Journal of Contemporary Chinese Philosophy, Special Issue Call for Papers: Chinese Philosophy and Psychological Wellbeing
This is a Diamond Open Access journal. Articles are published in Open Access at no cost to the author. Sponsored by Beijing Normal University, and launched by the International Center for Philosophy from Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, the editorial team includes philosophers from across China and from all around the world.
Deadline for Submissions: 31 May 2026
Guest Editor: Yuchen Liang liangyc@cuhk.edu.cn
Submit at: Editorial Manager for JCCP https://brill.com/view/journals/jccp/jccp-overview.xml
Modern mental health is often framed through a Western clinical lens. This Special Issue explores how Chinese philosophy—both ancient and contemporary—provide adifferent map for the human “heart-mind” (xin 心). We want to bridge the gap between abstract philosophy and the lived experience of wellbeing, looking at everything from ancient concepts of gan 感 and qing 情 to how Chinese thought can help us survive the modern “attention economy” and mental health crisis.
Key Themes & Areas of Interest:
Defining the Healthy Self: How do Confucian, Daoist, and Chinese Buddhist texts define a “well” person? How does this differ from Western notions of mental health? Can we use Chinese standards like qingzhi 情志 in addition to contemporary frameworks like the DSM-5?
Philosophical Psychotherapy: Using Chinese concepts in clinical settings or as frameworks for mental health treatment such as the “Indigenous psychology” (本土心理學).
The “Attention Economy” & Psychopolitics: How Chinese philosophy can critique or resist the digital exhaustion of modern life, or combination of psychology andtechnology in social control?
The Ethics of Care: How Chinese medical ethics (traditional Chinese medicine) and theories of the self (gongfulun 功夫論) change how we approach psychological sufferingand psycho-physiological illness?
Chinese Affect Theory: How Chinese concepts like gan 感 and qing 情 construct unique approach regarding Western originated concepts like affects and emotions?
Types of Submissions We’re Looking For:
Historical Research: Deep dives into ancient texts with a focus on psychological application.
Contemporary Critique: How Chinese philosophy interacts with modernpolitical and social pressures.
Comparative Pieces: Dialogues between Chinese thought and Western psychology.
Case Studies: Philosophical reflections on mental health practices or specific psychological phenomena.
