Chinese Thought, from Confucius to Mao Tse-tung – Herrlee Glessner Creel – 1949
Exploring the Evolution of Chinese Thought
Herrlee Glessner Creel’s Chinese Thought, from Confucius to Mao Tse-tung undertakes a comprehensive survey of the intellectual history of China, spanning over two millennia. The book doesn’t present a unified ‘Chinese’ philosophy, but rather traces the diverse and often competing schools of thought that have shaped Chinese culture and governance. It examines the core tenets of Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, and other significant traditions, illustrating how these ideas evolved, interacted, and were reinterpreted throughout history.
Historical / Cultural Context
Published in 1949, this work emerged during a period of intense Western engagement with China, fueled by both scholarly interest and geopolitical shifts. Creel aimed to move beyond superficial understandings of Chinese thought, avoiding romanticization or simple categorization. He sought to present each school of thought on its own terms, emphasizing the historical and social contexts that influenced its development. The inclusion of Mao Tse-tung, a contemporary figure at the time of publication, signaled an attempt to bring the narrative up to the modern era and consider the continuities and discontinuities between traditional thought and communist ideology. The book reflects a mid-20th century Western academic approach, prioritizing intellectual history as a narrative of ideas.
Who This Book Is For
This book is best suited for readers with a general interest in Chinese history and philosophy, as well as students and scholars seeking a broad overview of the subject. It’s not a deeply specialized work focused on a single thinker or school, but rather a synthesis intended to provide a coherent narrative of the overall development of Chinese thought. Prior knowledge of Chinese history is helpful, but not essential, as Creel provides sufficient background information to contextualize the ideas he discusses. The book’s strength lies in its breadth and its effort to portray the complexity and internal debates within each school of thought.
Further Reading
- The Analects of Confucius: The foundational text of Confucianism, providing direct access to Confucius’s teachings.
- Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu): The central text of Taoism, exploring themes of naturalness, simplicity, and the Tao.
- Feng Youlan, A History of Chinese Philosophy: Another comprehensive history of Chinese thought, offering a different perspective and level of detail.
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