This comprehensive volume surveys an important but neglected period of Chinese intellectual history:
Xuanxue
(Neo-Daoism). It provides a holistic approach to the philosophical and religious traits of this movement via the concepts of non-being, being, and oneness. Thinkers and texts on the periphery of
are also examined to show readers that
did not arise in a vacuum but is the result of a long and continuous evolution of ideas from pre-Qin Daoism.
The 25 chapters of this work survey the major philosophical figures and arguments of
, a movement from the Wei-Jin dynastic period (220-420 CE) of early-medieval China. It also examines texts and figures from the late-Han dynasty whose influence on
has yet to be made explicitly clear. In order to fully capture the multifaceted nature of this movement, the contributors brilliantly highlight its more socially-oriented characteristics.
Overall, this volumepresents an unrivaled picture of this exciting period. It details a portrait of intellectual and cultural vitality that rivals, if not surpasses, what was achieved during the Warring States period. Readers of the
Yijing
,
Daodejing
, and
Zhuangzi
will feel right at home with the themes and arguments presented herein, while students and those coming to
for the first time will acquire a wealth of knowledge.