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Wing-tsit Chan
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A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy Paperback – 1 July 1969

by Chan Wing-Tsit (Translator)
4.7 out of 5 stars 88
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A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy is a milestone along the complex and difficult road to significant understanding by Westerners of the Asian peoples and a monumental contribution to the cause of philosophy. It is the first anthology of Chinese philosophy to cover its entire historical development. It provides substantial selections from all the great thinkers and schools in every period--ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary--and includes in their entirety some of the most important classical texts. It deals with the fundamental and technical as well as the more general aspects of Chinese thought. With its new translation of source materials (some translated for the first time), its explanatory aids where necessary, its thoroughgoing scholarly documentation, this volume will be an indispensable guide for scholars, for college students, for serious readers interested in knowing the real China.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    888 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Princeton University Press
  4. Publication date
    1 July 1969
  5. Dimensions
    20.96 x 3.81 x 13.34 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0691019649
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0691019642
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

[E]normous chunks of the philosophers, and the commentary reduced to the essential minimum. Mr Chan's theme is Chinese humanism, because this is the unavoidable theme of Chinese philosophy in nearly all ages. Heroically he has translated his philosophers himself, with the result that for the first time the entire map is seen through a consistent eye. 'Source Book': no. Please look on it instead as a massive and superb anthology.---Robert Payne, Saturday Review

[Mr. Chan's] brilliant scholarship has enabled him to strike a balance between modern, medieval and ancient periods as well as between Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, and for the first time a leading Chinese scholar has carefully weighed the influences and importance's as well as the themes of many of the Chinese philosophers.---John Coombes, Columbus Enquirer

[T]he volume is virtually an encyclopedia.-- "Journal of Bible and Religion"

[T]he Neo-Confucian translations in particular are the most reliable yet made, and show a familiarity with classical allusions, early colloquial idiom and the turns of Neo-Confucian thought which no Western translator can hope to emulate.---A. C. Graham, Journal of the American Oriental Society

From the Back Cover

This Source Book is devoted to the purpose of providing such a basis for genuine understanding of Chinese thought (and thereby of Chinese life and culture, since the relationship between the two is probably more pronounced in China than in any other country).

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press; New Impression edition (1 July 1969)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 888 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691019649
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691019642
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 20.96 x 3.81 x 13.34 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 88

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Wing-tsit Chan

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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Jonathan Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on 9 August 2023
Verified Purchase
Exactly as described. Also, they wrapped it with extra TLC. No way for it to be damaged in transit. Really appreciate that.
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ephemerald
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Reviewed in Germany on 12 November 2016
Verified Purchase
A must for everyone interested in Chinese philosophy and spirituality. Contains a full translation of the Dao De Jing and many other greatly translated excepts from Confucianism, Daoism, Neo-Daoism, and Buddhism. Highly recommended!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely essential read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2016
Verified Purchase
Absolutely essential for any student of Chinese philosophy, or philosophy in general. I love Wing-Tsit Chan's style, I learned a lot about Chinese culture.
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Mori Ikari
5.0 out of 5 stars It provides substantial selections from all the great thinkers and schools in every period--ancient
Reviewed in the United States on 2 September 2016
Verified Purchase
A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy is a milestone along the complex and difficult road to significant understanding by Westerners of the Asian peoples and a monumental contribution to the cause of philosophy. It is the first anthology of Chinese philosophy to cover its entire historical development. It provides substantial selections from all the great thinkers and schools in every period--ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary--and includes in their entirety some of the most important classical texts. It deals with the fundamental and technical as well as the more general aspects of Chinese thought. With its new translation of source materials (some translated for the first time), its explanatory aids where necessary, its thoroughgoing scholarly documentation, this volume will be an indispensable guide for scholars, for college students, for serious readers interested in knowing the real China.

As Princeton University Press Describes it, it's a real bread winner.
5 people found this helpful
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xin liu
5.0 out of 5 stars a good orientation
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 July 2013
Verified Purchase
It is a good guide book for ancient chinese thinking, simple and helpful. It is useful for the beginner of chinese thinking.
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