Interpretation of Spirituality in Chinese Philosophy

In: Izvestija Irkutskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta: The bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Serija Politologija, religiovedenie = Series Political science and religion studies, Band 46, S. 154-163

Abstract

The article attempts to analyze the problem of spirituality in the works of Chinese authors. The authors emphasize that in the studies of Chinese philosophers, ethnographers, historians, the problem of spirituality is presented in two aspects. Chinese authors explain spirituality as a spiritual culture that determines the degree of human spiritual activity in the study of Chinese culture. This explains the following fact. Chinese philosophers view Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism as the spiritual activities of the great sages. We see a different attitude towards the concept of spirituality when they interpret Russian Orthodoxy in China and its role in the formation of Russian culture. In the first case, we are talking about the role of the Orthodox Church in China directly. Therefore, Chinese authors focus on Orthodoxy as a liturgical activity in the context of their research. When they analyze the role of the Orthodox faith in Russian culture, they write about it as a factor that shapes the Russian character and mentality. An analysis of the works of Chinese authors led to the following conclusion. The interpretation of spirituality in the works of Chinese authors is presented as a spiritual social activity. The article presents the works of Chinese philosophers who have not been addressed in Russian studies.