis. In order to narrow down my subject, I would like to focus on the posts on Sina Weibo regarding Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism always tries to apply new media technologies to promote its teaching. For Sina Weibo is one of the most active online platform in China, taking a look at the Buddhist elements on it must be interesting. There were a lot of non-humorous Buddhist anecdotes about the Chan Master on Weibo. But from several years ago, the Buddhist jokes which share the similar structure with those anecdotes began to prevail Weibo. Although these jokes also spread on other online platforms, because of the large user base of Weibo, Sina Weibo is the biggest gathering place for these jokes, and users of Weibo continue to create new jokes about the Chan Master on it. In my thesis, I would like to find out, what the characteristics are of the Buddhist anecdotes and the Buddhist jokes posted on Weibo? How did Buddhist jokes develop over time? What are the possible reasons for the popularity of those anecdotes and the appearance of those jokes? In order to answer these questions, I first collected relevant posts about Buddhist anecdotes and jokes on Weibo and made them into a corpus for research. I have translated them into English and attached them to the end of this thesis. I then analyzed them, which led to the following chapters of my thesis. Chapter 1 is the present Introduction. Chapter 2 discusses the Buddhist anecdotes. It outlines their main characteristics and gives possible reasons for their popularity. Chapter 3 centers on the Buddhist jokes. All the jokes are divided into three categories according to the time order: “Pre-Chan Master Style” jokes, “Chan Master Style” jokes and “Post-Chan Master Style” jokes, and they are analyzed respectively by the theories of jokes and humor. In addition, a case study is done on one specific joke in order to reveal the big social context of these jokes. At last, Chapter 4 gives out a brief conclusion.Show less
