A Short History of Chinese Philosophy [Paperback]

Yu-lan Fung (Author), Derk Bodde (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0684836343 | ISBN-13: 978-0684836348

"A systematic account of Chinese thought from its origins to the present day"--Cover.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684836343
• ISBN-13: 978-0684836348
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classic Introduction, July 15, 2005

By 

Thomas Riggins (NY, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short History of Chinese Philosophy (Paperback)

First published in 1948 Fung Yu-Lan's "Short History" is still the best intro to Chinese Philosophy. After reading it move on to his two volume magnum opus "A History of Chinese Philosophy" which has nothing "short" about it. The short history is an adaptation of the two volume work so if anything grabs your fancy in the smaller work you can look it up for elaboration in the two volume work. I should also point out that the book is very well written with an accessible style which makes what could have been very difficult to understand concepts readily understandable. This book will widen your worldview ( if your are not already familiar with Chinese thought) so you can look at reality from a greater perspective than just that of the English speaking West.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A short but very enlightning history, January 9, 2007

By 

Elsa Rodrigues - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short History of Chinese Philosophy (Paperback)

For the people who want to understand chinese philosophy, it is a positively simple text that allows to pinpoint all the important issues about each person that mattered in History. I recomend it to every student, every person that wants to know about philosopy and even those who are determined to elaborate deeper studies, as a start on the matter.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellence in Introducing the Subject, February 17, 2009

By 

Chan Wai Man "Raymond Chan" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Short History of Chinese Philosophy (Paperback)

A short version of his longer original work, this is a great book in that it tells the history of Chinese philosophy in a systematic manner. Both fortunately and unfortunately, the content is a lot easier to absorb than any Chinese text on the subject, simply because it is written in an analytical language (English) rather then a poetic and suggestive language (Chinese), (plus reference to western philosophical terms which really helps). Highly recommended for any reader who want an introductory course on the subject.