Journalist Evan Osnos has a new article, “Confucius Comes Home,” in The New Yorker. Only subscribers will have access to more than the first few paragraphs, I fear. It’s a terrific and provocative piece!
Category Archives: China
Rong Jian Critiques “New Authoritarian” Revival
China Policy is an impressive commercial website that has been sending me teasers…and the most recent one contains a bit I thought I’d share: a fascinating essay by a contemporary Chinese political theorist critiquing the idea that China ought to pursue a form of “new authoritarianism” that will lead ultimately to democracy. Instead, says Rong Jian, it may well lead to fascism. I think this link will take you to the page with the essay.
Two New Books
Two recently published books deserve our attention:
P.J. Ivanhoe, Confucian Reflections: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times (Routledge, 2013); this rich and concise book “…argues that the Analects is as relevant and important today as it has proven to be over the course of its more than 2000 year history, not only for the people who live in East Asian societies but for all human beings.”
Joseph Chan, Confucian Perfectionism: A Political Philosophy for Modern Times (Princeton, 2013); a long-awaited major statement of Chan’s modern Confucianism, it “…examines and reconstructs both Confucian political thought and liberal democratic institutions, blending them to form a new Confucian political philosophy.”
Fudan English-Language Programs in Chinese Philosophy
Tongdong Bai writes:
Thanks to your support, since it was launched in 2010, the MA and Visiting programs in Chinese philosophy (with courses taught in English) at Fudan have been extremely successful. It has been three years since these programs were launched in 2011, and 34 students have been enrolled in either the M.A. program (28 students) and the
visiting student program (6 students).
Confucianism’s Relevance, and Problems for Pillow Manufacturers
An amusing video; the pillow reference comes near the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBowVhTlbeE.
Early China ToC
Early China 35-36 (2012-2013) is now in print. This very special mega-volume is dedicated to Li Xueqin and guest-edited by Xing Wen. It includes interviews with Li Xueqin by Sarah Allan and Wang Tao; articles by David Keightley, Constance Cook, Xing Wen, Shu CHEN, Harold Roth, Donald Harper, Jeffrey Riegel, Crispin Williams, Yau Shun-chiu, Robin Yates, Marc Kalinowski, Michael Loewe, and Helen Wang; a review by Moss Roberts; and the usual Shigaku zasshi translations and annual bibliography. (Details below)
Video on “Chinese Dream”
A video produced by CCTV, featuring Daniel Bell, Zhang Xudong. M.D. Nalapat, Einar Tangen, Tu Weiming, and Zhang Jianfei, Mayor of Changsha at the Yuelu Academy in Changsha. (Stick with it: I feel that it gets more interesting as it goes along.) Comments welcome.
Fililal Piety Law
Interesting New York Times piece about the new law in China that requires filial piety. Here’s a snippet:
The government enacted a law on Monday aimed at compelling adult children to visit their aging parents. The law, called “Protection of the Rights and Interests of Elderly People,” has nine clauses that lay out the duties of children and their obligation to tend to the “spiritual needs of the elderly.”
Children should go home “often” to visit their parents, the law said, and occasionally send them greetings. Companies and work units should give employees enough time off so they can make parental visits.
The law was passed in December by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress. It does not stipulate any punishments for people who neglect their parents. Nevertheless, that officials felt the need to make filial duty a legal matter is a reflection of the monumental changes taking place throughout Chinese society.
CFP: 2014 New England AAS
The deadline for New England Association for Asian Studies Conference has been extended to August 1st. Please submit all panels or individual paper proposals online here. Bridgewater State University is conveniently located between Boston and Providence and easily accessible by car or by commuter rail from Boston. Participants who are from outside Eastern Massachusetts can choose from a large number of hotels south of Boston or around Route 24 near Bridgewater, or stay at a hotel in Boston to take the train from South Station to Bridgewater.
CFP: Inaugural English Edition of Heritage and Transition
[On behalf of Ben Hammer, Shandong University]
A Call for Drafts for the Inaugural English-language Edition of Heritage and Transition: Studies in Chinese Humanities
Shandong University’s Journal of Literature, History and Philosophy (《文史哲》Wen Shi Zhe) is one of mainland China’s most well-known and well-respected academic journals. It has appeared bi-monthly for more than half a decade and has gained the highest repute among Chinese scholars. The Journal focuses on presenting scholarly work on various aspects of China’s traditional culture and society.
Due to the rising demand and desire for international dialogue as well as the rising prominence of sinology in Western countries, the editorial board has decided to begin publishing an edition in English, entitled Heritage and Transition: Studies in Chinese Humanities. It is our goal to help foster such international dialogue and provide a platform for important academic exchange.
This notice is to officially extend an invitation to Western scholars to take part in Heritage and Transition’s inaugural English-language edition. The theme of the inaugural edition is “The Forms and Formation of Chinese Society” (中国社会形态的问题). All entries must be original works somehow related to this theme.
There is no fee to submit. All submissions will be reviewed by the editorial board. All accepted submissions will receive payment. Furthermore, along with being published in the English edition, accepted works will also be translated into Chinese and published separately in the Chinese edition.
The deadline for the first edition is September 30, 2013. Submissions should be between 6,000 and 10,000 words in length. If you are interested in contributing or have questions, please contact Dr. Ben Hammer at benkhammer@sdu.edu.cn
Benjamin Hammer
Assistant Editor, Heritage and Transition
Lecturer, Advanced Institute of Confucian Studies
Shandong University
Jinan, Shandong, China, 250100
+011-86-152-6411-3113
