Program overview
The Chinese Philosophy program takes you into the world of thinkers like Confucius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Zhu Xi, and Wang Yangming, studying the core ideas of major schools such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Courses include History of Chinese Philosophy, Pre-Qin Philosophers, Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, Buddhist Philosophy, and Studies of the Book of Changes, as well as comparative Chinese-Western philosophy. Chinese universities have a natural advantage in this field—abundant original texts, field trip opportunities (e.g., to Qufu, Shaolin Temple, Yuelu Academy), and active academic circles. It's suitable for students interested in Eastern wisdom, who enjoy pondering fundamental life questions, and are willing to read ancient texts (though teachers will help translate them into modern Chinese). No prior knowledge of Chinese philosophy is required, but basic logical thinking and reading patience are helpful.