Chinese Philosophical Therapies and Inner Healing

• In Event: Infusing Healing Energy into Education: Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian Insights

Abstract

This paper explores how Chinese philosophical traditions—particularly Confucianism, Daoism, and Chinese Buddhism—can contribute meaningfully to inner healing and mental well-being, especially among youth. Against the backdrop of a global mental health crisis affecting adolescents in both China and the West, the paper highlights how traditional psychological services are overwhelmed and insufficient, particularly in China where trained mental health professionals are scarce. It argues that philosophical approaches, especially those rooted in Chinese wisdom traditions, offer a culturally resonant and practical supplement—especially within schools.

Author

• Leonard J. Waks, Qufu Normal University, Shandong China