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Chinese Morality Books and Their Pedagogical Application

Culture and languages

Johanna Lidén presents her research project on Chinese morality books and their role in self-cultivation and moral education, both historically and today. All interested are welcome!

Lecture,
Seminar
Date
7 Oct 2026
Time
16:00 - 18:00
Location
Room C444, Humanisten, Renströmsgatan 6
Good to know
Language: English
Organizer
Department of Languages and Literatures, the Bernhard Karlgren seminar series

The aim of the morality books (literally: ‘Books on doing good” or shànshū 善書) in late imperial China was to help the citizens of the country transforming into morally better people. This project investigates how they were used by individuals interested in self-cultivation to improve their karma, but also to study their pedagogical application at school. 

The project will give a background to the contemporary publication boom in Taiwan of such books and a growing interest in moral education in the People’s Republics of China including Hong Kong.

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