Early China: From Warring States to Han Philosophy

This module introduces key concepts used throughout the course and outlines Chinese cultural history from the Warring States period, establishing fundamental paradigms and frameworks for understanding cultural change.

This module examines the intellectual elite's critique of traditional religious practices, focusing on their opposition to divination and shamanism while exploring the transformation of religious thought.

This module presents the development of Confucian and Daoist forms of self-cultivation during the Warring States period, examining their distinct approaches to personal development and spiritual growth.

This module explores the concept of transcendence in Chinese thought, examining the sacrifice to Heaven, the new cosmology of Dao and Qi, and their role in establishing political unity.

This module examines local and imperial religion during the Han dynasty, exploring the relationship between state religion, local practices, and the development of religious orthodoxy.

This module explores the evolution of healing theories based on Dao and Qi cosmology, and their relationship to demon-based illness concepts during the political crisis of the second century CE.