From nothing to something: Reading the Shanghai Museum's Hengxian 恆先 (Constancy, at the Outset)

Shirley Chan

From nothing to something: Reading the Shanghai Museum's Hengxian 恆先 (Constancy, at the Outset)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

The text of the Hengxian (Constancy, at the Outset) in the Shanghai Museum Collection of the Warring States (475-221 BCE) Bamboo Manuscripts can be read as an attempt by ancient Chinese philosophers to elucidate the relationship between cosmic patterns and the human realm. This paper will focus on the conceptions of the cosmic process of the self-generation and regeneration, and the philosophical implication of these processes.
Written with rulers and elite scholars as its intended readers, the Hengxian presents heng and related concepts as practices and principles that the ruler should follow in the process of establishing and building a "polity" in the Warring States period.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Reading through recovered ancient Chinese manuscripts
Editors	Shirley Chan
Place of Publication	Sydney
Publisher	Oriental Society of Australia
Chapter	2
Pages	19-40
Number of pages	22
ISBN (Print)	9780959226935
Publication status	Published - Apr 2020

Keywords

ancient Chinese manuscripts
ancient Chinese history
Classical Chinese
Shanghai Museum Collection of the Warring States Bamboo Manuscripts
Hengxian 恆先
cosmic order
Chinese philosophy

Cite this

@inbook{0f4ebe510abd4c3c98f8ccf34ee46e7f,

title = "From nothing to something: Reading the Shanghai Museum's Hengxian 恆先 (Constancy, at the Outset)",

abstract = "The text of the Hengxian (Constancy, at the Outset) in the Shanghai Museum Collection of the Warring States (475-221 BCE) Bamboo Manuscripts can be read as an attempt by ancient Chinese philosophers to elucidate the relationship between cosmic patterns and the human realm. This paper will focus on the conceptions of the cosmic process of the self-generation and regeneration, and the philosophical implication of these processes.Written with rulers and elite scholars as its intended readers, the Hengxian presents heng and related concepts as practices and principles that the ruler should follow in the process of establishing and building a {"}polity{"} in the Warring States period.",

keywords = "ancient Chinese manuscripts, ancient Chinese history, Classical Chinese, Shanghai Museum Collection of the Warring States Bamboo Manuscripts, Hengxian 恆先, cosmic order, Chinese philosophy",

author = "Shirley Chan",

year = "2020",

month = apr,

language = "English",

isbn = "9780959226935",

pages = "19--40",

editor = "Chan, {Shirley }",

booktitle = "Reading through recovered ancient Chinese manuscripts",

publisher = "Oriental Society of Australia",

}

TY - CHAP

T1 - From nothing to something

T2 - Reading the Shanghai Museum's Hengxian 恆先 (Constancy, at the Outset)

AU - Chan, Shirley

PY - 2020/4

Y1 - 2020/4

N2 - The text of the Hengxian (Constancy, at the Outset) in the Shanghai Museum Collection of the Warring States (475-221 BCE) Bamboo Manuscripts can be read as an attempt by ancient Chinese philosophers to elucidate the relationship between cosmic patterns and the human realm. This paper will focus on the conceptions of the cosmic process of the self-generation and regeneration, and the philosophical implication of these processes.Written with rulers and elite scholars as its intended readers, the Hengxian presents heng and related concepts as practices and principles that the ruler should follow in the process of establishing and building a "polity" in the Warring States period.

AB - The text of the Hengxian (Constancy, at the Outset) in the Shanghai Museum Collection of the Warring States (475-221 BCE) Bamboo Manuscripts can be read as an attempt by ancient Chinese philosophers to elucidate the relationship between cosmic patterns and the human realm. This paper will focus on the conceptions of the cosmic process of the self-generation and regeneration, and the philosophical implication of these processes.Written with rulers and elite scholars as its intended readers, the Hengxian presents heng and related concepts as practices and principles that the ruler should follow in the process of establishing and building a "polity" in the Warring States period.

KW - ancient Chinese manuscripts

KW - ancient Chinese history

KW - Classical Chinese

KW - Shanghai Museum Collection of the Warring States Bamboo Manuscripts

KW - Hengxian 恆先

KW - cosmic order

KW - Chinese philosophy

UR - https://sydneyuniversitypress.com.au/products/161313

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9780959226935

SP - 19

EP - 40

BT - Reading through recovered ancient Chinese manuscripts

A2 - Chan, Shirley

PB - Oriental Society of Australia

CY - Sydney

ER -

From nothing to something: Reading the Shanghai Museum's Hengxian 恆先 (Constancy, at the Outset)

Abstract

Keywords

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Reading through recovered ancient Chinese manuscripts

Cite this