Latest Posts
-
Why Don’t We Call China a “Legalist Society”?
I am catching up on my work here (the forty papers that have been sitting on my desk are now graded and returned to students!); so, I can get back to some of the ideas that were running through my… Continue reading
-
Another Taoist Easter
I have posted this before but it seem appropriate for the day: As I have done for Thanksgiving and Christmas, let me put down a few thoughts here about Easter from a Taoist perspective. Easter may be the… Continue reading
-
Liberal Zhuangzi
I've been a bit jet-lagged since arriving home late Wednesday night. And I'm also behind in all sorts of work. So, it has been hard to find time to blog. But I wanted to make note of this post by… Continue reading
-
Cultural Distinctiveness and Historical Continuity
I had a great day yesterday. A very engaging and productive time at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Some good responses to my presentation on Confucianism and soft power, and even better, broad-ranging conversation afterward. Much to think about… Continue reading
-
Shanghai and the Cultural Implications of Emulative Spending
Tomorrow I will give two talks here: one to the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and the other to the Foreign Correspondent's Club of Shanghai. In both cases, one point that I will raise is the notion that China is… Continue reading
-
Tian Zi Fang, off Tai Kung Lu
Tian Zi Fang is a warren of alleyways that run off of Taikung Road in the old French Concession of Shanghai. It is similar to Nanluoguxiang in Beijing in that commerce is used as a basis for architectural preservation. But… Continue reading
-
Recommendation
Try to avoid the Jianguomen subway station during a weekday evening rush hour: That is all. Continue reading
-
Talks and Walks in Beijing
A quick update from Beijing… I gave two talks in the last two days. It was essentially the same presentation in both spots, my paper, "Confucianism as Soft Power," in which I argue that Confucianism will likely not serve as… Continue reading
-
First Day in Beijing
I arrived yesterday afternoon to a brown Beijing. A massive sand/dust storm has turned the city into a murky mess. Everything is covered in a fine brown powdering of air-borne dirt from Mongolia. Many locals have broken out the surgical… Continue reading
-
Daoist Thoughts on Travel
Whenever I set out on a trip, passage 47 of the Daodejing always comes to mind. I don't really agree with it, as is obvious from the fact of my travel, but it keeps things in perspective: You can know… Continue reading
The Useless Tree 