This work attempts to remove the problems that stand in the way of a dialogue between Chinese and world philosophy. Using Daoism, not Confucianism, Hansen's goal is to present a unified theory of classical Chinese thought.

This ambitious book presents a new interpretation of Chinese thought guided both by a philosopher's sense of mystery and by a sound philosophical theory of meaning. That dual goal, Hansen argues, requires a unified translation theory. It must provide a single coherent account of the issues that motivated both the recently untangled Chinese linguistic analysis and the familiar moral-political disputes. Hansen's unified approach uncovers a philosophical sophistication in Daoism that traditional accounts have overlooked.

the time is ripe for this sort of wide-ranging reappraisal ... the book will be a major factor in setting the tone and parameters of the debate ... for the next decade.