Rhetorical Questions in the Daodejing

Argument Construction, Dialogical Insertion, and Sentimental Expression

Bibliographic Data

ID3466779
AuthorsAi Yuan (0000-0002-6427-1462, Tsinghua University, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume13
Issue3
Pages252
Publication date2022-03-16
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel13030252
OpenAlexW4220724411
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

This paper provides a typology of rhetorical questions in the Daodejing and examines their functions on rhetorical effects and argumentative construction. This paper argues against a reading of rhetorical questions that translates them directly into propositional statements. Instead, the fact that rhetorical questions appear in one version of the text but not in others shows us the unique subtleties of meaning that rhetorical questions deliver. An awareness of the performative and dialogical functions elicited through rhetorical questions deepens our understanding of the persuasive power of the Daodejing. Furthermore, emotional sentiments within the text can be detected through the use of rhetorical questions which function to impress the readers/listeners while urging a point. A study of rhetorical questions in the Daodejing reveals textual differences across versions that transcend their wording, all the while motivating a new understanding of rhetorical questions based on classical Chinese texts enriches current definitions proposed in the field at large

Argumentative · Dialogical self · Epistemology · Linguistics · Performative utterance · Rhetorical device · Rhetorical modes · Rhetorical question · Sociology · Computer Science · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Philosophy · Psychology · Rhetoric and Communication Studies

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