- A University-level course on Chinese philosophical texts and their practical underpinnings from the Warring States period to the Western Han (450 BCE to 50 BCE), including newly unearthed
manuscripts!
In this course, you will learn about the philosophy and practice cultures found not just in received texts like The Analects of Confucius and the Daodejing, but also in unearthed manuscript texts that have revolutionized our thinking about early Chinese philosophy, religion, and history. You will learn about:
• The Zuozhuan and the fascinating new Xinian historical text.
• The Confucian Analects, Mengzi, and Xunzi, along with new “Confucian” unearthed counterparts.
• The Daoist Daodejing, Zhuangzi, and Huainanzi, along with the long-neglected Daoist chapters of the Guanzi, paired with revolutionary new “Daoist” unearthed manuscripts with titles like “All Things Flow into Form,” and “The Constant Primary.”
• The philosophy and practice behind early Chinese divination, both from the Yijing and the newly unearthed text Shifa.
• The philosophy and practice of music, law, and medicine from received and unearthed perspectives. - The course starts on 3 October—sign up now so you don't miss it!
Philosophy and Practice in Early China
An intro to the traditions of Chinese philosophy via received and excavated texts!
Online Course with 20+ hours of video lessons (plus Q&A sessions!), just $299 $199 using discount code 'philosophy' at checkout!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Rated 4.8/5 by 1000's of Chinese learners
Student Testimonials (from our other courses)
Jim
USA
Margreet
Netherlands (living in NZ)
Susan
Taiwan (living in Australia)
Randy
USA (living in China)
Chris
USA (living in Finland)
Anand
India
For Philosophy Buffs
Whether you're learning Chinese, or simply interested in Chinese philosophy, this course is for you. It will be taught entirely in English and requires no Chinese language ability. All primary sources will be given in translation, with the original texts also supplied.
For Chinese Learners
The schools of thought covered in this course form the basis of nearly all later political and philosophical thought in China. And you'll not only learn about the major, famous texts that have been studied throughout history, but also some recently-discovered texts that have reshaped our understanding of Classical Chinese thought.
Lifetime Access
Lessons will take place over a 10-week period, but like all of our courses, you'll be able to access all of the materials after it's finished. No need to stress about keeping up—you'll be able to go at a slower pace if you want!
- Curriculum
- About this course
- FAQs
- *Note: curriculum is subject to change
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Week 1: History and the problems of philosophical analysis
1. The Zuozhuan 左轉 and the Shiji 史記
2. The Unearthed Xinian 繫年Week 2: What is Confucianism?
1. The Analects 論語
2. The Unearthed Liu De 六德 and Tang Yu zhi dao 唐虞之道Week 3: Complicating The Confucian Lineage
1. Mengzi 孟子 and Xunzi 荀子
2. The unearthed Wuxing 五行Week 4: What is Daoism?
1. The Laozi 老子
2. The unearthed Taiyi sheng shui 太一生水, San de 三德, and Huangdi Sijing 黃帝四經Week 5: Daoist practice traditions
1. Guanzi 管子 Chapters: Nei ye 內業, Xinshu shang 心術上, Xinshu xia 心術下, Baixin 白心
2. The unearthed Hengxian 恆先 and Fan wu liuxing 凡物流行
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Week 6: Daoism into the Han
1. The Zhuangzi 莊子 and the Huainanzi 淮南子
2. The unearthed Wenzi 文子Week 7: Mantic Practice Traditions
1. The Zhou yi 周易
2. The unearthed Yin Gaozong wen yu San Shou 殷高宗問於三壽 and Shifa 筮法Week 8: Music as Philosophy and Practice
1. The Liji 禮記: Yue jing 樂經 and Kongzi xian ju 孔子閒居
2. The unearthed Xing zi ming chu 性自命出, Zhou Gong zhi qinwu 周公之琴舞, and Min zhi fumu 民之父母Week 9: Law: Legalist thought and Legal Practices
1. The Hanfeizi 韓非子 and Guanzi: Mu min 牧民
2. Reading pendingWeek 10: Macrobiotics: The philosophy and practice of body and medicine
1. The Huangdi Neijing 黃帝內經
2. The unearthed Mawangdui 馬王堆 medical manuscripts
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This course will be structured like an undergraduate introductory-level early Chinese philosophy course, but with a twist. Instead of focusing on each major received tradition from the Warring States period (450-220 BCE) in turn (Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism, etc.), this course will alternate one lesson based on the received tradition with one lesson based on newly unearthed manuscript sources! It will also cover material from the Warring States period up to the Western Han period, so about 450 BCE to 50 BCE.
No knowledge of Chinese will be required and all readings will be in English, although the instructor will provide the original Chinese sources for those who are interested.
By the end of the course, you will be expected to have gained a significant working understanding of the major received philosophical traditions of the Warring States and early Han Period, as well as the various unearthed sources introduced throughout the course for comparison. Moreover, you should be able to converse constructively about the problems associated with the traditional concept of “philosophical schools of thought” in early China, and be able to articulate some potential alternatives to this traditional concept.
Active participation will be highly encouraged both through participation in discussions during the live sessions, as well as through posting on the course discussion board. I will be able to answer questions and discuss the material in further detail during Q&A office hours.
Can I go at my own pace? Will I be able to access the course once it's finished?
Yes! We'll do one lesson per week, but once the course is finished, we'll keep everything available online so that you can go through it at your own pace.
How much Chinese do I need to know to take this course?
None! This is not a language course, so it will be taught entirely in English. All readings will be in English, and primary sources will be given in English translation (and in the original Chinese, for those who wish to read the originals).
How long does the course take to complete?
There are 10 lessons, and we'll be doing one lesson per week. The course begins on 3 October and ends on 22 December, 2023.
How much time will it require per lesson?
There will be two lectures each week (you can attend live or watch the recording), and each will be about an hour. You'll also need to devote some time each week to reading from the textbook (see below) and reading excerpts from philosophical texts.
We'll also do a live "office hour" session once a week on Zoom, so you can pop in and ask questions if you'd like. There will also be a discussion forum, so if you can't make it to the office hours, you can still get your questions answered.
Will I need anything (apps, etc.) in order to take the course?
Only the main textbook and companion reader volume are required. Any other readings will be supplied in PDF form.
- Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy by Bryan W. Van Norden (required)
- Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy by Bryan W. Van Norden and Philip J. Ivanhoe (required)
What time will the live lessons be?
The lectures will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while the Q&A sessions will be on Fridays (times TBA). You can watch either (or both) live, or watch the recordings later.
Can I study at my own pace or do I have to take the course live?
Either way. I'm teaching it as a live course, but you don't need to feel pressured to keep pace!
Keep in mind that if you can't show up to the live session, you'll be able to watch the replay at any time. Many people don't show up for the live session, but just watch the replay at their own pace. That's totally fine! You'll get lifetime access to the course, so that's no problem.
What does "lifetime access" mean?
In practical terms, it means the course materials will be available online for as long as Outlier is in business. If we do ever go out of business or otherwise need to remove the course for any reason, we'll make the material available for you to download for a period of at least 6 months.
Can I get a refund if I decide the course isn't for me?
Yes! Our usual refund policy is "30 days from purchase," but since the course doesn't start until 3 October, we're extending the refund date to "the 3rd of November." If you decide you don't like the course for whatever reason, just reach out by then and we'll be happy to refund you.
Will there be assignments or homework?
You'll need to devote time to reading the textbook and readings. Midterm and final exams will be optional, and will consist of a short essay on a topic relevant to the course.
Can we collaborate with other students or form study groups?
Definitely! Our live courses usually have over a hundred students enrolled, so there should be plenty of students of all backgrounds and interests in this course too.
And sure, working together is no problem! We'll have a private online community where you can work together, ask questions, share notes, etc.
Your Instructor
Dr. Sam Goldstein
Sam Goldstein received his PhD in the Asian Religious Traditions track of the Religious Studies department of Brown University in February of 2023. He is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan. His dissertation focused on an unearthed manuscript called “The High Progenitor of Yin Questions the Three Venerables,” and his work generally relates to the topics of unearthed Warring States-period manuscripts, early Chinese Daoism, and early Chinese rhyme and phonology.
Sign up now!
Online Course with 16+ hours of video lessons (plus Q&A sessions!), just $299 $199 using discount code 'philosophy' at checkout!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Rated 4.8/5 by hundreds of Chinese learners