The Encyclopedia of Confucianism: 2-volume set (Routledgecurzon Encyclopedias of Religion, 1) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0700711996 ISBN 13: 9780700711994

Publisher: Routledge, 2003

Synopsis

The Encyclopedia, the first of its kind, introduces Confucianism as a whole, with 1,235 entries giving full information on its history, doctrines, schools, rituals, sacred places and terminology, and on the adaptation, transformation and new thinking taking place in China and other Eastern Asian countries. An indispensable source for further study and research for students and scholars.

About this title

From Booklist:

Confucianism is a difficult concept to define. The RoutledgeCurzon Encyclopedia of Confucianism offers welcome assistance in making this tradition accessible to a Western audience.

The set begins with an introductory essay by the editor describing Confucianism as a tradition as well as a subject of study. A team of international scholars is responsible for the more than 950 alphabetically arranged entries, which have been signed, are nicely cross-referenced, and often conclude with bibliographic references. They include important individuals, ranging from Confucius himself to Liang Shuming, a twentieth-century Chinese intellectual who combined Confucian and Chinese Buddhist ideas into a unique philosophy of culture. Biographical information is also provided for some Christian missionaries (e.g., Matteo Ricci) and Western scholars (e.g., William Theodore de Bary) important to the introduction of Confucianism to the West and its understanding there. Other entries include important texts, doctrines, schools, sacred places, and rituals. Although many of these can be quite specific or narrow, there are some more general surveys on Confucianism and the arts, education, government, literature, music, and religion; Confucianism and the religious traditions of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Shinto; and Confucianism during particular periods in Chinese history as well as Confucianism in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and the West. The set concludes with separate indexes for names, subjects, and texts. Use of the indexes will be necessary for many readers as texts and subjects are listed under their transliterated form (e.g., Lunyu instead of Analects of Confucius; Tian instead of heaven).

Sources such as the Encyclopedia of Religion (Macmillan, 1987) and the Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy (Routledge, 2001) treat Confucianism more generally. But the RoutledgeCurzon Encyclopedia of Confucianism is a first step toward filling the void of specialized English-language reference tools for many such traditions. Those interested in varied aspects of Asian studies will find it useful. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review:

'This set will be essential for academic libraries supporting programmes in religion or philosophy.' – Reference Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0700711996
• ISBN 13: 9780700711994
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 976
• Editor: Yao Xinzhong