Is Mohism a Religion?: Reflection on “Mohism” in Mohist Studies

To cite this article: HUANG Jiaofeng. (2021). Is Mohism a religion?: Reflection on “Mohism” in Mohist studies. Asia-Pacific Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 01:2,048-057, DOI:10.53789/j.1653-0465.2021.0102.005

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.53789/j.1653-0465.2021.0102.005

Abstract: Since modern times, many scholars have called Mohism the representative of materialism and science and technology school in the pre Qin period. Therefore, it has become the mainstream of academia to expound the materialist thoughts of Mohism, such as “unnatural” , “forceful engagement” and “reducing expenses” , and to belittle the idealistic religious dimensions (religious thoughts and religious forms) of Mohism, such as “reverencing God and ghost”. This seems to have become the “political correctness” and path dependence of Mohist studies for hundreds of years. This is the defect of Mohist studies. Is Mohism a “Mohism religion” ? This is a major problem in Mohist studies. The author thinks that it is necessary to speculate on the basis of existing relevant literature and interdisciplinary knowledge in order to approach the true features of Mohist religious thought and religious form to the maximum extent, and expand the dimension of Mohism in the field of civilization dialogue. Relevant research should balance “historical materials”, “Mohist classics” and “reasonable speculation”.

Keywords: Mohism; Mohist religious thought; Mohist religious form; ten theories of Mohism

HUANG Jiaofeng Number 2 APJHSS.pdf