Book Description
As the first systematic attempt to probe the linguistic strategies of Daoist Zhuangzi and Chan Buddhism, this book investigates three areas: deconstructive strategy, liminology of language, and indirect original texts, placing them strictly within soteriological contexts. Whilst focusing on language use, the study also reveals some important truths about these two traditions and challenges many conventional understandings of them. Responding to recent critiques of Daoist and Chan Buddhist thought, it brings these two traditions into a constructive dialogue with contemporary philosophical reflection. It discovers Zhuangzian and Chan perspectives and sheds light on issues such as the relationship between philosophy and non-philosophy, de-reification of words, relativizing the limit of language, structure of indirect communication, and use of paradox, tautology and poetic language.
About the author
Youru Wang teaches Asian thought in the Philosophy and Religion Department at Rowna University, Glassboro, New Jersey. His area of specialty is Chinese Buddhist thought and early Daoist thought. His articles have appeared in journals such as International Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophy East and West, Asian Philosophy and Journal of Chinese Philosophy.
