Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Lecture｜Li Jifen: Xunzi's Philosophy of Mourning
The Qingming Festival, standing out as the most culturally profound among the 24 solar terms, carries forward a millennium-old legacy of reverence and remembrance. Associate Professor Li Jifen from School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, will leverage the Qingming Festival context to conduct an in-depth analysis of Xunzi's philosophical maxim "serving the dead is as important as serving the living" . Through examining ritual practices ranging from tomb-sweeping ceremonies to the self-cultivation implications of "simu" in Xunzi's Discourse on Rites, this lecture will elucidate how the Confucian principle of "reverential commemoration" (shenzhong zhuiyuan) revitalizes kinship ethics and nurtures filial character formation.
Abstract
Unlike Kongzi, Xunzi emphasizes that serving the dead is as important as serving the living. This is best shown in his emphasis on "simu", or "appreciative mourning." Xunzi views simu as an important component of self-cultivation. In mourning deceased parents, one deeply reflects on their kindness and develops further respect and appreciation for them. Through mourning rituals and processes, one strengthens the family relationship that seems to have been broken and continues to become a more filial and noble person.
About the Speaker
LI Jifen, born in the city of Linyi, Shandong Province, is an associate professor in Renmin University of China, who is also in charge of the English master program "Chinese Philosophy, Religion, and Culture"(CPRC). Her research interests include Chinese classical philosophy, Neo-Confucianism, and comparative studies between East and West. Her publications include one book in Chinese, Studies on the Thought of the Complete Person in Xunzi (Chinese Social Science Press, 2021), and many journal papers. She has presided over 7 research projects from Ministry of Education, Beijing Social science Funding Projects, and Renmin University of China.
QR Code for Signing up
