The Sciamachy of Modern Sanity: The Interface Between Classical Philosophy and Mental Health Theory and Practice in Twenty-First-Century China
Recent years have seen a surge of interest in the interface between mental health and areas formerly viewed as unrelated (the arts, philosophy and religion). In this article, I zoom in on the ways in which central texts and insights from the Daoist corpus can open a window into modern mental health...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/2/260 |
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| author | Robbert Zandbergen |
| author_facet | Robbert Zandbergen |
| author_sort | Robbert Zandbergen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent years have seen a surge of interest in the interface between mental health and areas formerly viewed as unrelated (the arts, philosophy and religion). In this article, I zoom in on the ways in which central texts and insights from the Daoist corpus can open a window into modern mental health issues. In its critique of the Confucian insistence on ‘mental hygiene’, the Daoist position vouches for an important level of flexibility conducive to what we now refer to as mental health. Importantly, this removes the stigma on so-called neurodiversity by placing it on a spectrum, away from the strict Confucian emphasis on order and harmony. As such, texts like the Zhuangzi discussed below have an uncanny relevance for any serious investigation of mental health and illness in twenty-first-century China. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ea7d6acebca42f68fdddfc0e5d4aeff |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ea7d6acebca42f68fdddfc0e5d4aeff2025-08-20T03:12:15ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-02-0116226010.3390/rel16020260The Sciamachy of Modern Sanity: The Interface Between Classical Philosophy and Mental Health Theory and Practice in Twenty-First-Century ChinaRobbert Zandbergen0Philosophy Department, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, ChinaRecent years have seen a surge of interest in the interface between mental health and areas formerly viewed as unrelated (the arts, philosophy and religion). In this article, I zoom in on the ways in which central texts and insights from the Daoist corpus can open a window into modern mental health issues. In its critique of the Confucian insistence on ‘mental hygiene’, the Daoist position vouches for an important level of flexibility conducive to what we now refer to as mental health. Importantly, this removes the stigma on so-called neurodiversity by placing it on a spectrum, away from the strict Confucian emphasis on order and harmony. As such, texts like the Zhuangzi discussed below have an uncanny relevance for any serious investigation of mental health and illness in twenty-first-century China.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/2/260mental healthmadnesssanityDaoismConfucianismpsychology |
| spellingShingle | Robbert Zandbergen The Sciamachy of Modern Sanity: The Interface Between Classical Philosophy and Mental Health Theory and Practice in Twenty-First-Century China Religions mental health madness sanity Daoism Confucianism psychology |
| title | The Sciamachy of Modern Sanity: The Interface Between Classical Philosophy and Mental Health Theory and Practice in Twenty-First-Century China |
| title_full | The Sciamachy of Modern Sanity: The Interface Between Classical Philosophy and Mental Health Theory and Practice in Twenty-First-Century China |
| title_fullStr | The Sciamachy of Modern Sanity: The Interface Between Classical Philosophy and Mental Health Theory and Practice in Twenty-First-Century China |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Sciamachy of Modern Sanity: The Interface Between Classical Philosophy and Mental Health Theory and Practice in Twenty-First-Century China |
| title_short | The Sciamachy of Modern Sanity: The Interface Between Classical Philosophy and Mental Health Theory and Practice in Twenty-First-Century China |
| title_sort | sciamachy of modern sanity the interface between classical philosophy and mental health theory and practice in twenty first century china |
| topic | mental health madness sanity Daoism Confucianism psychology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/2/260 |
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