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This volume presents both a historical and a systematic examination of the philosophy of classical Confucianism. Taking into account newly unearthed materials and the most recent scholarship, it features contributions by experts in the field, ranging from senior scholars to outstanding early career scholars.

The book first presents the historical development of classical Confucianism, detailing its development amidst a fading ancient political theology and a rising wave of creative humanism. It examines the development of the philosophical ideas of Confucius as well as his disciples and his grandson Zisi, the Zisi-Mencius School, Mencius, and Xunzi. Together with this historical development, the book analyzes and critically assesses the philosophy in the Confucian Classics and other major works of these philosophers.

The second part systematically examines such philosophical issues as feeling and emotion, the aesthetic appreciation of music, wisdom in poetry, moral psychology, virtue ethics, political thoughts, the relation with the Ultimate Reality, and the concept of harmony in Confucianism.

The Philosophy of Classical Confucianism offers an unparalleled examination to the philosophers, basic texts and philosophical concepts and ideas of Classical Confucianism as well as the recently unearthed bamboo slips related to Classical Confucianism. It will prove itself a valuable reference to undergraduate and postgraduate university students and teachers in philosophy, Chinese history, History, Chinese language and Culture.

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1. Introduction: Classical Confucianism in Historical and Comparative Context, Vincent Shen.- PART I. Historical Development .- 2. The Fading of Political Theology and the Rise of Creative Humanism, Vincent Shen.- 3. The Philosophy of Confucius, NI Peimin.- 4. The Philosophy of Confucius´ Disciples, LO Yuet Keung.- 5. Zisi and the Thought of Zisi and Mencius School, TSAI Zheng-Feng.- 6. The Daxue (Great Learning) and the Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean). Andrew H. Plaks.- 7. Philosophical Thought of Mencius, CHAN Wing-cheuk.- 8. Xunzi as a Systematic Philosopher: Toward Organic Unity of Nature, Mind, and Reason, CHENG Chung-ying.- PART II. Philosophical Issues .- 9. Early Confucian Perspectives on Emotions, Curie Virac.- 10. Art and Aesthetics of Music in Classical Confucianism, Johanna Liu.- 11. Wisdom and Hermeneutics of Poetry in Classical Confucianism, Vincent Shen.- 12. Early Confucian Moral Psychology, SHUN Kwong-loi.- 13. Early Confucian Virtue Ethics: The Virtues of Junzi , Antonio Cua.- 14. Early Confucian Political Philosophy and Its Contemporary Relevance, BAI Tongdong.- 15. Ultimate Reality and Self-cultivation in Early Confucianism: A Conceptual/Existential Approach , YAN Zhong-hu.- 16. Confucian Harmony: A Philosophical Analysis, LI Chengyang.- List of contributors.- Index.

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From the book reviews:

"If the readers are novices in classical Confucian philosophy, the essays provide basic orientation. If the readers are advanced students, the essays thread their way through contemporary debates, presenting the authors´ own perspectives. ... an edited volume that would be helpful in introductory courses in Confucianism, a must-read for advanced and graduate courses, and important for the library of (English-reading) scholars and philosophers in the Confucian tradition!" (Robert Cummings Neville, Dao, Vol. 13, 2014)

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