Customer Reviews

Intellectual foundations of China (Studies in world civilization)

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Dr. Mote's monograph outlines the foundations of Chinese thought from Confucius (551-479 BC) through the bureaucratic innovations of the first dynasty (the Ch'in, 221-206 BC). The book covers early Chinese cosmology, Confucianism and its derivative schools, Taoism, Mohism, and the pragmatic successes of history's first totalitarian government -- the Ch'in State. It does not attempt to cover later influences such as Buddhism.

The actual text is short (114 pages) so Dr. Mote must use a concise (and occasionally dense) style to cover all this ground. When the reader finishes this book he is rewarded with an introductory understanding of each of these philosophies, how they developed, and how they influenced each other. An excellent jumping-off point for further studies. (Uses Wade-Giles and earlier romanizations).

This little book always brings rewards with each reading. Just this week, I was rather moved by Mote's words about Confucius, and how the man himself seems to have stayed human and real, despite the uses, misuses, distortions, etc. about him over millennia. Anyway, the book is one of the best tours of the Chinese intellectual horizon that I have ever read.