Jane Reviews: Chinese Thought from Confucius to Cook Ding by Roel Sterckx

We're constantly being told that the twenty first century is bound to become China's century.

With this in mind I decided I should become a little more enlightened about Chinese culture.

Surely we should all know more about the history, philosophy and key beliefs of such an influencing society. It seemed to me to be a fundamental necessity that I should learn more about this culture before venturing into reading translated Chinese literature both ancient and modern.

Step Number One.......

I've just read 'Chinese Thought from Confucius to Cook Ding' by Roel Sterckx. Noting that Penguin had published this as an academic Pelican title I knew I was in for a challenging read. Roel Sterckx is Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science and Civilization at Cambridge also Fellow of Clare College. He writes with authority but also accessibility.

The Chinese classical language did not have a term for Philosophy. The modern Mandarin word zhexue was in fact taken from Japanese. Chinese thinking is predominantly human centred and practice orientated. The great Chinese thinkers did not talk about who or what we are but rather about how we should live our lives. That which we may refer to as Human Nature.

If you are looking for one book which gives you a core understanding of Chinese civilisation and thinking I thoroughly recommend this book. I became completely immersed in this amazing culture and dare I say it philosophies. It is not a linear story but one which takes us through many winding roads. For me an absolutely brilliant enlightenment.