Teaching Chinese Philosophy Outside the Philosophy Classroom: Reflections on Contents, Methods, and Prospects

In this paper, I reflect on my way of teaching Chinese philosophy in non-philosophical settings. By starting from both common discourses and elements from Chinese indigenous psychology strongly rooted in traditional thought, I elucidate the deep-seated influences of Daoism and Confucianism in contemporary social phenomena. More particularly, I demonstrate the enduring relevance of mainly ancient Daoist concepts in modern therapeutic contexts by introducing some practical applications of Chinese philosophical teachings in everyday life settings and health contexts. I thereby zoom in on hybridized psychotherapies that illustrate the integration of Daoist principles with Western psychological techniques in mental health treatment. I also highlight the necessity of interdisciplinarity to critically investigate Chinese philosophy as dynamically informing contemporary discourses and practices. As a possible educational approach, I introduce a model of an interdisciplinary summer school on Daoism and healing practices that combines theoretical with embodied knowledge.