Interrelatedness in Chinese Religious Traditions: An Intercultural Philosophy

Description

The study of religions is essential for understanding other cultures, building a sense of belonging in a multicultural world and fostering a global intercultural dialogue. Exploring Chinese religions as one interlocutor in this dialogue, Diana Arghirescu engages with Song-dynasty Confucian and Buddhist theoretical developments through a detailed study of the original texts of the Chan scholar-monk Qisong (1007–1072) and the Neo-Confucian master Zhu Xi (1130–1200). Starting with these figures, she builds an interpretive theory focusing on “ethical interrelatedness” and proposes it as a theoretical tool for the study of the Chinese religious traditions. By actively engaging with other contemporary theories of religion and refusing to approach Chinese religions with Western frameworks, Arghirescu’s comparative perspective makes it possible to uncover differences between the various Western and Chinese cultural presuppositions upon which these theories are built. As such, this book breaks new ground in the methodology of religious studies, comparative philosophy and furthers our understanding of the Confucian-Buddhist interaction. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Introduction: Intercultural philosophical approach and cultural presuppositions Part 1 Western Theories and Cultural Presuppositions: An Intercultural Perspective 1 Classical theories of Western philosophy of religion (Durkheim and Weber): An analysis of their presuppositions from a Chinese perspective 2 Contemporary theories of Western religious studies and philosophy of religion (John Hick, Ninian Smart, Jonathan Z. Smith): An analysis of their presuppositions from a Chinese perspective Part 2 Chinese Cultural Presuppositions: Ethical Interrelatedness in Song Dynasty Philosophico-Religious Traditions 3 Ethico-spiritual interrelatedness: The meaning of ethico-religious practice in the Chan scholar-monk Qisong’s writings 4 Ethico-organic interrelatedness: The meaning of ethico-religious practice in the Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi’s writings Part 3 Ethical Interrelatedness 5 Ethical interrelatedness: An interpretive theory for Chinese religious traditions Part 4 Contemporary Sinological, Philosophical and Buddhological Approaches to Chinese Religious Traditions 6 A comparative perspective: Similarities and differences Conclusion Notes Introduction: Intercultural philosophical approach and cultural presuppositions 1 Classical theories of Western philosophy of religion (Durkheim and Weber): An analysis of their presuppositions from a Chinese perspective 2 Contemporary theories of Western religious studies 3 Ethico-spiritual interrelatedness: The meaning of ethico-religious practice in the Chan scholar-monk Qisong’s writings 4 Ethico-organic interrelatedness: The meaning of ethico-religious practice in the Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi’s writings 5 Ethical interrelatedness: An interpretive theory for Chinese religious traditions 6 A comparative perspective: Similarities and differences Bibliography Index