Xingding Liu

Email: xingding.liu@unsw.edu.au

Supervisors: Karyn Lai, Yi Zheng

Liu Xingding commenced his scholarly pursuit in philosophy at the China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, where he was conferred his bachelor's degree (2016-2020) and master's degree (2020-2023). His academic excellence in these periods was marked by a rigorous investigation into early Chinese philosophical texts, especially Mengzi (孟子) and Wuxing (五行, 'Five Conducts'). His scholarly efforts have shed light on the archetype of the 'sage-king' within these works, culminating in a series of distinguished pre-doctoral accomplishments.

In 2024, Liu embarked on his Ph.D. at UNSW, supported by the University International Postgraduates Awards. Shifting his focus to the era of 'weijin xuanxue' (魏晉玄學, Neo-Daoism in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, 220-420), he now explores the intellectual landscape that seeks to extend the understanding of the 'sage-king' beyond the Confucian tradition. His research involves a critical interpretation of 'neisheng waiwang' (內聖外王, 'sageliness within and kingliness without'), which is central to his doctoral thesis. With philosophical analysis, Liu proposes to expound how Neo-Daoists integrate the sage-king’s inner commitment with his external political achievements in a harmonious synthesis, and, thereby, provides a nuanced re-interpretation of both the Neo-Daoist tradition and the ‘sageliness within and kingliness without’ concept.