Spiritual Tensions and Paths of Self-Understanding in Contemporary China: A Jungian Psychological Perspective in Dialogue with Chinese Traditional Culture

Abstract

Due to rapid social change, contemporary Chinese society is facing various forms of psychological stress and value-related tensions. Loneliness, identity confusion, and a sense of meaninglessness have become increasingly visible in recent years, especially among young people, and have attracted growing academic attention. Instead of treating these experiences simply as a “mental crisis,” this article suggests understanding them as part of an ongoing developmental process. Drawing mainly on Jungian analytical psychology, this study uses concepts such as individuation, the shadow, and the integration of opposites to interpret these experiences. At the same time, it places these ideas in conversation with Chinese traditional cultural resources, especially Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist thought, in order to form a more culturally grounded understanding. The article argues that many inner conflicts faced by contemporary young people are not signs of failure, but reflect a natural stage in psychological growth. Based on this perspective, the paper also discusses several practical paths of self-understanding, including reflective writing, creative expression, and everyday self-observation. Overall, this study attempts to provide a relatively accessible and localized framework for understanding psychological experience in contemporary China, combining modern psychological insight with traditional cultural wisdom.