Zhong (sic) and Ideal Rulership in the Baoxun (sic) (Instructions for Preservation) Text of the Tsinghua Collection of Bamboo Slip Manuscripts

Shirley Chan*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Zhong (Chinese Source) (variously translated as "middle," "center," "centrality," "the mean," and "equilibrium") is an important notion in early Chinese thought. This essay offers a brief survey of the possible connotations of zhong found in the Baoxun (Chinese Source) (Instructions for Preservation) text of the Tsinghua University's Collection of bamboo manuscripts of the Warring States period (475-221 BCE). By making a preliminary textual analysis and philosophical interpretation of the concept of zhong in relation to ideal rulership as presented in this newly discovered ancient text it is hoped that it will shed some light on the continuing debate on the notion of zhong in early Chinese thought.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)129-145
    Number of pages17
    JournalDao
    Volume11
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Zhong (sic) and Ideal Rulership in the Baoxun (sic) (Instructions for Preservation) Text of the Tsinghua Collection of Bamboo Slip Manuscripts'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this