{"product_id":"mysticism-and-kingship-in-china-the-heart-of-chinese-wisdom-paperback-9780521468282","title":"Mysticism and Kingship in China; The Heart of Chinese Wisdom (Paperback) 9780521468282","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eMysticism and Kingship in China\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Heart of Chinese Wisdom\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSurveys over four thousand years of Chinese civilisation through an examination of the relationship between kingship and mysticism.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eJulia Ching (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521468282, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback, published 13 November 1997\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e328 pages, 2 b\/w illus.\u003cbr\u003e23 x 15.4 x 2.3 cm, 0.5 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"The most welcome feature of Julia Ching's wide-ranging account of Mysticism and Kingship in China is her frequent and integral use of the tools of comparative religion.\"   Studies in Religion\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eIn this book, Julia Ching offers a magisterial survey of over four thousand years of Chinese civilisation through an examination of the relationship between kingship and mysticism. She investigates the sage-king myth and ideal, arguing that institutions of kingship were bound up with cultivation of trance states and communication with spirits. Over time, these associations were retained, though sidelined, as the sage-king myth became a model for the actual ruler, with a messianic appeal for the ruled. As a paradigm, it also became appropriated by private individuals who strove for wisdom without becoming kings. As the Confucian tradition interacted with the Taoist and the Buddhist, the religious character of spiritual and mystical cultivation became more pronounced. But the sage-king idea continued, promoting expectations of benevolent despotism rather than democratisation in Chinese civilisation.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePreface\u003cbr\u003e 1. Son of heaven: shamanic kingship\u003cbr\u003e 2. Son of heaven: kingship as cosmic paradigm\u003cbr\u003e 3. The moral teacher as sage: philosophy appropriates the paradigm\u003cbr\u003e 4. The metaphysician as sage: philosophy again appropriates the paradigm\u003cbr\u003e 5. The paradigm enshrined: the authority of classics\u003cbr\u003e 6. The mystic as sage: religion appropriates the paradigm\u003cbr\u003e 7. The sage-king as messiah: religion again appropriates the paradigm\u003cbr\u003e 8. All under heaven: political power and the periphery\u003cbr\u003e A Glossary of Sino-Japanese names and terms\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography\u003cbr\u003e Index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Buddhism [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Buddhism\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Buddhism%20%5BHRE%5D%22\"\u003eHRE\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46007625679128,"sku":"9780521468282","price":54.19,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521468282i_6e3af830-90e0-4006-b693-1053a3f49694.jpg?v=1691382596","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/mysticism-and-kingship-in-china-the-heart-of-chinese-wisdom-paperback-9780521468282","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}