This book is about the history of Chinese ideas of human rights.

1. Introduction; 2. Languages, concepts, and pluralism; 3. The consequences of pluralism; 4. The shift toward legitimate desires in neo-Confucianism; 5. Nineteenth century origins; 6. Dynamism in the early twentieth century; 7. Change, continuity, and convergence prior to 1949; 8. Engagement despite distinctiveness; 9. Conclusions.