Pre-modern China reading group series

The discovery of a cache of bamboo manuscripts in a tomb in Guodian, Hubei, in 1993 marked a turning point in the study of early Chinese philosophy and intellectual history. Often compared in significance to the Dead Sea Scrolls, these texts remain underappreciated despite their far-reaching implications. In this reading group series, we will read, translate, and discuss four key texts from the Guodian corpus:

Qiongda yi shi 窮達以時 (Poverty or success is a matter of timing)

This text explores the role of fate in determining success and recognition, emphasising that while humans control their actions, their outcomes ultimately lie in Heaven’s hands. Much of its content overlaps with passages found in the Xunzi 荀子, while it also provides new insights into the role of fate in early Confucian thought. Before its excavation, this text was unknown to modern readers.

Wu xing 五行 (The five conducts)

Associated with the Si-Meng 思孟 Confucian tradition by modern scholars, this text, hitherto unknown to us, largely overlaps with the Wu xing excavated at Mawangdui in the 1970s. It discusses the five virtues and their interrelations, underscoring moral self-cultivation and balanced harmony between them. Interestingly, the WX quotes the Shijing 詩經 (Classic of Odes) extensively to support its philosophical stance, making it an invaluable source for understanding the use of this Confucian Classic in early China.

Zhongxin zhi dao 忠信之道 (The way of loyalty and trustworthiness)

Also formerly lost to us, the ZXZD is a work of political philosophy. It advocates moral government, praising the human virtues of loyalty and trustworthiness while giving them a cosmological basis as the main features of Heaven and Earth. The text seems to play on the dual meaning of junzi 君子, which means both “ruler” and “gentleman”—emphasising the ethical obligations of leadership.

Taiyi sheng shui 太一生水 (The Great One gives birth to water)

This text discusses a cosmogony in which Taiyi (the Great One) generates water, which in turn gives rise to Heaven, Earth, and other dualistic forces, culminating in the natural cycles of the four seasons. This is the earliest known example of such a cosmogony, offering a unique perspective on the origins of the universe and the interplay of fundamental elements.

Schedule - Summer semester 2025

Mondays, 4:00–6:00 PM

March 17, 24

April 7, 14

May 5, 19

June 2, 16

Requirements:

Basic-to-intermediate knowledge of classical Chinese language

Bibliography:
Cook, Scott B. The Bamboo Texts of Guodian: A Study & Complete Translation. East Asia Program, Cornell University, 2012.

Meyer, Dirk. Philosophy on Bamboo: Text and the Production of Meaning in Early China. Brill, 2011.

One of the most philosophically sophisticated texts of the early Confucian tradition, the Xunzi offers deep reflections on key philosophical issues, such as ethics, politics, ritual, human nature, and more. Historically neglected due to its perceived deviation from orthodox Confucianism, it has recently received renewed appreciation not only for its content, but also for its “poetic” style. In this reading group series, we will read and discuss the following chapters:

• Chapter 23: Human nature is bad – Xunzi’s argument against innate goodness, contrasting with Mencius’ views
• Chapter 17: Discourse on Heaven – A detailed and lucid critique of supernatural beliefs and a discussion on the role of human agency
• Chapter 1: An exhortation to learning – The importance of education and self-cultivation in intellectual improvement
• Chapter 2: Cultivating oneself – A guide to personal discipline and ethical refinement

Schedule – Summer semester 2025

Fridays, 4:00–6:00 PM

March 7, 28

April 11 (!online), 25

May 16, 23

June 13, 27

Requirements:

No prior knowledge of classical Chinese language and philosophy is needed

Bibliography:
Hutton, Eric. Xunzi: The Complete Text. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2014.

Hutton, Eric L. Dao Companion to the Philosophy of Xunzi. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2016.