The philosophical traditions of China have influenced more human beings than any other. For thousands of years they have formed the cultural bedrock of the longest continuing civilizing on the planet, and their influence has spread throughout East and Southeast Asia. In his new introduction to Chinese philosophy, Ronnie L. Littlejohn explores the historical, political and cultural significance of key texts, thinkers and movements within these traditions, as well as their continuing relevance to philosophical thought in the present day. From the six classical schools of Chinese philosophy-Yin-Yang, Ru, Mo, Ming, Fa and Dao-De-to the arrival of Buddhism in China and its subsequent transformation, the introduction of Western thought into the Chinese intellectual landscape, the "New Confucianism," and the work of contemporary philosopher Tu Weiming, the author outlines the distinctive concerns and assumptions recurrent in Chinese philosophy and stimulates fresh discussion suitable for students and general readers alike. Alongside its companion volume, Chinese Philosophy: The Essential Writings, this wide-ranging introduction provides a comprehensive overview of crucial issues which include the centrality of humanistic self-transcendence; the importance of harmony and balance in nature and society; the truth of endless change and process in all aspects of reality, and the distinctly Chinese conception of the relational self. Book jacket.