Kenneth W. Holloway, PH.D.
Associate Professor, Department of History
Levenson Professor of Asian Studies
Contact:
Department of History
Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Road,
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Office: (561)297-1328
Email: [email protected]
Education:
Ph.D. “The Recently Discovered Confucian Classic the ‘Five Aspects of
Conduct,’ ” University of Pennsylvania, Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies,
August 9, 2002
BA with High Honors in Chinese, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, May 16, 1993.
Academic Appointments:
Associate in Research, Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University, 2011-2012
Director Asian Studies Certificate Program, fall 2007 to spring 2011
Associate Director, Center for Body, Mind and Culture, fall 2006 to spring 2009
Levenson Professor of Asian Studies, fall 2005 to present
Assistant Professor of History, Florida Atlantic University, 2004 to present
Work in Progress:
The Quest for Morality in Ancient China
This book manuscript is under contract at Oxford University Press, having successfully passed
peer review. My project involves the analysis of religion in the “Xing zi ming chu” 性自命出, a
text that was discovered in the Guodian tomb, and in the Shanghai corpus. The final manuscript
will be 80,000 words in length and will be forthcoming in 2012.
Publications:
Blind Peer Reviewed Book:
Guodian: The Newly Discovered Seeds of Chinese Religious and Political Philosophy
Oxford University Press January 2009, 254 pages in length
Blind Peer Reviewed Articles:
“An inquiry into the ‘Xing zi mingchu’ from the perspective of the ‘Five Aspects of Conduct’” 從
《五行篇》的角度探討《性自命出》 Taiwan Journal of East Asian Studies
臺灣東亞文明研究學刊 6,1 (June 2009): 203-210, Chinese.
“Religion in ‘The Five aspects of Conduct’” 《五行篇》的宗教觀 Confucian Culture Studies
《儒家文化研究》, 1 (June, 2007) 49-55, Chinese.
This article appeared in the inaugural edition of the journal edited by Guo, Qiyong 郭齊
勇, Dean of the School of the Humanities, at Wuhan University and President of the International
Society for Chinese Philosophy.
“Unity in the Guodian” 郭店楚簡的大同思想 Bamboo and Silk Research 简帛研究, (2005) 1-6,
Chinese.
The journal is edited by Li, Xueqin 李學勤, Director, Institute of History, Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, and President of the National Association of Pre-Qin History.
“ ‘The Five Aspects of Conduct’ Introduction and Translation” Journal of the Royal Asiatic
Society 15:2 (2005), 179-198, English.
Book Chapter:
“How Guodian and Received Texts Use Humanity and Righteousness Differently,” in Gu
wenzixue lungao 古文字學論稿, ed. Zhang, Guangyu 張光裕 and Huang, Dekuan 黃德寬 (Hefei:
Anhui Daxue, 2008), 354-79. Editorial review
Conference Proceedings:
“Can an Understanding of Guodian Manuscripts Help Bridge Divisions in Chinese Buddhism?”
in Proceedings of the Second World Buddhist Forum 第二屆世界佛教論壇論文集 (Beijing:
Preparatory Office of the World Buddhist Forum 世界佛教論壇籌備辦公室, 2009), 361-72.
Invitation
Book Review:
Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall, Focusing the Familiar: A Translation and Philosophical
Interpretation of the Zhongyong (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2001). Review published in the
Journal of Chinese Philosophy 31.1 (March 2004), pages 129-131. Editorial review
Professional Conferences and Lectures:
“Truths and Higher Truths in ‘Xing zi mingchu’” (invitation) Inspirations and Challenges
from Silk and Bamboo-slip Texts: Philosophical Investigation Based on Based on
Interdisciplinary Researches, Renmin University, Beijing China (co-sponsored by
the Chinese University of Hong Kong, National Taiwan University, and Renmin
University), October 28-30, 2011.
“The Transition from Immanent to Transcendent: Situating Religion in the ‘Xing zi mingchu’
between the Analects and the Dao de jing” (invitation) Columbia University Early China
Seminar, October 1, 2011
“Ritual as a Marker of Religious Community in Pre-Qin China” (refereed on basis of abstract)
appearing on a panel Ritual and its Malcontents, Annual Meeting of the American
Academy of Religion, October 30-November 1, 2010.
“The Dao that Bridges the Human and the Cosmic in “Xing zi ming chu” (invitation)
Contemporary Reflections on Epistemological Issues, International Academic
Conference and Graduate Student Symposium, National Taiwan University September 79, 2010.
“The Perfection of Harmony in the Guodian and Shangbo ‘Xing zi ming chu’” (invitation)
Conference on Chinese Classics and Thought, Rutgers University (co-sponsored by
Rutgers University, National Taiwan University and Jilin University), June 28-29, 2010.
“先秦儒、道有清晰的分别吗？Is the Dao clearly distinguished in pre-Qin Confucianism?”
(invitation) Fudan University, June 10, 2010.
Was Dao seen as single or multiple, and how did this impact self-cultivation in Guodian
Manuscripts？（道是一抑或多？—兼談其對修身的影響）(invitation) East China
Normal University, May 31, 2010.
“Tracing Character Patterns in the Study of Recently Discovered Chinese Manuscripts”
(invitation) Carnegie Mellon University, February 8, 2010.
“Can an Understanding of Guodian Manuscripts Help Bridge Divisions in Chinese Buddhism?”
(invitation by Ven. Hsing-yun, founder of the Fo-kuang shan Temple and three
universities) Second World Buddhist Forum: Wuxi, China and Taipei, Taiwan March
26-April 2, 2009.
“Looking at the Early Development of Self-Cultivation in China from the Perspective of Newly
Excavated Manuscripts” 從新出土文獻看中國早期修行 (invitation) Nanhua University
南華大學 December 29, 2008.
“An inquiry into the ‘Xing zi mingchu’ from the perspective of the ‘Five Aspects of Conduct’” 從
《五行篇》的角度探討《性自命出》 Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities
and Social Science, National Taiwan University 國立臺灣大學，人文社會高等研究院
(invitation) December 24, 2008. This presentation resulted in the following publication
“An inquiry into the ‘Xing zi mingchu’ from the perspective of the ‘Five Aspects of
Conduct’” 從《五行篇》的角度探討《性自命出》Taiwan Journal of East Asian
Studies 臺灣東亞文明研究學刊, June 2009.
Respondent, panel on the End of Tokugawa History at the Southern Japan Seminar, Florida
International University Institute for Asian Studies, March 1, 2008
“How the Manuscripts Discovered at Guodian Challenge Traditional Views of China” (invitation)
The University of Arizona, February 18, 2008
“Early Confucian Syncretism” (refereed on basis of abstract) appeared on a panel I organized at
the American Academy of Religion Meeting November 19, 2007. The panel,
“Confucianism, What is at Stake in a Religion,” explored four aspects of the intellectual,
archaeological, and political environment that produced Confucianism.
“Guodian Religion” (invitation) Columbia University Early China Seminar, November 3, 2007
“Moral Transformation in the Analects and Dao De jing” (invitation) New York University, May
21, 2007
“The Rectification of Names in the Analects and Daodejing?” (refereed on basis of abstract)
American Academy of Religion, November 20, 2006
This presentation resulted in a book chapter that will be included in the Quest for
Morality in Early China.
《五行篇》的宗教觀 “Religion in ‘The Five aspects of Conduct’” (refereed on basis of
abstract) Wuhan University, International Conference on New Discoveries of Chu
Bamboo Slips June 27, 2006. This presentation resulted in the following publication:
“《五行篇》的宗教觀 Religion in “The Five aspects of Conduct”
《儒家文化研究》(Confucian Culture Studies), June, 2007.
“Confucian Government: A Nation of Families” (refereed on basis of abstract) Vanderbilt
University, the 47th American Association for Chinese Studies Conference, October
22nd 2005
“The Political Philosophy of Unity in Early China” (invitation) National Taiwan University, May
20th 2005. This presentation resulted in the following publication: “郭店楚簡的大同思
想 Unity in the Guodian,” Jianbo yanjiu 简帛研究 (Bamboo and Silk Research), 2005.
“Rhetorical Analysis of the Guodian Texts” (invitation) University of Pennsylvania, Conference
on Chinese Rhetoric, May 23-4 2004
“Harmony in the Guodian” (refereed on basis of abstract) Mount Holyoke College, Third
International Conference on Excavated Chinese Manuscripts: Confucianism Resurrected,
April 23–25 2004
“The Guodian Aristocracy–Meritocracy Hybrid” (refereed on basis of abstract) Annual Meeting
Association for Asian Studies. This paper appeared on the panel I organized entitled
“Principled Succession: Changing Perceptions of the Sage King in Early China,” March 5,
2004.
“Attaining Unity: a Prevalent Trend in Guodian Texts” (invitation) University of Massachusetts,
Warring States Working Group, December 7, 2003
“State–Family Relations in the Guodian Texts” (invitation) New York University, Early China
Roundtable, April 26, 2003
“The Guodian ‘Five Aspects of Conduct’ a Structural Methodology” (invitation) Columbia
University, University Seminar on Neo-Confucian Studies, February 7, 2003
“The recently discovered Confucian Wuxing text” (refereed on basis of abstract) Annual Meeting
Association for Asian Studies, March 11, 2000
“Structural Analysis of ‘The Five Aspects of Conduct’ ” (refereed on basis workshop application,
10 graduate students from North America were selected) University of Chicago, Creel
Workshop on Early Chinese Paleography, July 3-12, 2000
“The Wu-sying Document” (invitation) Lehigh University, Warring States Working Group,
October 9, 1999
“Argument Structure in Chapters 14:5 and 21:5 of the Springs and Autumns of Mr. Lyu”
(invitation) University of Massachusetts, Warring States Working Group, April 25, 1998
“Li Hua: Rediscovering a Founder of Neo-Confucianism” (refereed on basis of abstract) Ohio
State University, Midwest Conference on Asian History and Culture, March 18, 1998
“Benevolence in the Analects and Lu-shi ch’un ch’iu” (refereed on basis of abstract) Mid
Atlantic Regional Association for Asian Studies, October 26, 1997
Conferences/panels organized:
Conference on Art and Ritual in Asian Cultures
This was the second conference of the Center for Body, Mind, and Culture. I organized it
with the Center director, Richard Shusterman, and it took place on March 20-21, 2009.
The presentations included the following: Roger Ames (U of Hawaii) "Confucian Role
Ethics: Family Feeling as the Entry Point for Moral Competence"; Aoki, Takao,
(Hiroshima U, Japan) "The Japanese Art of Noh Theater"; Daniel Bass, (Lynn U) "
Dying Traditions and Living Culture in the Up-country of Sri Lanka"; Brian J. Bruya,
(Eastern Michigan U) " The Somatic Arts in China and their Conceptual Basis in
Ritual"; Michael Fuller, (U of California, Irvine) " 'I stand alone:' Historical Grounds for
the Role of Corporeal Selfhood in the Classical Chinese Poetic Tradition"; Paul Goldin,
(U of Pennsylvania) " Why Mozi Is Included in the Daoist Canon Or, Why There Is More
to Mohism Than Utilitarian Ethics"; Tomie Hahn, (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) "
Performing Biracial Embodying Ritual"; Kambayashi, Tsunemichi, (Ritsumeikan U,
Japan) "The Floral Aesthetics in the Middle Ages of Japan"; Krystyna Wilkoszewska, (U
of Krakow, Poland) "Woman's Body in the Japanese Aesthetics. The transcultural
approach."
Minding the Body: Transcultural and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
This inaugural conference of the Center for Body, Mind, and Culture was organized with
the Center director, Richard Shusterman. It took place March 29 and 30, 2007. Arthur C.
Danto, Johnsonian Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Columbia University and Art
Critic for The Nation, delivered a keynote presentation on "The Body in Philosophy and
Art."
The March 30 presentations included the following: Mark Johnson (U of Oregon) on
"The Meaning of the Body: Aesthetic Dimensions of Human Understanding"; Mark
Csikszentmihalyi (U of Wisconsin at Madison) on "Material Virtue: Ethics and the Body
in Early China"; Shaun Gallagher (U of Central Florida) on "Pathologies of the Lived
Body"; Jane Caputi (Florida Atlantic U) on "The Pornography of Everyday Life"; and
Marlaine Smith (Florida Atlantic U) on "Touch as Therapy"; as well as commentary and
full-panel discussion with additional faculty.
Confucianism, What is at Stake in a Religion
This panel was part of the Annual American Academy of Religion Meeting in San Diego,
November 19, 2007. It explored four aspects of the intellectual, archaeological and
political environment that produced Confucianism. By working in an interdisciplinary
manner we provided a robust answer to the question of what is at stake in Confucianism
as a religion. Naturally, these papers related to the foundation of religion even beyond
Confucianism, since later traditions such as Buddhism were transformed by making
contact with perpetual elements of this early tradition.
The panel was presided over by Keith Knapp (The Citadel) and featured lectures by Yu
Jiang (Florida Atlantic U) on “Tomb Space and Burial Goods in the Western-Zhou Date
Yu Cemetery,” Soon-ja Yang (U of Pennsylvania) on “Li and Fa in the Hands of NonConfucian Political Philosophers,” Brian Bruya (Eastern Michigan University) on
“Spontaneity in Confucian Self-cultivation,” and Kenneth Holloway on “Early Confucian
Syncretism.” The respondent was Mark Csikszentmihalyi (U Wisconsin, Madison).
Topics and Themes in Asian Philosophy and Thought
This was the first conference I organized was on March 31, 2006, and I worked with
Clevis Headley of the Department of Philosophy at Florida Atlantic University. The
conference featured the following papers: Paul Goldin (U of Pennsylvania) on “The Myth
That China Has No Creation Myth;” Yu Jiang (Florida Atlantic U) on “Subordination and
Filial Piety in Western Zhou Bronze Inscriptions;” and Moss Roberts (NYU) on “Why
Confucius eschewed religion.” Additional papers were presented by faculty at Florida
Atlantic University. Respondents were Richard Shusterman, Eminent Scholar &
Professor of philosophy, (Florida Atlantic U), Steven Heine, (Florida International U),
and Kenneth Holloway.
Principled Succession: Changing Perceptions of the Sage King in Early China
This is a panel I organized at the Annual Meeting Association for Asian Studies, in San
Diego on March 5, 2004. Government debates in early China often cited sage kings
when discussing important ideals. From the early Zhou through the Han, the lessons
drawn from these ancient figures underwent a continuous evolution. Recently discovered
bronze and bamboo texts have added to our understanding of this phenomenon.
Examining this requires an interdisciplinary approach that includes religion, material
culture, political history, philosophy, and hermeneutics. Our panel began with the
religious and political contexts of the traditional Zhou rites of succession, and the
evolving role of Yu in cultic practices. Next, in the Guodian texts, the Yao-Shun myth
was used to argue for the harmonization of meritocratic and aristocratic methods of
government. This was followed by a discussion in the Mencius of family-anti-family
aspects of the legend of Yao’s abdication to Shun. Finally, in the Han, the Yao-Shun
myth becomes an active part of succession debates, ultimately resulting in Wang Mang
claiming descent from Shun to support his claim of legitimacy over the Han royal house,
which had come to be associated with Yao.
The panel was presided over by John S. Major (independent), and featured papers by the
following: Constance A. Cook, (Lehigh U) “Sage King Yu, a Sacred Vessel, and the Way
of the Former Kings: Zhou Period Sacrilege or Just Another Ancestor?” Kenneth W.
Holloway “The Guodian Aristocracy-Meritocracy Hybrid,” Moss Roberts (NYU)
“Mencius’ Treatment of the Yao Shun Legend,” Gopal Sukhu (CUNY, Queens) “The
Myth of Yao and Shun in the Evolution of Han Political Ideology.” The discussant was
Sarah Allan (Dartmouth).
Courses Taught at Florida Atlantic University:
Please note that every class I teach contains a significant writing component. This includes my
History of Civilization class, where half the grade is based on the writing and revising of a term
paper.
Seminar in Early Chinese Intellectual History (WOH 6937) spring 2011
History of Civilization 1 (WOH 2012), spring 2011
Women in Asian History (ASH 3384), spring 2011
History of Modern China (ASH 4404), fall 2010
Zen and Buddhsim (ASH 4603)
Religion in East Asian History (ASH 4930)
Senior Seminar (HIS 4935), fall 2009
China: Tradition and Transformation (ASH 4930.2), fall 2009
Anarchism in Ancient China (ASH 4930.1), fall 2009
Seminar in World History (WOH 6937), spring 2009
Confucianism and Human Rights (ASH 4930), spring 2009
Introduction to Historical Study (HIS 3150), spring 2009
History of East Asia (ASH 3300), fall 2008
History of Civilization 1 (WOH 2012), fall 2008
History of Modern Japan (ASH 4442), spring 2008
Introduction to Historical Study (HIS 3150), spring 2008
History of Eastern Ideas (ASH 4600), spring 2008
Readings: Non-Western History (WOH 5935), fall 2007
Women in Chinese History (ASH 4930), spring 2007
Early History of Japan (ASH 4930), spring 2007
History of Civilization 1 (WOH 2012), spring 2007
Senior Seminar (HIS 4935), fall 2006
Modern China (ASH 4404), fall 2006
History of Eastern Ideas (ASH 4600), spring 2006
Introduction to Japanese History (ASH 4442), spring 2006
History of Civilization 1 (WOH 2012), spring 2006
Introduction to Asian History (ASH 4930), fall 2005
Readings: Non-Western History (WOH 5935), fall 2005
Women in Chinese History (ASH 4930), spring 2005
History of Modern Japan (ASH 4442), spring 2005
History of Civilization 1 (WOH 2012), spring 2005
History of East Asia (ASH 3300), fall 2004
History of Modern China (ASH 4404), fall 2004
Awards:
2005 and 2006 Summer Scholarship Award
2006-2007 Frances Edelman Fellowship
2010-2012 NEH Title 6A grant
Service:
Institute of International Education, National Security Education Program, David L. Boren
Graduate Fellowships reviewer 2011
American Academy of Religion Confucian Studies Group Steering Committee 2010-present
Co-directed NEH Title 6A grant 2010-2011, I am on sabbatical the second year of the grant so I
have an interim director to fill in my responsibilities. I gave up my involvement with the Center
for Body Mind and Culture to pursue this grant.
Faculty advisor for Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society 2006-2011
Founding Director of Florida Atlantic University Asian Studies Certificate program 2008-2011
2006-2007 Founding Member of the Board of Directors, Florida Chapter of the Chinese
Language Teacher’s Association; received their Service Award
Graduate and undergraduate curriculum committee, Department of History, Florida Atlantic
University 2006-2011
I have given four lectures to high school students and three community lectures since arriving at
Florida Atlantic University. In addition, I have lectured on my first book Guodian at the
University of Pennsylvania Bookstore, and at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach.
Memberships in Academic Organizations:
American Historical Association
American Academy of Religion
Association for Asian Studies
The Society for the Study of Early China
University Seminar on Early China, Columbia University
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Alpha Theta, National History Honor Society
Phi Sigma Iota, International Foreign Language Honor Society
Gold Key International Honor Society
Foreign Languages:
My reading knowledge of classical Chinese and Japanese is a cornerstone of my research. In
addition, I speak, read, and write Mandarin Chinese with native fluency.
Citizenship:
United States, United Kingdom