Wanwuyiti and Finding God in All Things
A Comparative Study between Neo-Confucian Self-Cultivation and Ignatian Spirituality
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3236391 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Amy Yu Fu (0000-0002-1919-0049, Harvard University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 521 |
| Publication date | 2024-04-23 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel15050521 |
| OpenAlex | W4395037394 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 10 |
It seems that the early Jesuits misinterpreted the key Neo-Confucian terms taiji/li from an Aristotelian perspective in the seventeenth century, thereby leading to a dialogical failure in their initial encounter with Neo-Confucian tradition. What necessitates interreligious dialogue today is a pluralistic stance that deems all religious quests worthy in their own context. Therefore, this paper renews the dialogue between two spiritual traditions, long overdue, by reading two representative texts, side by side, from each tradition on self-cultivation: Reflections on Things at Hand (twelfth century) and The Spiritual Exercises (sixteenth century). The comparison showcases that the notion of "wanwuyiti", a concomitant of the Confucian ren, is tantamount to a religious imperative for human ethical engagements, and the Ignatian axiom "Finding God in All Things" energizes a spiritual self-transformation to forge an intimate bond with God and the world. While Neo-Confucian cultivation focuses on the removal of desires, seeking to maintain "equilibrium" and "centrality", the Ignatian exercises foreground commitment to "discernment" and "indifference". The Neo-Confucians address human and worldly affairs in a procedural manner, with ever-broadening horizons, to establish an orderly society. In contrast, the Ignatian self is directed toward an orderly life to serve, love, and bring ever more to God's Divine Majesty
Aesthetics · Charisma · Dialogical self · Discernment · Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Righteousness · Sociology · Spirituality · Theology · Chinese history and philosophy · History · Japanese History and Culture · Philosophy · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |