Justin Winslett

It is widely claimed that notions of gods and religious beliefs are irrelevant or inconsequential to early Chinese (“Confucian”) moral and political thought. Rejecting the claim that religious practice plays a minimal philosophical role, Kelly James Clark and Justin Winslett offer a textual study that maps the religious terrain of early Chinese texts. They analyze the pantheon of extrahumans, from high gods to ancestor spirits, discussing their various representations, as well as examining conceptions of the afterlife and religious ritual. Demonstrating that religious beliefs in early China are both textually endorsed and ritually embodied, this book goes on to show how gods, ancestors and afterlife are philosophically salient. The summative chapter on the role of religious ritual in moral formation shows how religion forms a complex philosophical system capable of informing moral, social, and political conditions.

This luxurious silkbound hardback is an enlightening guide to Chinese characters, featuring delightful full-color illustrations and presented in a decorative slipcase . Chinese characters, or hanzi, form one of the oldest writing systems in the world. They have been widely used across a variety of East Asian languages throughout history, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. They form a core part of the cultural heritage of China, and their elegant design has spawned a tradition of calligraphy that is as much an art form as a means of communication. This beautiful, gold-embossed book includes 200 characters with an explanation of their meaning, their history and composition so that readers can learn what makes this fascinating language so unique. Accompanied by traditional Chinese illustrations in full color, this volume makes a perfect gift for anyone interested in the subject. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Silkbound Classics series brings together deluxe gift editions of literary classics, presented with luxurious silk binding, striking embossed cover designs and full-color illustrations.

It is widely claimed that notions of gods and religious beliefs are irrelevant or inconsequential to early Chinese (“Confucian”) moral and political thought. Rejecting the claim that religious practice plays a minimal philosophical role, Kelly James Clark and Justin Winslett offer a textual study that maps the religious terrain of early Chinese texts. They analyze the pantheon of extrahumans, from high gods to ancestor spirits, discussing their various representations, as well as examining conceptions of the afterlife and religious ritual. Demonstrating that religious beliefs in early China are both textually endorsed and ritually embodied, this book goes on to show how gods, ancestors and afterlife are philosophically salient. The summative chapter on the role of religious ritual in moral formation shows how religion forms a complex philosophical system capable of informing moral, social, and political conditions.