Introduction

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has significantly influenced global human rights discourse since its adoption in 1948. While Western traditions have primarily shaped human rights conceptions, there is ongoing debate about their compatibility with East Asian philosophies. In this volume, we discuss how Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism offer diverse perspectives on human rights, challenging the notion that they are exclusively Western. Also, our discussions attempt to include “new generation” human rights, such as the rights to privacy, environmental rights and epistemic rights, and their compatibility with East Asian thought. In brief, this edited volume aims to explore these various issues, contributing to a richer understanding of how East Asian philosophical traditions can inform and enhance global human rights dialogue. It seeks to provide comprehensive analyses and broaden the scope of human rights discussions within East Asian contexts.