Confucianism as religion : controversies and consequences.

On the Rhetoric of Defining Confucianism as a Religion tackles the perennially controversial question of whether Confucianism is a religion and proposes a holistic and contextual approach to the issue.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chen, Yong (Author)
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Leiden : Brill, 2013.
Series:Religion in Chinese societies ; v. 5.
Subjects:
Online Access:Click for online access
Table of Contents:
  • Acknowledgments; Introduction; Chapter One Problems and Ambiguity Surrounding the Question of Confucian Religiosity; 1. The Epistemological Problem: Transculturing the Term Religion; 1) The Reception of the Term Religion in the Chinese Context; 2) The Study of Religion as an Academic Discipline; 3) Constructing Religion in the Chinese Context; 2. The Linguistic Ambiguity of Terms: Rujia, Rujiao, Ruxue; 1) The Holistic and Panoramic Vision of the Term Confucianism; 2) The Obscure Origin of Ru; 3) The Ambiguity of the Terms: Rujia, Rujiao, and Ruxue
  • 4) The Distribution of Rujia, Rujiao, and Ruxue5) Transcending Terminological Limitation; 3. Values and Implications in the Discourse on Confucian Religiosity; 1) De Saussure's Theory on Syntagm; 2) Values and Implications in the Chinese Discourse; 3) Values and Implications in the Western Discourse; Chapter Two Historical Discussions on the Question of Confucian Religiosity; 1. Kang Youwei and the Kongjiao Controversy; 1) Background and Significance of Kang's State Religion Campaign; 2) Kang Youwei's Interpretation of Confucian Religiosity
  • 3) May Fourth Opposition to Kang's State Religion Movement2. The Resurrection of the Controversy: Context, Agenda, and Rhetoric; 1) Historical Outlines of the Controversy in Recent Decades; 2) Approaches and Arguments in the Latest Controversy; 3) Significance of and Problems with the Latest Controversy; 3. Western Scholarship on Confucian Religiosity; 1) James Legge; 2) William Edward Soothill; 3) Max Weber; 4) Julia Ching; 5) Rodney L. Taylor; 6) John Berthrong; 7) Joseph A. Adler; Chapter Three Epistemological Significance of the Controversy over Confucian Religiosity
  • 1. The Pragmatic Turn in Defining Religion1) W.C. Smith's Renunciation of the Term Religion; 2) Melford Spiro's Criterion of "Intra-cultural Intuitivity"; 3) Benson Saler's Notion of "Default Values"; 4) Martin Southwold's Twelve-Attribute-Substantiation of a Religion; 2. Definability of Confucianism in Terms of Religion; 1) Methodological Attitude toward Transculturing Religion; 2) Religious Dimensions of Traditional Chinese Society; 3) Demarcating Confucianism from the Cultural Context; 4) Definability of Confucianism in Terms of Religion; 3. Epistemological Significance of the Controversy
  • 1) The Anxiety for Modernization and the Postmodern Critique2) A Nominal Approach to Defining Confucianism; 3) Defining Confucianism in Spite of History; Chapter Four Cultural and Historical Significance of the Controversy over Confucian Religiosity; 1. Fractured Continuity between Tradition and Modernity; 2. The New Confucian Approach to the Question on Confucian Religiosity; 3. The New Confucian Approach to the Problem of Modernity; 4. The Theoretical Limitation of New Confucianism; 5. Engaging Tradition in Post-Confucian Paradigms; 6. Jiang Qing as a Confucian Religion Maker; Epilogue