Mencius and Masculinities: Dynamics of Power, Morality, and Maternal ThinkingIn this innovative work, Joanne D. Birdwhistell presents the first gender analysis of the Mencius, a central text in the Chinese philosophical tradition. Mencian philosophy, particularly its ideas about the processes by which a man could develop into a cultivated gentleman, was important to the political thought of China s long imperial order. Through close textual readings, Birdwhistell offers a new interpretation of core Mencian ideas about the heart and the self-cultivation of the great man. She argues that the concept of masculinity advocated by the Mencius is derived, although without acknowledgment, from maternal practices and thinking through processes of appropriation, inversion, and transformation. She illustrates that even though maternal practices and thinking are an invisible dimension of Mencian thought, they are constantly present in the text through their transcoding with agricultural practices and thinking. |
Contents
Hidden in Plain View Questions Issues and Perspectives | 7 |
Text As Cultural Landscape | 21 |
Against Shen Nongs Agrarian Masculinity | 39 |
Against King Huis SelfCentered Masculinity | 51 |
Compassionate Governing Dynamics References and Practices | 63 |
Ruling As Son and Younger Brother | 75 |
Ruling As Father and Mother of the People | 89 |
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Common terms and phrases
actions appropriate associated behave benevolence and rightness benevolent government benevolent ruler chapter characteristics Chen child Chinese Chinese philosophy cius compassion concern Confucian Confucian-Mencian Confucius cultivation cultural Daodejing dimension discussion distinctions Duke of Zhou duties empire entails farming father and mother female gendered behavior feminine filial piety five relations form of masculinity fraternal deference gentleman heart ideal implicitly important inferior inhumane ruler junzi kinds of behavior King Hui King Wen linked male behavior masculine behavior maternal behavior maternal practices Mencian thought Mencius claims moral behavior moral feelings Mozi nourish older brothers one's ontology parents passage patriarchal perspective philosophical political recognized refers relationship ritual ruler and minister sage shame social order social-political specific superior teaching tion traits transformation transgendering true king virtues wife women xiao xing Xu Xing Xunzi yinyang young younger brother Zengzi Zhou dynasty Zhu Xi Zhuangzi