Eastern philosophy

As an eastern philosophy is commonly understood the philosophy of Asia, especially the Chinese, Indian and Japanese cultural area. The heyday of the Eastern philosophy is according to Karl Jaspers designated by him as the "axis time" ( 800-200 BC) dar. Here, the performance history become powerful intellectual traditions of Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism.

The Hinduism these traditions were later especially in the north of the Indian subcontinent in a tense relationship with Islam.

It always succeeds only partially represent general trends which can be regarded as Eastern philosophy. Too different and rich is the at least three millennia reconstructed culture and philosophy of the East. In dealing with it, the so-called Western philosophy certain time and again their own self-understanding.

China

The origins of Chinese philosophy reach far back into the second millennium BC. Its central questions was always the order of the cosmos as well as the place of man in it. Very old is the doctrine of the first principle of Dao and the World inherent contrast of yin and yang. Later it developed on its basis a number of lessons, of which the best known of Confucianism, Daoism and legalism are. Always were observed, partly incorporated in the frame from the outside imported teachings such as Buddhism and were sinicized pronounced syncretic tendencies. Due partly of completely different paradigms, issues and approaches is partly disputed whether the Chinese traditions of thought at all in the sense of the Western tradition can be viewed as a philosophy.

India

Since the time of the Upanishads (9th - 6th century BC ), one can speak of a developed philosophy in India. However, the origins date back to the 2nd millennium BC. Central themes are samsara ( rebirth), Karma (the "Law of action" ) and dharma ( cosmic order ). Of the six orthodox Indian systems (ie, the authority of the Veda recognize ) are Vedanta, Yoga and Samkhya the most important. Among the so-called heterodox systems include Jainism and the various Buddhist schools.

Japan

As the general cultural development of Japan, so too is the philosophy developed there can not be explained without the significant acquisition of ideas first of the East Asian foreign to the 17th century, the subsequent and nearly 200 -year-long isolation of Japan, as well as its onset in the 19th century pursuit of world political influence. In addition, developed in Japan philosophy was always in close reciprocal relationship with the internal political struggles of the secular and religious authorities with and among each other.

Simultaneously with the introduction of Chinese writing in the written Chinese writings were received, made ​​known in Japan Daoist, konfuzianistisches and especially Buddhist ideas (see Buddhism in Japan) and from then on with the indigenous religious traditions (see Shinto ) in strongly syncretic way philosophical thought in Japan given, each with different priorities to the present day.