📚 No cover available

Language, ontology, and political philosophy in China

By Rudolf G. Wagner

Book Description

In the wake of the Han dynasty's collapse in 220 C.E., a generation of brilliant young scholars found themselves navigating uncharted intellectual territory. Without established teachers or orthodox frameworks to guide them, these thinkers embarked on a bold philosophical journey that would reshape Chinese thought for centuries to come.

At the center of this intellectual revolution stood Wang Bi, whose groundbreaking approach to ancient texts revealed hidden depths in familiar wisdom. Through what became known as Xuanxue, or the "Scholarly Exploration of the Dark," these scholars discovered that language itself possessed inherent limitations when attempting to express ultimate truth. This recognition led them to develop a sophisticated method of reading "subtle pointers" within classical works like the Laozi, the Book of Changes, and the Analects of Confucius.

Rudolf G. Wagner illuminates how Wang Bi's innovative textual analysis evolved into a comprehensive philosophy of Being. This ontological framework provided not merely abstract speculation, but practical guidance for understanding the relationship between rulers and subjects. Wang Bi's insights offered a blueprint for enlightened leadership and public governance rooted in philosophical wisdom.

This scholarly exploration reveals how ancient Chinese thinkers transformed familiar texts into profound philosophical resources. Their work established enduring approaches to reading classical literature as vehicles for deeper understanding, creating interpretive methods that continue to influence Chinese philosophical thought today.