The Religious Philosophy of Liang Shuming

Liang Shuming (1895-1988) is one of the most important Chinese philosophers in twentieth century China. Generally considered to be a Confucian, and even the last Confucian, the author argues that he was in fact a Buddhist. Liang’s thoughts are analysed within the background of the intellectual debates on religion in republican China. He reshaped the Western concept of religion from the standpoint of Yogācāra Buddhism. Yet, he advocated for the present time Confucianism as the ethical religion that would lead ultimately to the Buddhist liberation. Examining Liang’s religious belief sheds new light on his fascinating life, particularly his involvement in the Rural Reconstruction movement of the nineteen-thirties. It also explains why Liang was the only intellectual who dared to publically oppose Mao in the nineteen-sixties and seventies.

Thierry Meynard, Ph. D. (2003) in Philosophy, University of Peking, is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. He has written extensively on Chinese philosophy, comparative philosophy and the cross-cultural history of China and the West.

"[The Religious Philosophy of Liang Shuming] is a very good contribution to the intellectual biography of Liang Shuming. In his book, [Meynard] gives witness to his extensive reading in Liang's many works and a good grasp of his most important ideas."

Zbigniew Wesolowski, Monumenta Serica 59 (2011)

"Thierry Meynard has not only shared with us an inspiring account of a fascinating thinker, admirable and courageous activist and a unique personality in China's modem history, but also made a serious contribution to our understanding of the evasive issue of what Chinese religiousness means."

Geir Sigurdsson, University of Iceland, Journal of Chinese Religions, No. 39 (2011)