Latest Posts
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An Yi Jing Super Bowl Prediction: Seahawks Win!
Following up on my Sunzi Super Bowl analysis, I thought it might be good to consult the Yi Jing about the outcome of tomorrow's big game. This was made easier last evening by a group of friends who urged me… Continue reading
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A Sunzi Super Bowl Analysis and Prediction: Seahawks 21, Patriots 17
It has been a long while since I have attempted a Sunzi Super Bowl assessment. My first foray was back in 2007 and, while the terms of the analysis were quite useful, my ultimate prediction came up short (damn you,… Continue reading
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The Best Book on Chinese Philosophy and Politics this Year
It is not often that I am palpably excited to read a conceptually complex book on Chinese philosophy and politics, but that is precisely how I felt as I worked my way through Jiwei Ci's new work: Moral China in… Continue reading
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My USC Talk: Teaching Confucius in Beijing
Last month I did a talk at the US China Institute at the University of Southern California. They were most gracious hosts and they have now put a video of the talk up on their youtube channel. I will embed… Continue reading
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Is Hong Kong China’s Future?
Here's something that just ran over at The Conversation: By Sam Crane, Williams College The media spotlight has shifted away from Hong Kong and toward President Obama’s visit to Beijing, but students and activists remain in Admiralty and Mong… Continue reading
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Thinking Strategically about the Hong Kong Demonstrations
An interesting day in HK today (and this may change at any time, given the fluid nature of the situation). The government had said that the protesters must leave by Monday morning, with an implicit threat of force. The movement… Continue reading
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Hong Kong and the Mandate of Heaven
I have been totally captivated by the extraordinary events in Hong Kong this past week. Twitter has been my medium of choice, allowing, as it does, real time contact with people on the scene. Here are some thoughts. Having followed… Continue reading
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Sunzi on Obama’s “no strategy” comment
At his news conference yesterday President Obama set the foreign policy commentators aflutter with this statement: But I don't want to put the cart before the horse. We don't have a strategy yet. I think what I've seen in some… Continue reading
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A Talk with Yu Dan
What a pleasant way to end a great month in Beijing: a conversation with Yu Dan, author of the best-selling book on Confucianism in China in recent years, or maybe ever. I have followed her work since 2006, I am… Continue reading
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Interview on “Roundtable” show on China Radio International
Had a good time yesterday with John Artman and Xiao Hua, hosts of a talk show, "Roundtable," on China Radio International. We discussed teaching Confucianism in China, what Confucianism might be in China today, and a little bit of Daoism… Continue reading
The Useless Tree 