Roel Sterckx Book order

We are often told that the twenty-first century is bound to become China's century. Never before has Chinese culture been so physically, digitally, economically or aesthetically present in everyday life in the Western world. But how much do we really know about its origins and key beliefs, especially compared to the many histories of Western philosophy? How did the ancient Chinese think about the world? In this enlightening book, Roel Sterckx, one of the foremost experts in Chinese thought, takes us through centuries of Chinese history, from Confucius to Daoism to the Legalists. With evocative examples from philosophy, literature and everyday life, he shows us how the ancient Chinese have shaped the thinking of a civilization that is now influencing our own.

A brilliant history of ancient China's masters of philosophy -- and how they help us understand China today In Ways of Heaven, leading China scholar Roel Sterckx offers an engrossing introduction to classical China's world of ideas. Drawing on evocative examples from philosophical texts, literature, and everyday life over centuries of Chinese history, Sterckx introduces major thinkers and traditions, illuminates key concepts like the dao, qi, yin, and yang, and examines questions of leadership, social order, death, nature, and more. He also reveals how these ideas shape contemporary China, from table manners at a traditional banquet, to the Chinese obsession with education and family, to the rhetoric of political leaders and the nation's grand strategy. Essential reading for students, travelers, businesspeople, and anyone curious about this rising global power, Ways of Heaven shows that to comprehend China today we must learn to think Chinese.

The book delves into the intersection of religious culture and sensory perception in early China, highlighting how spiritual beliefs shaped the understanding of human senses. It examines various historical perspectives and interpretations, offering insights into the philosophical and cultural frameworks that influenced sensory experiences in that era. Through this exploration, it reveals the intricate connections between belief systems and sensory perception in Chinese thought.

Focusing on the perceptions of animals in Warring States and early imperial China, Sterckx explores how these creatures reflect the philosophical and cultural thought of the time. Rather than examining animals through the lens of zoo history or literature, he delves into their significance as symbols that illuminate human understanding and societal values in early Chinese civilization. This unique approach offers insights into the interconnectedness of nature and human thought during this pivotal historical period.

The book delves into early Chinese thought, particularly during the Warring States and Han dynasties, examining how cultural perceptions of animals shaped human self-understanding and ideals of sagehood and authority. Roel Sterckx argues that early Chinese views did not draw strict boundaries between animals, humans, and other beings like spirits. Instead, it presents the animal world as an integral part of a cohesive system where relationships among living species are seen as interconnected and interdependent, reflecting both natural and cultural dimensions.