مشرقی معاشروں میں اظہارِ جذبات و تاثرات: تاریخی ارتقا، تہذیبی تناظر اور معاصر رجحانات کا تحقیقی جائزہ

Expression of Emotions and Sentiments in Eastern Societies: A Historical, Cultural, and Contemporary Analytical Review

Abstract

The study of emotions and sentiments provides a valuable lens to understand the intellectual, cultural, and ethical orientations of human societies. Eastern civilizations—including Islamic, Indian, Chinese, and Persian—have historically regarded emotions not merely as psychological impulses but as reflections of moral obligations, spiritual ideals, and collective responsibilities. This paper offers a historical and analytical review of how emotions have been expressed, regulated, and valued in these societies from ancient to modern times. Pre-Islamic Arab culture celebrated emotions such as honor, bravery, anger, and love, linking them to tribal prestige and poetry, while softer emotions like forgiveness were undervalued. Indian civilization, through the “Rasa” theory, framed emotions as central to philosophy, art, and spirituality, viewing them as channels of cosmic and ethical balance. In Chinese traditions, Confucian thought emphasized moderation, self-discipline, and emotional harmony to strengthen social order. Persian civilization, influenced by Zoroastrian dualism, connected emotions with moral choices between good and evil. With the rise of Islam, emotions were restructured under a balanced ethical framework that integrated justice with compassion, courage with humility, and passion with restraint. In the contemporary era, Eastern societies encounter challenges from globalization, digital media, and modern ideologies that sometimes conflict with traditional norms of emotional expression. However, cultural continuity ensures that spiritual, moral, and collective dimensions of emotions remain significant. This research concludes that the Eastern approach to emotions is distinct in its synthesis of individual experience and collective responsibility, representing a unique civilizational perspective on human expression.