Cheen Mein Darshanshastra

This is the second book in the series Philosophy: East and West, which introduces one of the worlds oldest philosophical schools. While the tradition of philosophy in China is very old, the period from the fifth to the third century BC is considered a period of prosperity for philosophical thought. Confuciuss thought is a product of this period. From then until a few centuries ago, numerous philosophical schools emerged in this country. To clarify the background of these schools, this book provides a brief overview of Chinese dynasties over several centuries. The principles of various sects and their socio-political implications are then discussed. The arrival of Buddhism in China was a significant event, resulting in the birth of numerous currents and sub-streams in the field of thought. Since these currents and sub-streams hold special significance in Chinese philosophy, the author has specifically analyzed them and evaluated their philosophical goals. Similarly, on the one hand, he places the glorified Confucius in an accurate historical perspective, while on the other, he provides a lucid interpretation of the maligned Taoism. Many schools of Chinese philosophy have held that to be a philosopher, one need not always be entangled in the mysteries of metaphysics. Similarly, we believe that to read and understand this book, one need not be a scholar of philosophy. The highlight of this book is its comprehensive, yet lucid, introduction to Chinese philosophy in a few pages, and it is hoped that it will inspire comparative studies, especially of Indian and Chinese philosophies.