New Chinese light shines on Hegel

A new Chinese version of Hegel's Collected Works is said to be the most precise edition of the German philosopher's writings.[Photo/China Daily]

He is widely recognized as having had a profound impact on philosophical thinking for 200 years, but the person and writings of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel have largely been neglected in recent decades in China.

The publication of a new series of books in Chinese may change that and re-establish the authority of a man whose ideas once held great sway in the country.

The first four volumes of the Chinese version of Hegel's Collected Works were recently published by People's Publishing House, after 10 years in the making. Five more volumes will be published over the next two years. There will be 20 volumes when the complete set finally sits on bookshelves.

Although the German philosopher's works have been published sporadically in China since the 1940s－the 1960s were particularly fertile in producing some excellent versions－no previous editions have been as comprehensive or as academically precise as the latest version, Xin Guangwei, editor-in-chief of People's Publishing House, said at a Beijing seminar about the new books last week.