Mind and Psychology in Early China (Elements in Ancient East Asia)

By Lisa Raphals

This Element describes early Chinese views of the heart-mind (xin 心) and its relation to the psychology of a whole person, including the body, affective and cognitive faculties, and the spirit (sh n 神). It argues for a divergence in Warring States thought between 'mind-centered' and 'spirit-centered' approaches to self-cultivation. It surveys the Analects, Mengzi, Guanzi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Huainanzi, the Huangdi neijing, and excavated medical manuscripts from Mawangdui, as well as a brief comparative perspective to ancient Greek views of these topics. It argues for a contrast between post-Cartesian dualism and Chinese and Greek psycho-physicalism.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1009669451
• ISBN13: 9781009669450
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 75 Pages