Humour as rhetorical discourse in ancient Chinese philosophy: the works of Mencius

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion, appealing to emotions and logic in order to motivate or inform. As persuasive rhetorical discourse, humour has a long history in ancient Chinese philosophy, yet it is a subject that is understudied. By analysing the context and features of humour in early philosophical texts such as Mengzi 孟子 (The Works of Mencius), dating from the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), this study attempts to show how humour as rhetorical discourse has served pragmatic purposes of communication and persuasion and created a tradition that continues to influence modern practices in rhetoric and everyday life in Chinese culture.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHumour in Asian cultures
Subtitle of host publicationtradition and context
EditorsJessica Milner Davis
Place of PublicationLondon ; New York
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis Group
Pages19-39
Number of pages21
ISBN (Electronic)9781000591705, 9781003176374
ISBN (Print)9781032009162, 9781032009186
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Publication series

NameRoutledge Studies on Asia in the World
PublisherRoutledge

Keywords

  • rhetoric
  • humour
  • Chinese philosophy
  • Confucianism
  • Chinese literature
  • Chinese language

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