20th Annual Student Research Conference
Social Science
Correlative Cosmology in the T'ai Hsüan Ching
Mark A. Wilde
Dr. Ding-hwa Hsieh, Faculty Mentor
A defining feature of the ancient Chinese worldview is correlative cosmology. Correlative cosmology is based upon the notions of change and becoming as the structure of life. Placing humanity at home in nature, the method of this philosophy is to correlate the changing phenomena of nature with the Chinese social order, the purpose being to discern where humanity fits into this scheme of change in nature. Perhaps the most overlooked text in Chinese history is Master Yang Hsiung's T'ai Hsüan Ching (translated in English as the "Mystery" or the "Elemental Changes"). I am going to argue in this paper that the T'ai Hsüan Ching best epitomizes the ancient Chinese worldview not only because it is the most exemplary representation of correlative cosmology, but also, because it was written during the Han dynasty, it synthesized the different ancient Chinese schools of thought.
Keywords: Correlative, Cosmology, Nature, Change, Chinese History, Han Dynasty, Yang Hsiung, T'ai Hsuan Ching
Topic(s):Philosophy & Religion
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 64-5
Location: OP 2111
Time: 3:45 pm