- 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.
Philosophy and Practice in Early China
An intro to the traditions of Chinese philosophy via received and excavated texts!
Self-paced 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
The course is entirely self-paced, and like all of our courses, you'll still be able to access all of the materials after you're finished. No need to stress about time—you can go through the lessons on your own time, and ask us for help whenever you need it!
- Curriculum
- About this course
- FAQs
- *Note: curriculum is subject to change
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Lesson 1: History and the problems of philosophical analysis
1. The Zuozhuan 左傳 and the Shiji 史記
2. The Unearthed Xinian 繫年Lesson 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Lesson 3: Complicating The Confucian Lineage
1. Mengzi 孟子 and Xunzi 荀子
2. The unearthed Wuxing 五行Lesson 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Lesson 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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Lesson 6: Daoism into the Han
1. The Zhuangzi 莊子 and the Huainanzi 淮南子
2. The unearthed Wenzi 文子Lesson 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Lesson 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Lesson 9: Law: Legalist thought and Legal Practices
1. The Hanfeizi 韓非子 and Guanzi: Mu min 牧民
2. Reading pendingLesson 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 is 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 original Chinese sources are provided 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.
Can I go at my own pace? Will I be able to access the course once it's finished?
Yes! You get lifetime access, so we'll keep everything available online so that you can go through it at your own pace and review it whenever you want to!
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 each lesson consists of two one-hour lessons and one recording of an hour-long Q&A session (which are very interesting and we highly recommend watching them!). Additionally, you'll need to read 1-2 chapters from the textbook and also the assigned readings for each lesson. Altogether, the course contains about 30 hours of video, and perhaps 20 hours of reading assignments.
How much time will it require per lesson?
There will be two lectures for each lesson, and each is about an hour long. You'll also need to devote some time each lesson to reading from the textbook (see below) and reading excerpts from philosophical texts.
Will I need anything (apps, etc.) in order to take the course?
Only the main textbook and companion reader volume are required:
- 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)
All other readings are supplied in PDF form.
Can I study at my own pace?
Yes! Dr. Goldstein originally taught it as a live course, but it's now converted into a self-paced course.
Remember, you get lifetime access to the course, so you can take your time, rewatch lessons, etc.
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! We have a 30-day, no questions asked refund policy. If you decide you don't like the course for whatever reason, just reach out by then and I'll be happy to give you a full refund.
Will there be assignments or homework?
You'll need to devote time to reading the textbook and readings.
Can we collaborate with other students or form study groups?
Definitely! There are over 100 students in the course community, so there are plenty of people of all backgrounds and interests that you can interact with. And sure, working together is no problem!
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