The Armpit Sage V. the Golden Barbarian: Zhen Luan's Response to the Taoist Conversion Narrative
Date of Graduation
Summer 1998
Degree
Master of Arts in Communication
Department
Communication
Committee Chair
John Fritch
Abstract
This work examines a single line of argument from a medieval Chinese dispute between the supporters of Taoism and Buddhism. Western rhetorical scholars have generally ignored Chinese argumentation. It seems that the Western understanding of China as a rigidly hierarchical society has lead to the conclusion that argumentation has not played a noteworthy role in Chinese culture. This thesis challenges that conclusion by examining a medieval Chinese dispute over the origin of Buddhism. A single text is selected and evaluated using Fisher's narrative method. Results seem to indicate that the Chinese have engaged in argument as a means of critical decision-making and that with sufficient knowledge of Chinese history and culture those arguments are comprehensible to Westerners.
Subject Categories
Communication
Copyright
© Paul Hood
Recommended Citation
Hood, Paul, "The Armpit Sage V. the Golden Barbarian: Zhen Luan's Response to the Taoist Conversion Narrative" (1998). MSU Graduate Theses. 322.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/322
Dissertation/Thesis
