Classics Scholarship in the Western Han Dynasty

This book examines the origins and development of Confucian Classics scholarship during the Western Han dynasty, a pivotal period that shaped over two thousand years of Chinese intellectual history.

Moving beyond traditional accounts, the author reconsiders how the Confucian Classics evolved from ancient texts into the intellectual and ideological foundation of the imperial state. Drawing on classical sources, excavated manuscripts, and recent archaeological discoveries, the book reevaluates debates concerning the New and Old Text traditions, the development of Gongyang learning and rites studies, and Han dynasty interpretations of the Book of Changes. Grounded in traditional philological research, the book engages selectively with insights from hermeneutics, post-structuralism, and systems theory to offer a new perspective on the formation of Classics scholarship in the Western Han. This study challenges long-standing assumptions about the history of Classics scholarship, proposing new interpretations of key texts, institutions, and intellectual movements. By situating Classics scholarship within its political, religious, and cultural contexts, this volume reassesses the foundations of Confucian thought and its influence on Chinese civilization.

This essential read will be of interest to scholars and students of multiple areas of sinology, particularly those focused on Chinese intellectual history, Chinese philosophy, and Classics studies.