Dr. Gad C. Isay

Chinese intellectual history; the sources and the development of Chinese modes of thought and understanding; the encounter between Chinese culture and ideas from the West; missionaries in China in the 19th century; the thought of Qian Mu 錢穆.  Memory in Chinese thought; Ancient Chinese philosophy and religiosity.

Gad C. Isay, teaches in The Department of East Asian Studies in Tel-Hai College, and is a member of Tel-Hai Center for the Study of Religions.

• memory in Chinese thought;
• the mode of balance in Confucian philosophy;
• the view of life controversy of 1923
• the thought of Qian Mu
• Comparative philosophy

Traditional China and Its Culture (introductory course); Modern Chinese History (1800-1950) (introductory course);

Introduction to Chinese Philosophy; Readings in Chinese Philosophy (M.A. course); Zhuangzi: The Philosopher of the Way and his Modern Critics (M.A. seminar); Chinese Historiography;

Question of Human Nature in Classical and Contemporary China; Fading Quality: A comparative Review of Culture in China and in the West;

Modern Chinese Thought; Modern Discussions of Culture in China; The Challenges of Contemporary China;

The Intercultural Dialogue between China and the West (seminar); Chinese Travelers in the West (seminar); The Modern Encounter between China and the Monotheist Idea of God; Chinese Religiosity (MA seminar);

Environmental Issues in China; Ecology in China: Conditions, Processes, and Ideas; Ecology and Religiosity;

Chinese Language for Beginners; Advanced Chinese Language;

1994-1995 - Kadoorie prize for scholarly excellence 

1995-1996 - Peking University – Hebrew University exchange program

Polonsky Foundation grant for studies abroad          

1997-1998 - Frieberg prize for scholarly excellence

1998-1999 - Fullbright scholarship for studies in USA    

1998-2000 - Nathan Rotenstreich Scholarship and living stipend for three years

2001-2002 - The Shoul N. Eisenberg foundation for East Asian Affair

2003 - Research Grant from the Center for Chinese Studies (Taipei, Taiwan)

Dissertations

1. MA Thesis: The view of life based on metaphysics in the controversy over the view of life in 1923 (1995, in Hebrew)
2. PhD Dissertation: The Philosophy of the View of Life in Modern Chinese Thought (2000, in English)

Books (Academic)

1. An annotated Hebrew translation with introduction and commentary, of Qian Mu, Hushang xiansilu (Quiet Thoughts at the Lake). Taipei: Liantai Chubanshe, 2001. (מחשבות רגועות משפת האגם) The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Magnes Press, 2008.
2. Gad C. Isay, The Philosophy of the View of Life in Modern Chinese Thought. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2013.

Books Edited

1. Co-editor, At Home in Many Worlds: Reading, Writing, and Translating from Chinese and Jewish Cultures. Essays in Honour of Irene Eber. Raoul David Findeisen, Gad C. Isay, Amira Katz-Goehr, Yuri Pines and Lihi Yariv-Laor, eds. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2009.

Chapters in Collections (edited books)

1. Gad C. Isay, "Sketch of a Scholarly Biography." In At Home in Many Worlds: Reading, Writing, and Translating from Chinese and Jewish Cultures. Essays in Honour of Irene Eber. Raoul David Findeisen, Gad C. Isay, Amira Katz-Goehr, Yuri Pines and Lihi Yariv-Laor, eds. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2009, 3-7.
2. Gad C. Isay, "The Bible Stories by Karl Gützlaff: What Do They Teach Their Chinese Readers?" In At Home in Many Worlds: Reading, Writing, and Translating from Chinese and Jewish Cultures. Essays in Honour of Irene Eber. Raoul David Findeisen, Gad C. Isay, Amira Katz-Goehr, Yuri Pines and Lihi Yariv-Laor, eds. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2009, 203-211.
3. Gad C. Isay, “The Poet and the Historian: Tagore Rabidranath and Qian Mu’s Criticism of Western Modernism.” In Theodor, Ithamar and Zhihua Yao, eds., Brahman and Dao: Comparative Studies of Indian and Chinese Philosophy and Religion. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2013, 263-276.
4. 伊塞 (Gad C. Isay), “诗人与历史学家：泰戈尔与钱穆对现代化的批评.” 叶首德, eds., Theodore I. and Yao Zhihua, 梵与道：印中哲学和宗教比较研究. 北京: 宗教文化出版社, 2017, 309-318.
5. Gad C. Isay, Balanced Continuity: Qian Mu and Contemporary New Confucianism. In Elstein, D. ed. Dao Companion to Contemporary Confucian Philosophy. New York: Springer, 175-198. DOI 978-3-030-56475-9_9, © 2021 https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030564735?wt_mc=Internal.Event.1.SEM.ChapterAuthorCongrat

Articles in refereed journals

1. Gad C. Isay, “A Missionary Philosopher in Late Qing: Ernst Faber (1839-99) and his Intercultural Synthesis of Human Nature,” Sino-Western Cultural Relations Journal, 23 (August 2001), 22-49.
2. Gad C. Isay, “Qian Mu and the Modern Transformation of Filial Piety,” Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 32.3 (September 2005), 441-454. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6253.2005.00203.x/full
3. Gad C. Isay, Review of Donald J. Munro, A Chinese Ethics for the New Century. The Ch'ien Mu Lectures in History and Culture, and Other Essays on Science and Confucian Ethics. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press, 2005. In Journal of Chinese Philosophy 33.4 (December 2006), 581-586. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6253.2006.00384.x/full
4. Gad C. Isay, “Religious Obligation Transformed into Intercultural Agency. Ernst Faber’s Mission in China,” Monumenta Serica, Vol. 54, 2006, 273-287.
5. Gad C. Isay, "A Humanist Synthesis of Memory, Language, and Emotions; A Philosophical Reading of Qian Mu's Quiet Thoughts at the Lake." Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy 8.4 (December 2009), 425-437. http://springer.r.delivery.net/r/r?2.1.Ee.2Tp.1jdPFl.Bz0lKM..H.J5Rg.3HPC.bW89MQ%5f%5fCdMEFOZ0
6. Gad C. Isay, "Qian Mu’s Criticism of Monotheism and Alienation in Modern Life." Journal of Chinese Philosophy and Culture 6 (January 2010), 303-326.
7. Gad C. Isay, “Continuity and Innovation in Qian Mu’s Thought.” Studia Orientalia Slovaca 10.2 (2011), 349-359.
8. Gad C. Isay, “To Regain Self Affirmation: Qian Mu and his Exile Scholarship.” East Asian History 39 (December 2014), 103-116. http://www.eastasianhistory.org/39/isay
9. Gad C. Isay, “Ernst Faber’s (1839-1899) Theories of Human Nature,” Ching Feng16.1-2 (2017), 111-134.
10. Gad C. Isay, “Qian Mu’s View on Intuition.” Studia Orientalia Slovaca 17.1 (2018), 65-76.
11. Gad C. Isay, Review of Cao Jian, “Chinese Biblical Anthropology.” Journal of Interreligious Studies 30 (August 2020), 90-93. https://irstudies.org/index.php/jirs/article/view/519
12. Gad C. Isay, Non-Forgetfulness and Forgetfulness 忘 (wang) in Ancient Chinese Philosophical Texts. Memory Studies 15.2 (April 2022), 465-479. https://doi.org/10.1177/17506980211044704

Articles in non - refereed journals and periodicals

1. Translation of Chang Hao, “Buyao wangdiao ershishiji!” (Do not forget the twentieth century). Ershiyishiji 31 (1995), 28-30. Zemanim 85 (Winter 2003-2004), 32-37, (Hebrew translation);
2. Review of Irene Eber, Chinese and Jews; Encounters Between Cultures. Jerusalem: Bialic Institute, 2002. Zemanim 85 (Winter 2003-2004), (Hebrew)
3. Review of Aron Shai, Zhang Xueliang; The General Who Never Fought. Or Yehuda: Zmora-Bitan, Dvir, 2008. Zemanim 105 (Winter 2008), (in Hebrew), 116-118. http://www.openu.ac.il/zmanim/zmanim105/download/105_ishay
    

Proceedings

1. “Balanced Continuity: Qian Mu and New Confucian Learning.” Proceedings of the International Conference of Current Issues and Development of  Contemporary Neo-Confucianism in the 21st Century. National Central University, Taoyuan, ROC, June 16-18, 2016.
    

In Newspapers

“Read Every Word.” Review of 108 Songs from the Chinese classics. Trans. by Dan Da’or. Yedioth Aharonot, March 8, 2002, (in Hebrew)
"To Live the Moral Life that Was Society's Virtue from the Beginning," Ha'aretz, Sefarim, April 17, 2007, 6 (review of a new Hebrew translation of Confucius' Analects) (in Hebrew). http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/849477.html
"How to Avoid Fear from Ghosts and to Avoid Starving as Well," Ha'aretz, Sefarim, September, 4, 2007, 6 (Hebrew).
"Prof. Fu Youde Visits Haifa." Points East2 (July 2008), 8.
“China Relaxes its One-Child Policy.” Ynet, November 17, 2013. http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4454340,00.html

A. Lectures (in Hebrew, a selection):

1. "Some Observations on Criticism of Monotheism in Modern Chinese Thought.” University of Haifa, The Third Annual Conference of East Asian Studies in Israel, February 2004.
2. "Qian Mu's Humanist Synthesis.” University of Haifa, March 2004, Department of East Asian Studies.
3. "Sources of an Addiction: The Opium War in China.” University of Haifa, Drugs and Backpackers in East Asia, May 2004.
4. “Motion and Meaning in Chinese Thought.” Meaning and Its Meaning, University of Haifa, December 2004.
5. "Desires and Temporality in Modern Chinese Thought." Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Fourth Annual Conference of East Asian Studies in Israel, May 2005.
6. "Modern Interpretations of the Value of Filial Piety." Open University, Ra'anana, Conference on Filial Piety in China and in Judaism, April 6, 2006.
7. "Religiosity and Sacredness in Modern Chinese Thought." University of Tel Aviv, The Fifth Annual Conference of East Asian Studies in Israel, June 2006.
8. "Chinese Intellectuals During the War of Resistance against Japan." University of Haifa, 70 Years to the Sino-Japanese War – The Conflict that Changed East Asia, November, 2007.
9. "The Concept of Memory in Ancient Chinese Philosophical Texts." University Of Haifa, December, 2007.
10. "Collective memory and Confucian terms." Colloquial seminar in the Department of Asian Studies, in the University of Haifa. January 2008.
11. "On the intercultural dialogue between Israel and China." Mao Zedong and another 1300000000 Chinese: Chinese history in the 20th century. The Open University, Ra'anana, February 18, 2008.
12. Two (2) occasions in celebration of the publication of the translation of Qian Mu, Quiet Thoughts at the Lake, in The University of Haifa and in The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, March 26th and 27th, 2008.
13. "The Reforms and China's Soul." Thirty Years to the Reforms in China 1978—2008. University of Haifa, December 2008.
14. Discussant in "Round Table Discussion of Translations from Asian Languages." Language, Culture and Society in Asia, University of Haifa, January 2009.
15. "Who Is a Believer? The Conception of Divinity in Asian Religions." Opening ceremony, round table discussion, in Monotheism in a Politeist World: Inter-religious Issues in Asia. Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv, March 2009.
16. "Modern Chinese Critics of Monotheism." Monotheism in a Politeist World: Inter-religious Issues in Asia. Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv, March 2009.
17. "May Fourth Views about the Status of Man." Conference to Comemorate 90 Years to the May Fourth Movement. University of Haifa, May 5, 2009.
18. "First to Worry and last for Joy: Chinese Intellectuals under Pressure." Tiananmen 1989: Twenty Years to the Incident that Shook the World. University of Haifa, June 8, 2009.
19. "Contemporary Confucian Views about Spirituality: The Linkage between Centeredness and Spirituality." The 2nd Israeli Conference for the Study of Contemporary Spiritualities, University of Haifa, March, 2010.
20. "Alternative Views among Confucian Revivalists in Today's China." The Ninth Annual Conference of East Asian Studies in Israel, University of Haifa, April 2010.
21. “Daoist and Confucian Views on Yielding and Forgiveness.” University of Haifa, December 2010.
22. “Meditations on Centrality in Chinese Culture.” The Tenth Annual Conference of East Asian Studies in Israel, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, May 2011.
23. “Chinese and Indian Critics of Modernity in the Twentieth Century.” Tel-Hai Annual Conference of Asian Studies, 24th February, 2014.
24. “The Paradox of Non-Dichotomy in the Criticism of Modernity by Rabindranath Tagore and Qian Mu.” In Comparative Studies of Asian Politics and Thought: On the Occasion of the Publication of Brahman and Dao, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, March 2014.
25. “Intellectual Currents in China in the Aftermath of WWI: Liang Qichao’s Criticism of the Culture of the West.” Asia and WWI: Reverberations and influence at the Margins of the Death Fields. The University of Haifa, December 1st, 2014.
26. “What One Does for All: The Chinese Son of Heaven in the Hall of Light and the Great Cohen at the Holy Temple in Yom Kippur.” Tel-Hai Annual Conference of Asian Studies, 12th January, 2015.
27. “The Linchpin that Joins Heaven and Earth: Comparing Chinese and Jewish Belief Schemes.” China, Judaism and Jewish Communities – Encounters Across Cultures in Honor of Prof. Irene Eber, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, December 27, 2015.
28. “The Linchpin Between Heaven and Earth: A Focused Comparison of Judaic and Confucian Religiosities.” The University of Haifa, The Department of Asian Studies, The 5th Asian and Judaism Conference, April 2nd, 2017.
29. “The Balanced Interpretation as a Way to Correctly Transmit Holy Scriptures: Qian Mu 錢穆 (1895-1990) and His Studies of Zhu Xi 朱熹 (1130-1200).” The 2nd Annual Conference of the Israeli Association for the Study of Religions, University of Bar Ilan, March 11-12, 2018.
30. Memory in ancient Chinese philosophical texts. Colloquium Talk, The Department of East Asian Studies, June 2020.
31. The unity of politics and religion and the model of religious experience in Chinese culture. The 5th Annual Conference of the Israeli Association for the study of Religions, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, May 25, 2022.

B. Conferences (and presentations in English):

1. "Defining the Moral Person in Modern Chinese Thought: Some Neglected Arguments." Ethics - East and West symposium, Alet, France, June 2001.
2. "An Intercultural Agent in China and to the Occident: Ernst Faber’s Mission in China." Fascination and Understanding: The spirit of the Occident and the spirit of China in reciprocity. Smolenice Castle, Slovakia, February 2003.
3. "Qian Mu and His Criticism of Modernity." Chi Nan University, Taiwan, October, 2003.
4. "Attending to the Troubles of the World – Qian Mu in Exile." Chinese Diasporic and Exile Experience, Zurich, August 10th-14th, 2005.
5. "The Context of Memory, Language, and Emotions, and the Confucian View of Life." The Seventh International Conference on Contemporary New Confucian Studies, Wuhan, China, September 2005.
6. "The Bible Stories by Karl Gutzlaff: What Do They Teach Their Chinese Readers?" The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Encounters between Chinese Literary Works and the Old Testament, October 24, 2007.
7. "The Wisdom of the Similar and the Convergent." The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Seventh Annual Conference of East Asian Studies in Israel, May 2008.
8. "Dialogue and Balance in Qian Mu." Tel Aviv University, Confucianism and Inter-Religious Dialogue, December 16-17, 2009.
9. “Zhu Xi and Qian Mu on Balance and the Transmission of the Way (Daotong).” The Daotong International Conference. INALCO, Paris, July, 2013.
10. “A Modern Case of Confucian Centrality.” The Bi-annual International Conference of Israeli Asian Studies, The University of Haifa, May 25, 2014.
11. “The Confucian Pattern of Centrality in Modern Chinese Thought.” The 3rd International STCS Conference on Contemporary East Asia and the Confucian Revival. Ljubljana, Scientific Research Center of the Slovene Academy for Science and Art (ZRC SAZU), October 2014.
12. “The Confucian Approach to Harmony and Peace.” Interreligious Dialogue, Peace Building and Nonviolence: Asian and Abrahamic Perspectives. The University of Haifa, December 24th, 2014.
13. “Modern Chinese Critics of Monotheism.” EACP 2016, Vilnius, Lithuania, June 9-11, 2016.
14. “Balanced Continuity: Qian Mu and Contemporary Neo-Confucianism.” International Conference of Contemporary Neo-Confucianism. National Central University, Taoyuan, ROC, June 16-18, 2016.
15. “Balanced Intuition? Analysing Qian Mu’s View on Intuition.” The 21st Biennial Conference of the European Association for Chinese Studies. Petersburg, Russia, August 23-28, 2016.
16. “What Religion Meant to Hu Shi.” After 100 Years: Revisiting Hu Shi and the New Culture Movement. The Frieberg Center, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, January 11, 2017.
17. “The Concentric Pattern in Kongzi’s Analects,” The Australasian Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy (ASACP), Deakin University, Downtown, Melbourne, 10-12 July 2017.
18. “A Structural Sketch of the Concentric Pattern in Kongzi’s Analects,” The European Association for Chinese Philosophy (EACP), The University of Basel, Switzerland, September 7-9, 2017.
19. “How Radical Communist Critics Eventually Contributed to a Revival of Confucian Learning,” The 14th Biennial Conference of Asian Studies in Israel (ASI18), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus Campus, May 23-25, 2018.
20. “Centrality and Balance on the Levels of Self-Cultivation: Considering the Concentric Pattern in Kongzi’s Analects.” EACS Conference, University of Glasgow, 29 Aug. – 1 Sept., 2018.
21. “Where is the Balance? Reconsidering Moderates and Radicals in the May Fourth Movement.” New Thoughts about the ‘New Culture’: Reconsidering the May 4th, Tel Aviv University, April 1-2, 2019.
22. “Exploring the View of Life Controversy of 1923 for May Fourth Contributions to the Development of Confucian Learning,” 4 May 1919: History in Motion: International Conference – A Political, Social and Cultural Look at a Turning Point in the History of Modern China. Université de Mons, Belgium, 2 – 4 May 2019

 13.3 Initiation and organization of conferences

1. Conference on Filial Piety in China and in Judaism, The Open University, Ra'anana, in collaboration with the University of Haifa, April 6, 2006.
2. Conference on The Concept of Memory in Asian Cultures and in Judaism, University of Haifa in collaboration with the Open University, December 3, 2007.
3. Tel-Hai East Asian Conference. February 24th, 2014.
4. Organizer of The 13th Biennial Conference of Asian Studies in Israel (East, South and Central Asia), 18-19 May, 2016, in Tel-Hai College.