Established in 1946, the Department of Philosophy of Tongji University was the first of its kind based in Shanghai. The department was suspended three years later, and resumed in the early 21st century.

In 2003, the Department of Philosophy started two master programs in foreign philosophy and aesthetics. In 2004, it started the undergraduate program in philosophy. In 2005, it was authorized to offer doctoral program in foreign philosophy, and to offer master’s degree in philosophy general. Now the department offers 6 master’s programs: in Chinese philosophy, foreign philosophy, religious philosophy, aesthetics, moral philosophy, and philosophy of science and technology. In 2007, its programs in foreign philosophy were named in the Leading Courses in Shanghai. In 2011, it was authorized to offer doctoral programs in philosophy general. In the same year its programs in philosophy were named in Shanghai’s Project of First-class Courses. It currently offers 10 programs for doctoral research: in Chinese philosophy, classical studies, foreign philosophy, religious philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of science and technology, moral philosophy, aesthetics, philosophical psychology, and philosophy of culture. Since 2012, it offers post-doctoral opportunities in philosophy upon approval.

The Department of Philosophy expanded rapidly. It now offers courses in most areas of philosophy and formed a complete system of education from undergraduate to doctoral level. Its staff in foreign philosophy has grown into one of the most influential scholar groups nationwide. At present, the department has 36 members of academic staff, among which are 11 professors, 13 associate professors, 8 lecturers and 4 assistant professors.

Institute of Chinese Thought and Culture and of Confucian Classics

The Institute of Chinese Thought and Culture and of Confucian Classics was established in 2012. On the basis of the doctoral programs of Chinese philosophy and classical studies, the institute integrates the relevant research centers within the School of Humanities to promote the studies of Chinese philosophy, Confucianism, Confucian classics, classics, and philosophy of modern Chinese. It hosted in succession two academic forum series including “Annual Conference of Confucianism and Classics” and “Workshop on the Changes between the Ancient and the Modern”, and edited and published Tongji Studies in Chinese Thought and Culture and Confucianism and Classics Review. It has now grown into a comprehensive academic platform of nationwide influence for the studies of Chinese thought and culture.

The 13 current members form a team with academic vigor and reasonable diversity of age. Professor Zhang Wenjiang, Professor Ke Xiaogang, Professor Zeng Yi, Professor Chen Hui and Professor Chen Chang are leading scholars with distinguished achievements and reputation in the field. Besides, a group of promising young scholars specializing in various areas of research warrants the future of the institute.

The Institute of Chinese Thought and Culture and of Confucian Classics persists in combination of fundamental studies and cutting-edge research, dedicated to deepening the understanding of contemporary China and promoting the conversation between the ancient and the modern in Chinese culture. For this purpose, its research is oriented primarily to Confucianism, classical studies and Confucian classics, and secondarily to the studies of comparative philosophy and philosophy of modern Chinese. The institute has formed an integral system for postgraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral education on the basis of the doctoral programs in Chinese philosophy and classical studies.

Main fields of study:

1. Chinese philosophy: studies of ancient thought, modern Chinese philosophy.

2. Classics: studies of Confucian classics, classical poetics.

Research Strength: studies of Confucianism and classics.

The Institute of Confucian Classics of Tongji University was founded in 2021, preceded by the Center of Confucian Classics established in 2012. As an interdisciplinary research center for studies of Confucian classics in the School of Humanities, it has a body of staff consists of 10 classicists from both the Department of Philosophy and the Department of Chinese Language, constituting a research group comprising of both senior and junior scholars. Focused on Chun Qiu, it sets up an inter-university platform for the community of Chun Qiu study in Shanghai.

With primary focus on the traditional studies of The Five Classics and The Four Books, the Institute of Confucian Classics is also dedicated to introducing classical studies to modern scholarship, in order to work out creative interpretations of modern China. Three fruitful research groups are currently active: that of Chun Qiu and Li, led by Professor Zeng Yi, Professor Chen Hui and Professor Xue Yuan, that of Zhou Yi, led by Professor Zhang Wenjiang and Professor Gu Jiming, and that of Shi, led by Professor Ke Xiaogang and Professor Liu Qiang, among which the study of Chun Qiu is especially reputed and influential among Chinese scholars of Confucian classics.

Main Fields of study:

1. Chun Qiu: studies of Gong Yang and Zuo Zhuan

2. Li: study of mourning clothes

3. Shi: study of Mao Shi

4. Yi: Theories of Figures and Numbers (Xiang-Shu) in Qing Dynasty

Research Strength: study of Chun Qiu