Ever since his appointment as General Secretary of the CCP last fall, Xi Jinping has been playing up the notion of a "China Dream."  In a number of speeches, most notably the one that ended the recent session of the… Continue reading

Infamous philanderer Mark Sanford is poised to win the open South Carolina seat in the US House of Representatives.  He seems precisely the kind of person Confucius would reject for any such position of public authority. Sanford's notorious transcontinental affair,… Continue reading

Seven years ago today my son, Aidan, died.  He was fourteen and his short and limited life continues to have profound effects on me, my family and people who have encountered him.  A piece I wrote on the second anniversary… Continue reading

The tenth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq is upon us. It is a time to remember just how awful that war has been, especially for the people of Iraq; a time to recognize just how large a mistake… Continue reading

Let me step away from historical issues and return to my primary interest: ancient Chinese thought in modern American life. I went to a funeral on Saturday, a sad occasion.  The deceased was the sister of a friend. She was… Continue reading

In my previous post, below, I argued that Sunzi would oppose torture, especially the kind of systematic torture regime of the latter Bush administration.  But the more I think about it, the more a certain question hangs in the air:… Continue reading

A couple of stories (and a collection of others over at CDT) in recent days begin to link together two big issues in the PRC: concerns for press freedom, stoked by the Southern Weekend affair, and horrendous air pollution, stoked… Continue reading

A story in The Global Times reports on the enactment of an amendment to the PRC Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly that requires adult children to visit their elderly parents.  This has been… Continue reading

The very title of Stephen Asma's piece, "The Myth of Universal Love," has a particular connotation for students of ancient Chinese philosophy: it prepares us for a discussion of Mozi, inspiration for the Mohist school of thought, who emphasizes the… Continue reading

This morning started out in classic New England November fashion: dusting of snow on the ground; chilly temperature; gray overcast; a few flurries floating in the air.  Sitting in my office, gazing out the window, I found myself following the… Continue reading