Parallel Ecumene: Rethinking Eric Voegelin's Perspective on Chinese Civilization

• In Event: Voegelin's Reception in China

Abstract

In exploring Voegelin's examination of Chinese civilization, a prevalent perspective suggests that the initial three volumes of “Order and History” and the fourth volume, “The Ecumenic Age,” present similar insights into Chinese civilization. They imply that the Chinese civilization failed in transcending its cosmological framework and in achieving revelation and philosophy through a transformative “leap of being”. However, I argue that this perspective overlooks the significant shift in Voegelin's study of Chinese civilization, which overcomes the linear historical view advocated by Karl Jaspers. Consequently, it fails to address why the historical philosophy comprising kuo(國, the kingdom）, wu(武, the war), li(力, the force), and po(霸, the lord), forms Voegelin’s understanding of historical progress, albeit representing a historical setback within Chinese civilization. My interpretation proposes that, as Voegelin shifted from conceptual exploration to concentrating on experiences and symbols across diverse regions, he moved away from the traditional historical philosophy tied to time or a single event serving as a criterion for civilization levels. Instead, he emphasized the role of geographical factors. The relative isolation of China from the Near East allowed for their distinct "leap of being," shaping the diverse self-consciousness of the Ecumene. This transition embraced a more pluralistic worldview, envisioning parallel ecumenic civilizations.

Author

• Zhen Han, University of Florida