Disputers of the Dao, by A.C. Graham
Graham's Disputers of the Dao is still unrivaled in its authoritative coverage of the full range of early Chinese philosophy.
The Ways of Confucianism, by David Nivison
Covers both early Confucianism and later developments, concentrating on Mencius, Xunzi, Wang Yangming, Zhang Xuecheng, and Dai Zhen. I have found this book more useful as a reference than something one should read from front to back. Nivison is among the most brilliant interpreters of Chinese philosophy, but the organization of this book is hodgepodge.
Moral Vision and Tradition, by A. S. Cua
Arranged by topic rather than philosopher, Cua also cover's both early Confucianism as well as later developments, but his interpretations are significantly different from those of Nivison. In my judgment, this book represents an important contribution to the understanding of Confucian thought that has not received the attention that it deserves---and its price does not help.
Confucian Moral Self Cultivation, by P. J. Ivanhoe
Highly recommended. While I have been critical of some aspects of Ivanhoe's interpretation of Xunzi, I have no significant objections to the presentations found in this book. Indeed, taking self-cultivation as a theme in order to highlight differences among seven significant Confucian philosophers in such a slim volume was a stroke of genius, and executed masterfully. The philosophers covered are: Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, Zhu Xi, Wang Yangming, Yan Yuan, and Dai Zhen.
Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy, edited by P. J. Ivanhoe and Bryan Van Norden
As it contains substantial selections from the seven major figures in pre-Han Chinese philosophy (Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi), this book would be very appropriate for an introduction to Chinese philosophy class---and I intend to use it for that purpose. However, I found that, when I was preparing my syllabus, more than half of the passages from the Mencius that I wanted to highlight were not included (of course, the most famous one's were included, but there are themes in the Mencius that I wanted to bring out that the editors apparently did not). This is always the risk of dealing with selections---they may not be the ones you would have selected. It should be mentioned, on the other hand, that this book includes the Laozi in its entirety.
The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation, translated by Roger Ames and Henry Rosemont, Jr.
Very highly recommended. In addition to providing a translation that reinforces a persuasive and interesting interpretation of Confucius, this book provides a lucid introduction, which includes a useful lexicon of key terms. Further, since the Chinese for those terms appears in the translation itself, it easy to thumb through finding passages discussing them. The full Chinese text is also provided, passage by passage.
Mencius, translated by D.C. Lau
D.C. Lau's classic translation, with an extensive introduction and appendices, is still the best option.
Hsun Tzu: Basic Writings, translated by Burton Watson
This is a good option for non-specialists. It contains Books 1,2,9,15,17,19,20,21,22,23.
Xunzi: A Translation and Study of the Complete Works (3 volumes), translated by John Knoblock
John Knoblock has provided the only complete English translation of the Xunzi. It is an expensive three-volume collection. If you are interested in the translation, rather than Knoblock's introduction, then consider that Volume I only contains the first 6 books. Volume II has Books 7 - 16. Volume III has books 17 - 33. You will notice that the bulk of Watson's translations fall into this third range. These (especially 17, 21, 22, and 23) are the most philosophically significant.
Xunzi (Library of Chinese Classics) (2 volumes), translated by John Knoblock
This is the inexpensive way to get Knoblock's translation. And, it includes the Chinese text of the Xunzi along with a Mandarin translation (both in simplified characters). There is a catch. You don't get Knoblock's introduction, chapter commentaries, extensive bibliography (volumes I & III), detailed index, or---most significantly---his copious endnotes.
Confucius: The Secular as Sacred, by Herbert Fingarette
A short, controversial, and intriguing interpretation of Confucius.
Thinking Through Confucius, by David Hall and Roger Ames
Mencius and Early Chinese Thought by Kwong-loi Shun
Mencius on Becoming Human, by James Behuniak (Forthcoming, November 2004)
Rituals of the Way, by Paul Goldin
Rituals of the Way is currently this only affordable monograph on Xunzi in print.
However, that will change soon. My former classmate, Janghee Lee, has a book forthcoming (November 2004), A.S. Cua also has a new book on Xunzi forthcoming (March 2005), and Yours Truly has a book on Xunzi in press as well (forthcoming in late 2005 or 2006):
Xunzi and Early Chinese Naturalism, by Janghee Lee (forthcoming)
Human Nature, Ritual, and History: Studies in Xunzi and Chinese Philosophy, by A.S. Cua (forthcoming)
The Philosophy of Xunzi: A Reconstruction by Kurtis Hagen (forthcoming)
My book highlights the differences between interpretations of Xunzi found in A. S. Cua and Lee Yearley's writings with those of P. J. Ivanhoe, Bryan Van Norden and others. Siding with Cua and Yearley, I provide a reconstruction of Xunzi's philosophy that I believe is both more consistent as an interpretation of Xunzi and more compelling philosophically. But, ultimately, you will be the judge of that.
The Confucian Quest for Order: The Origin and Formation of the Political Thought of Xun Zi, by Masayuki Sato
This is a massive study---and expensive. While it represents an important contribution to the field, and is a must-read for specialists, I cannot recommend it to those with a mere passing interest---or for most undergraduates.
Confucius and the Analects: New Essays, edited by Bryan Van Norden
Essays on the Moral Philosophy of Mengzi, edited by Xiusheng Liu and P. J. Ivanhoe
Virtue, Nature, and Moral Agency in the Xunzi, edited by T. C. Kline and P. J. Ivanhoe.
Individually, these are all good essays. As a whole, however, they provide a lopsided picture of the state of the field. They should be read along with, at least, Lee Yearley's "Hsun Tzu on the Mind: His Attempted Synthesis of Confucianism and Taoism" Journal of Asian Studies 39 (1980), which really should have been included. See my review of this book in Philosophy East and West 51.3 (July 2001).
Ritual and Religion in the Xunzi, edited by T. C. Kline
This book has just recently been released as I write this, and I have not yet seen it.
Encyclopedia of Confucianism, edited by Xinzhong Yao (2003)
A useful reference. This is out of most students' price range ($375), but you might want to check your library. It is a comprehensive two-volume set, and is very well done.
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, (10 volumes, 1998)
Your library should definitely have this one. It covers Eastern as well as Western philosophy, and is also well done.
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Includes Eastern as well as Western philosophy.
Last Date Modified: 08/21/2007
Kurtis Hagen, e-mail: hagenkg@plattsburgh.edu