Yueqing Wang & Qinggang Bao 
History of Chinese Philosophy Through Its Key Terms [PDF ebook] 

This book provides a conceptual overview of the evolution of Chinese philosophy from its earliest beginnings to the end of the imperial era, highlighting 38 of the most essential terms in the Chinese philosophical tradition. Written by prominent contemporary scholars from Mainland China, the respective chapters cover topics ranging from cosmology, benti metaphysics, human nature, self-cultivation, and methodology, to views on history and politics. Each chapter addresses one of the constitutive terms of the Chinese philosophical tradition and provides clear historical information on how it was used and developed during the key periods of Chinese philosophy.


Highlighting both central concepts and essential structures of Chinese philosophy, the book allows readers to view the history of Chinese philosophy from the perspective of the Chinese themselves. Offering content that is both academically rigorous and accessible for a wider audience, this book is an indispensable reference guide for all students of Chinese philosophy.

Table of Content

Foreword.- Way (Dao, 道).- Charismatic Power (De, 德).- The Heavens (Tian, 天).- Mandate (ming, 命).- Heart-mind (xin, 心).- Natural Tendencies (xing, 性).- Human disposition (qing, 情).- Sincerity (cheng, 诚).- Trustworthiness (xin, 信).- Humaneness (ren, 仁).- Ritual Propriety (li, 礼).- Filial Piety (xiao, 孝).- Coherence (li, 理).- Vital Energy (qi, 气).- Being and Non-being (youwu, 有无).- Yin and Yang (yinyang, 阴阳).- The Five Phases (wuxing, 五行).- The Great Ultimate (taiji, 太极).- Self-so (ziran, 自然).- Above Physical Form and Below Physical Form xingershang xingerxia, (形而上形而下).- One and Two (yiliang, 一两).- Movement and Stillness (dongjing, 动静).- Constancy and Change (changbian, 常变).- Change and Transformation (bianhua, 变化).- Root and Branch (benmo, 本末).- Name and Corresponding Object (mingshi, 名实).- Public and Private (gongsi, 公私).- Righteousness and Profit (yili, 义利).- Principle and Desire (liyu, 理欲).- King and Hegemon (wangba, 王霸).- Moral Knowing (liangzhi良知).- Sage (shengren圣人).- Exemplary Person (junzi, 君子).- Equilibrium and Commonality (zhongyong中庸).- Unfettered and Effortless (xiaoyao, 逍遥).- Language and Meaning (yanyi, 言意).- Harmony and Sameness (hetong, 和同).

About the author

Yueqing Wang is currently a Professor of Philosophy at Nanjing University, China. He has written many works on Chinese Buddhism. His works have been honored with various awards. In addition, he was the main editor of Classics of Chinese Philosophy (both the Chinese and English editions), which won the 14th Excellence in Chinese Export Award.




Qinggang Bao is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Marxism and Traditional Chinese Culture Research Center. His main areas of research are Confucian philosophy, Daoist philosophy, and Wei-Jin neo-Daoism. He has authored the works Reflection and Reconstruction: Researches in Guo Xiang’s Commentaries to the Zhuangzi and Wandering Far and Unfettered Through the Ages: Zhuangzi, and has co-authored several books, including Classics of Traditional Chinese Philosophy, Ten Influential Classics of Chinese Culture and Ten Influential Philosophers of Chinese Culture (all in Chinese).