The Shamanistic Dance and the Four Arrows

Abstract

AbstractLi Zehou has made significant contributions to many areas of contemporary Chinese thought. In particular, his innovative theories on the origin of Chinese culture are among his most influential. Here, he argues that Chinese culture and Confucianism evolved from shamanism. This essay will focus on Li’s so-called “four arrows theory,” and his interpretation of the important influence shamanistic dances and ceremonies had on the development of Chinese culture. Notes1 D’Ambrosio, Carleo, and Lambert, ‘’On Li Zehou’s Philosophy,” 1060.2 The term “emotions” or “emotionality” (qing 情), refers not only to “emotions” or “feelings” (qinggan 情感) but also to the sensitive realms of different situations (qingjing 情境). In this second context, the term is understood in particular in terms of human emotional response, feelings and moods in different situations. See Rošker, Becoming Human, 124.3 D’Ambrosio, Carleo, and Lambert, ‘’On Li Zehou’s Philosophy,” 1065.4 Li, ‘’A Response to Michael Sandel,’’ 1109.5 Ibid.6 Rošker, Becoming Human, 311.7 Li, “A Response to Michael Sandel,” 1110.8 Rošker, Becoming Human, 311.9 Chandler, “Li Zehou,” 132.10 Li and Cauvel, Four Essays, 144.11 Chandler, “Li Zehou,” 159.12 Li, Chinese Aesthetic Tradition, 4.13 Li, Origins of Chinese Thought, 101.14 Ibid., 20.15 Li, Chinese Aesthetic Tradition, 5-6.16 Ibid., 101.17 Chandler, “Li Zehou,” 163–64.18 Li and Cauvel, Four Essays, 171.19 Chandler, “Li Zehou,” 163–64.20 Rošker, Following His Own Path, 120.21 English translation by James Legge. The term “humanity” in Legge’s translation here refers to ren 仁, which I translate as “humaneness” in the rest of the text.22 “人而不仁, 如礼何? 人而不仁, 如乐何?” See Analects, Ba Yi 3.Additional informationNotes on contributorsMaja M. KosecMaja Maria Kosec is a doctoral candidate, teaching assistant, and junior researcher at the Department of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. She holds a Master’s degree in Sinology with a thesis on the preservation of Confucian traditions in the Chinese diaspora in Cuba. Her previous research focused on the religious and political practises of the Chinese diaspora in Cuba, while her current research focuses on the history of ideas from a comparative perspective. She is particularly interested in modern and contemporary Chinese philosophers and their theories on the origins of Chinese culture.