Chinese Psychology Perspectives: Indigenous Traditions and Modern Research

A structured research document on Chinese-originated psychological traditions, key institutions, scholars, and concepts that differentiate Chinese psychology from Western approaches.

1. Chinese Psychological Society (CPS) — 中国心理学会

Overview

The Chinese Psychological Society (CPS) is the national professional organization for psychology in China, founded in 1921 (originally as the Chinese Psychological Association). It currently has nearly 9,000 members with local psychological societies in 31 provinces and provincial districts.

Official Resources

Official Website (Chinese): https://cpschina.org/
Official Website (English): https://english.psysoc.org.cn/
Contact: [email protected]
Current President: Su Yanjie (Peking University)
Secretary-General: Sun Xianghong (Institute of Psychology, CAS)

Key Publications

1. Acta Psychologica Sinica (心理学报)

ISSN: 0439-755X
Frequency: Monthly
Sponsors: Chinese Psychological Society & Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Publisher: Science Press
Language: Chinese (with English abstracts)
Website: https://journal.psych.ac.cn/acps/
Description: Flagship journal of CPS; publishes peer-reviewed research in cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, physiological psychology, and psychological measurement

2. Psychological Science (心理科学)

ISSN: 1671-6981
Frequency: Bi-monthly
Sponsors: Chinese Psychological Society
Host: East China Normal University
History: Founded 1964 as “Psychological Science Bulletin”; resumed publication 1981; renamed 1991
Website: https://jps.ecnu.edu.cn/EN/
Description: Covers all branches of psychology with focus on empirical research

Additional CPS Journals

Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology (中国临床心理学杂志) — ISSN: 1005-3611
Focus: Clinical psychology, psychological assessment, counseling, psychotherapy

2. Indigenous Chinese Psychology Concepts

心理学 (Xinlixue) — The Chinese Concept of Psychology

The term “心理学” (xinlixue) literally translates to “study of the heart/mind-principle,” reflecting a holistic view that integrates: - Heart (心 xin) — Not just emotion but the seat of cognition and moral awareness - Mind-matter unity — No Cartesian dualism; psychological and physiological are intertwined - Relational self — Identity defined through relationships, not individual traits

Confucian Psychology — 儒家心理学

Core Concepts

Ren (仁) — Benevolence/Humaneness
- Central moral virtue emphasizing empathy and care for others
- Foundation of all other virtues
- Source: Analects of Confucius
Filial Piety (孝 Xiao)
- Core pillar of Confucian ethics
- Specifies moral norms for parent-child relationships
- Dual model: Reciprocal (emotional) and Authoritarian (hierarchical) aspects
- Research: Yeh & Yang’s Dual Filial Piety Model
- Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00100
Five Cardinal Relationships (五伦)
- Ruler-subject, father-son, husband-wife, elder-younger sibling, friend-friend
- Each with specific obligations and emotional bonds
- Shapes Chinese social cognition and moral reasoning
Self-Cultivation (修身 Xiushen)
- Lifelong moral and psychological development
- Integration of personal growth with family and social harmony

Confucian Relationalism (儒家关系主义)

Developed by Hwang Kwang-Kuo
Framework for understanding Chinese social behavior through expressive ties and resource allocation
Contrasts with Western market-pricing individualism
Source: Hwang, K.K. (2012). Foundations of Chinese Psychology

Daoist Approaches to Mind — 道家心理学

Core Practices

Neiye (内业 — “Inward Training”)
- Possibly the oldest mystical text in China (4th century BCE)
- Manual on meditation theory and practice
- Earliest references to breath control and physiological basis of self-cultivation
Qigong (气功 — “Life Energy Cultivation”)
- Body-mind exercise combining movement, breathing, and meditation
- Daoist philosophy integrated with physical practice
- Used for health, meditation, and martial arts training
Xinzhai (心斋 — “Fasting of the Heart/Mind”)
- From Zhuangzi (庄子)
- Mental state of emptiness and receptivity
- Contemporary applications in psychotherapy
- Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10892680241306052
Taijiquan (太极拳)
- Internal martial art as moving meditation
- Balance of yin and yang energies
- Brain structure and function research at Institute of Psychology, CAS

Daoist Psychological Principles

Wu Wei (无为) — Effortless action; non-forcing
Ziran (自然) — Naturalness; spontaneity
Yin-Yang balance — Psychological health through dynamic equilibrium
Qi cultivation — Working with vital energy for mental and physical health

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Psychology

Integration of body-mind-spirit
Seven emotions (七情) as causes of illness
Treatment through acupuncture, herbs, and meditation
Connection between organ systems and emotions

3. Key Chinese Psychology Academics (Publishing in English & Chinese)

Founders of Chinese Indigenous Psychology

1. Yang Kuo-Shu (杨国枢, 1932–2018)

Title: “Father of Chinese Indigenous Psychology”
Affiliation: National Taiwan University
Contributions:
- Led 40-year movement for psychological indigenization in Chinese societies
- Studied unique Chinese phenomena: yuanfen (緣分), filial piety, guanxi, face
- Argued Western psychology is “indigenous psychology for Americans/Westerners”
- Co-edited: Indigenous and Cultural Psychology (2006, Springer)
Key Works:
- Chinese Indigenized Psychology (2008)
- The Chinese Self: A Psychological Analysis (2008)
Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jhbs.70044

2. Hwang Kwang-Kuo (黄光国)

Affiliation: National Taiwan University
Contributions:
- Developed “Confucian Relationalism” theory
- Face and Favor model (Chinese power game)
- Framework for understanding Chinese social exchange
Key Work: Foundations of Chinese Psychology: Confucian Social Relations (2012)
Publisher: Springer
Source: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4614-1439-1

3. Yeh Kuang-Hui (叶光辉)

Affiliation: Academia Sinica, Taiwan
Contributions:
- Dual Filial Piety Model
- Integration of historical, philosophical, and social trends in Chinese psychology
- Cross-cultural parent-child relationship research
Source: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-35125-0_3

Contemporary Mainland Chinese Scholars

4. Su Yanjie (苏彦捷)

Position: President, Chinese Psychological Society (2023–present)
Affiliation: Peking University, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences
Research: Theory of mind, child development, social cognition
Publications: Social Development, Research in Developmental Disabilities
Profile: https://www.psy.pku.edu.cn/english/people/faculty/professor/yanjiesu/

5. Zhang Zhiyong (张智勇)

Affiliation: Peking University
Research: Cross-cultural psychology, social cognition, cultural differences in self and affect
Citations: 16,000+
Publications: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Asian Journal of Social Psychology
Profile: https://www.psy.pku.edu.cn/english/people/faculty/associate_professor/zhiyongzhang/

6. Fu Xiaolan (傅小兰)

Affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Position: Director-level researcher
Research: Cognitive psychology, brain and cognitive science
Profile: https://people.ucas.ac.cn/~fu?language=en

7. Jing Qicheng (荆其诚, 1926–2008)

Contributions: Pioneer of modern Chinese psychology; historical documentation
Key Work: Psychology in China (2001) — The Corsini Encyclopedia
Source: https://www.srcd.org/sites/default/files/file-attachments/jing_qicheng_cv.pdf

Hong Kong & International Scholars

8. Fanny Cheung (张妙清)

Affiliation: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Contributions:
- Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory (CPAI)
- Editor, Asian Journal of Social Psychology
- Cross-cultural personality assessment

9. Kwok Leung (梁觉)

Affiliation: City University of Hong Kong
Research: Cross-cultural psychology, face and renqing in innovative behavior
Key Publication: “The role of relational orientation as measured by face and renqing in innovative behavior in China”
Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10490-011-9277-1

4. Chinese Psychology Journals Publishing in English

Tier 1: Full English Publication

1. PsyCh Journal

Publisher: Wiley (jointly with Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
ISSN: 2046-0260
Launch: 2012
Significance: China’s first English-language academic journal of psychology
Description: Flagship journal of Institute of Psychology, CAS; bridges knowledge gap between China and global psychology
Scope: All areas of psychology with emphasis on research relevant to Chinese populations
Website: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20460260

2. Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies (JPCS)

Publisher: Chinese University Press & Hong Kong Psychological Society
ISSN: 1563-3403 (Print); 2224-7866 (Online)
Frequency: Bi-annual
Focus: Psychology of Chinese people globally
Chinese Title: 華人心理學報 (Hua ren xin li xue bao)
Website: https://cup.cuhk.edu.hk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=3054

Publisher: Wiley (on behalf of Asian Association of Social Psychology)
Focus: Social psychology in Asian contexts, including Chinese societies
Editorial Leadership: Fanny Cheung (CUHK)
Website: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1467839x

Tier 2: Chinese with English Abstracts/International Indexing

4. Acta Psychologica Sinica (心理学报)

Indexing: SCI/SSCI (selected articles)
English abstracts: All articles
Website: https://journal.psych.ac.cn/acps/EN/

5. Psychological Science (心理科学)

Indexing: Major international databases
English abstracts: Single-page abstracts for all articles
Website: https://jps.ecnu.edu.cn/EN/

6. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology (中国临床心理学杂志)

ISSN: 1005-3611
Focus: Clinical psychology, assessment, counseling
Indexed: Major Chinese and international databases

5. How Chinese Psychology Differs from Western Approaches

Fundamental Philosophical Differences

Dimension	Chinese Psychology	Western Psychology
Self-construal	Interdependent, relational	Independent, autonomous
Mental location	Heart-mind unity (心)	Brain/mind as separate
Epistemology	Holistic, contextual	Analytic, reductionist
Ethics base	Relationship-oriented	Individual rights-oriented
Development goal	Harmony, balance	Self-actualization

Key Indigenous Concepts

1. Face (面子 Mianzi / 脸 Lian)

Mianzi: Social prestige achieved through success and position
Lian: Moral face; sense of shame and moral character
Psychological function: Regulates social behavior through fear of losing face
Research: Hwang (1987) “Face and Favor: The Chinese Power Game”
Difference from West: Face is collective and relational, not individual self-esteem

2. Guanxi (关系) — Personal Connections

Definition: Network of interpersonal relationships built on reciprocity
Psychological mechanism: Renqing obligations; long-term relationship investment
Function: Resource allocation, trust building, social support
Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1572052

3. Renqing (人情) — Human Feelings/Reciprocity

Definition: Norm of reciprocity; social debt and obligation
Components:
- Expressive renqing: Genuine emotional bonds
- Utilitarian renqing: Instrumental social exchange
Difference from West: Social exchange governed by affective bonds, not market logic

4. Collectivism & Family Systems

Family as psychological unit: Individual identity subsumed under family
Intergenerational interdependence: Adult children support parents (filial obligation)
Decision-making: Family consultation, not individual autonomy
Mental health: Family harmony as indicator of individual well-being

5. Yuanfen (緣分) — Predestined Affinity

Concept: Serendipitous relational connection; fated meeting
Psychological function: Explains relationship formation and dissolution
Research: Yang Kuo-Shu’s studies on Chinese relationship beliefs

6. Harmony (和 He / 和谐 Hexie)

Goal: Conflict avoidance, social equilibrium
Methods: Indirect communication, saving face for others
Psychological cost: Suppressed emotions, but social cohesion maintained
Measurement: CPAI (Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory) includes harmony scale

Research Methodology Differences

Indigenous Psychology Approach

Emic (insider) perspective: Concepts derived from Chinese language and culture
Contextualized methods: Research tools developed locally
Integration: Philosophy, history, and psychology combined

CPAI (Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory)

Developed by Fanny Cheung et al. at CUHK
Includes indigenous dimensions: Harmony, Face, Renqing
Demonstrates Western Big Five doesn’t capture Chinese personality fully

6. Modern Chinese Psychology Research Hubs

Tier 1: National Research Institutes

1. Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IPCAS)

Location: Beijing
Founded: 1929 (originally Institute of Psychology, Academia Sinica)
Website: http://english.psych.cas.cn/
Structure:
- Division of Mental Health and Behavior Genetics
- Division of Cognitive and Developmental Psychology
- Division of Social and Engineering Psychology
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health
Key Research:
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Mental health and clinical psychology
- PsyCh Journal publication
Staff: 200+ researchers
Unique feature: Only national psychology research institute in China

Tier 2: Top University Departments

2. Peking University — School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences

Location: Beijing
Founded: 1978 (first psychology department in post-Cultural Revolution China)
Website: https://www.psy.pku.edu.cn/english/
Research Strengths:
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Social and cultural psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Clinical and counseling psychology
Key Labs: Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health
Notable Faculty: Su Yanjie (President, CPS), Zhang Zhiyong

3. Beijing Normal University (BNU) — Faculty of Psychology

Location: Beijing
Website: http://bnupsych.bnu.edu.cn/tabid/301/Default.aspx
Ranking: Consistently ranked #1 in China for psychology
Key Facilities:
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning
- Beijing Municipality Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology
- National psychology basic experimental teaching demonstration center
Research: Learning science, developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience

Tier 3: Regional Centers

4. East China Normal University (ECNU) — School of Psychology and Cognitive Science

Location: Shanghai
Founded: 1951
Website: https://english.ecnu.edu.cn/
Significance: Hosts Psychological Science journal
Programs: 30+ doctoral programs, extensive research collaboration

5. South China Normal University

Location: Guangzhou
Founded: 1951
Focus: Applied psychology, educational psychology

6. Zhejiang Normal University — School of Psychology

Location: Jinhua
Founded: 2000 (School established 2022)
Website: https://xlxy.zjnu.edu.cn/xlen/main.htm
Features:
- National first-class undergraduate program in applied psychology
- Strong doctoral program
Notable Faculty: Zhou Xiaolin (former CPS president)

7. Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) — Department of Psychology

Location: Hong Kong
Website: https://www.psy.cuhk.edu.hk/
Contributions:
- CPAI development
- Cross-cultural psychology research
- JPCS publication
Research: Indigenous personality assessment, social psychology

International Collaboration Centers

8. Sino-Finnish Joint Learning Innovation Institute

Partners: Beijing Normal University, Finnish universities
Focus: Educational psychology, learning innovation
Conference: Annual Sino-Finnish Joint Learning Innovation Institute Conference

7. Cross-Cultural Psychology Frameworks Bridging East-West

Theoretical Frameworks

1. Indigenous and Cultural Psychology Framework

Key Text: Kim, U., Yang, K.S., & Hwang, K.K. (Eds.). (2006). Indigenous and Cultural Psychology: Understanding People in Context
Publisher: Springer
Approach: Understanding people within their cultural context
Three Research Traditions:
1. Universalist approach
2. Contextualist approach
3. Integrationist approach
Source: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/0-387-28662-4

2. Constructive Realism

Proponent: Fritz G. Wallner
Application: Indigenous psychology epistemology
Concept: Multiple realities constructed through cultural lenses

3. Transactional Approach

Proponents: Uichol Kim, Young-Shin Park
Focus: Dynamic interaction between person and context
Application: Scientific foundation for indigenous psychology

Comparative Frameworks

4. Individualism-Collectivism Spectrum

Pioneers: Hofstede, Triandis
Chinese Position: Collectivist with relational orientation
Critique from Indigenous Psychology: Too simplistic; misses guanxi, face, renqing nuances

5. Self-Construal Theory

Independent vs. Interdependent Self
Chinese elaboration: Relational self (关系自我) — defined through specific relationships
Researcher: Wang & Cui on Chinese self-construal

6. Dual Filial Piety Model

Researchers: Yeh & Yang
Two Dimensions:
- Reciprocal filial piety (affective bonds)
- Authoritarian filial piety (hierarchical obligations)
Application: Global personality construct
Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00100

Assessment Tools

7. Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory (CPAI)

Developers: Fanny Cheung et al., CUHK
Features:
- Indigenous scales: Harmony, Face, Renqing
- Interpersonal relatedness factor
- Demonstrates incremental validity over Western measures
Versions: CPAI, CPAI-2, CPAI-A (adolescent)
Website: https://cpaiweb.psy.cuhk.edu.hk/

8. Cross-Cultural Personality Assessment Inventory (CPAI-2)

Extensions: Adapted for use in multiple Asian cultures
Validation: Demonstrates universality and cultural specificity

Research Networks

9. International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP)

China involvement: Regular Chinese delegate participation
Publications: Support for indigenous psychology research
Website: https://www.iaccp.org/

Journal: Asian Journal of Social Psychology
Focus: Regional indigenous research dissemination

Integration Models

11. Cultural-Ecological Psychology

Developer: Yang Kuo-Shu
Focus: Cultural change and psychological adaptation
Application: Explaining rapid social change in Chinese societies

12. Relational Orientation Theory

Developers: Leung, Chen, Zhou, Lim
Components: Face and renqing as predictors of behavior
Application: Innovative behavior in Chinese organizations
Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10490-011-9277-1

Emerging Frameworks

13. Ubuntu + Confucian Comparative Framework

Recent development: Cross-cultural psychology embracing diverse epistemologies
Concept: African Ubuntu philosophy + Chinese Confucianism vs. Western individualism
Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1368663

14. Global Psychology from Indigenous Perspectives

Volume: Sundararajan, Hwang, & Yeh (Eds.) — Visions Inspired by K.S. Yang
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020
Approach: Multiple indigenous psychologies in dialogue

Key Sources and References

Books

Hwang, K.K. (2012). Foundations of Chinese Psychology: Confucian Social Relations. Springer.
Kim, U., Yang, K.S., & Hwang, K.K. (Eds.). (2006). Indigenous and Cultural Psychology: Understanding People in Context. Springer.
Yang, K.S., & Lu, L. (Eds.). (2008). The Chinese Self: A Psychological Analysis. National Taiwan University Press.

Key Articles

Hwang, K.K. (1987). Face and favor: The Chinese power game. American Journal of Sociology, 92, 944-974.
Yeh, K.H., & Yang, K.S. (2019). The history and future of the psychology of filial piety. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 100.
Zhang, J., & Xu, A. (2007). Psychology in China and the Chinese Psychological Society. Japanese Psychological Research, 49(3), 186-194.

Official Websites

Chinese Psychological Society: https://cpschina.org/
Institute of Psychology, CAS: http://english.psych.cas.cn/
Acta Psychologica Sinica: https://journal.psych.ac.cn/acps/
PsyCh Journal: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20460260

Research Notes

What Makes Chinese Psychology Different

The most significant distinction is the relational orientation of Chinese psychology: - The self is fundamentally interdependent - Social harmony is a psychological goal - Face, guanxi, and renqing are central psychological mechanisms - Filial piety shapes development across the lifespan - Western constructs like “self-esteem” and “individual autonomy” have limited applicability

Research Gaps to Explore

Digital technology’s impact on guanxi and face in contemporary China
Cross-generational changes in filial piety beliefs
Integration of TCM psychological concepts with modern practice
Daoist meditation techniques in clinical psychology
Rural vs. urban differences in indigenous psychological concepts

Document compiled: March 3, 2026 Focus: Indigenous Chinese psychology perspectives — NOT Western studies of China