vragen EAI

Please discuss some key concepts of Shang and Zhou religious practices. How would you define the relation between the divine and the human world? What is the significance of ancestors?

1.

What do Oracle Bone Inscriptions tell us about the religious life during the Shang Dynasty. What practices were related to them?

2.

Discuss the concepts of shangdi “Supreme Deity” and tian “Heaven” in ancient Chinese philosophy. What is the significance of the “Mandate of Heaven” (tianming)?

3.

Can you give an account of some mythological figures important in Chinese religion / philosophy? What kind of ideas do they convey?

4.

Discuss some of the main ideas of the Analects (Lunyu) of Confucius.

5.

Which elements of Confucius’ thinking were integrated into the state ideology during the Han Dynasty? Are there also non-Confucian elements you can discern?

6.

Why is Confucius sometimes seen as “transmitter” rather than an innovator? Why is “ritual” so important in his worldview?

7.

Discuss the notion of “humaneness” (ren) in Confucius’ and Mencius’ thoughts.

Discuss the concept of Tao/Dao in the various ancient Chinese schools of thought. What are the differences?

9.

Discuss the notion of filial piety (xiao) in Confucianism, as well as more generally in terms of the significance for Chinese society.

10.

How would Confucius define the “perfect person” (jun / shanren / shengren). What kind of qualities must he/she have?

11.

Shortly discuss the Confucian classics.

12.

Give an overview of important legalist thinkers.

13.

Compare the view on human nature by legalists, as compared to Mencius.

14.

Discuss the concept of fa in the various ancient Chinese schools, with an emphasis on Legalism and Mohism.

15.

Discuss the following concepts in Legalism: “essence” (qing), “powerbase” (shi), and “methods” (shu).

16.

Would you say that there any resemblances between Daoism and Legalism? How would you define those?

17.

How does Mencius explain the relation between Heaven and man? Why does he conclude that human beings have a good nature?

18.

Give a short overview of the “Four Books” of Confucianism.

19.

How would you define some differences between the Confucian scholars Mencius and Xunzi?

20.

Do you see some resemblances between Mohism and Confucianism? Where do they divert?

What is the Mozi’s vision of an ordered society?

22.

Discuss the central term of “profit” (li) in the Mozi. Provide some examples.

How would you explain the idea of “universal concern/love” in Mozi’s thinking?

Discuss key issues of Zhuangzi’s worldview. What are the main differences to other philosophers?

25.

What was Zhuangzi’s attitude towards death?

26.

Discuss the notion of “sage/saint” of Zhuangzi, in contrast to Confucius’ junzi.

27.

Discuss the notion of naturalness / spontaneity / non-action in Daoism.

28.

How is the ideal ruler defined in the Laozi / Daode jing? Contrast it to other Chinese schools of thought.

29.

Both Zhuangzi and Laozi criticize “dualism”. What are your thoughts about that?

30.

Discuss Han Dynasty syncretism.

31.

How would you define “correlative thinking”? Provide some examples.

32

Discuss the significance of Dong Zhongshu for Han Dynasty philosophy.

33.

Shortly discuss the ideas of Zou Yan.

34.

In terms of the development of Daoism after the Han, what would you point out as important?

35.