A Guided Reading of Classics in Classical Philology

漆永祥Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. · ChinaMar 2026

Rating 4.2
Word count
143K words
Chapters
48
ISBN
9787559642776

Tags

Literary Appreciation Humanistic CareAcademic MonographAcademic StudyTraditional AestheticsEclectic ReadingCultural Change

Summary

This book selects representative and authoritative writings or essays by important twentieth-century philologists such as Wang Guowei, Yu Jiaxi, Wang Zhongmin, Chen Yuan, and Wang Li. It is divided into ten categories—general philology, paleography, phonology, exegesis, bibliography, textual criticism (editions), collation, compilation of lost texts, authentication of forgeries, and other disciplines—with thirty-five selections in total. Through close reading and analysis, it provides detailed commentary and explanation, aiming to guide readers. For undergraduates and graduate students in philology and related fields, beginners in philology, and enthusiasts of traditional culture, it has positive social benefits and constructive value in improving the ability to read classical documents, cultivating basic grounding in Chinese studies, and fostering an appreciation of traditional culture.

Editor's review

This book selects representative writings of twentieth-century masters of classical philology, organized by category—general philology, paleography, phonology, exegesis, bibliography, textual criticism of editions, collation, compilation of lost texts, and authentication of forgeries—with thirty-five selections in total, each accompanied by close-reading analysis and commentary. Its value lies not in proposing new theories but in gathering classic discussions scattered across various sources so that readers can follow the scholarly paths of earlier masters and understand the overall landscape of classical philology and the connections among its branches. The selections balance authority and readability; the commentary focuses on guiding readers into the texts, helping beginners build a map of the discipline and allowing students in related fields to strengthen weak areas by category. Suitable as a supplementary reader alongside coursework or for reading group study selection by selection; for enthusiasts of traditional culture, it can serve as a transition from casual reading to methodical reading. Note that this is an introductory guide and cannot replace complete study of the original classics.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Not a good fit for

Reading tips

  1. Begin with the general theory section to build an overall framework, then proceed through catalog studies, textual criticism and collation in order.
  2. For each piece, read the selected text first, then the commentary, and finally summarize its core method in your own words.
  3. Keep a notebook organized by category to excerpt terms and representative scholars' views, forming a personal subject index.
  4. Divide the reading among classmates or a reading group, with each person leading discussion of one category of selections each week.

About the publisher

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. China · Founded in 1993

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 绪言
  3. 一 文献学通论
  4. 《中国文献学概要·结集》
  5. 《中国文献学·古代文献的基本情况》
  6. 《古文献学的内涵与意义》
  7. 二 文字学
  8. 《战国时秦用籀文六国用古文说》
  9. 《古文字学导论》
  10. 《考古发现的秦汉文字资料对于校读古籍的重要性》
  11. 三 音韵学
  12. 《清代古音学·结论》
  13. 《古音系研究·研究古音系的方法》之“分部”和“审音”
  14. 《声类疏证·前言》
  15. 四 训诂学
  16. 《古书句读释例·当读而失读》
  17. 《训诂学·训诂学几个重要的原则》
  18. 《漫谈古书的注释》
  19. 五 目录学
  20. 《目录学发微》
  21. 《〈明史·艺文志〉与补史艺文志的兴起》
  22. 《中国目录学史·历史目录》
  23. 六 版本学
  24. 《书林清话·宋建安余氏刻书》
  25. 《书目学论考》《汉籍整理法》《中国版本目录学书籍解题》
  26. 《读〈相台书塾刊正九经三传沿革例〉》
  27. 《古籍版本学·清中期刻本的善本问题》
  28. 七 校勘学
  29. 《元典章校补释例》
  30. 《斠雠学·校书的甘苦》
  31. 《校勘学》
  32. 《校勘学大纲》
  33. 八 辑佚学
  34. 《中国近三百年学术史·清代学者整理旧学之总成绩·辑佚书》
  35. 《古小说钩沉·汉武故事》
  36. 九 辨伪学
  37. 《从汉语史的角度来鉴定中国古籍写作年代的一个实例——〈列子〉著述年代考》
  38. 《孟姜女的故事转变》
  39. 十 其他
  40. 《校雠广义·典藏篇·典藏学的建立》
  41. 《汉石经尚书残字集证·自序》
  42. 《殷墟卜辞综述·断代的分期及其标准》
  43. 《简帛佚籍与学术史·通论》
  44. 《敦煌艺术的源流与内容》
  45. 《地方史志不可偏废旧志资料不可轻信》
  46. 《学习整理中国古代音乐史料小记》
  47. 《漫谈大藏经》
  48. 后记

FAQ

Can I read this book without any background in bibliography? Yes, but a certain level of Classical Chinese reading ability is required. The selections are essays by twentieth-century scholars, relatively modern in language, and the commentaries serve to point the way. It is advisable to start with the general theory and catalog studies sections; when encountering unfamiliar terms, reread alongside the commentary rather than trying to master every piece from the outset.
Can this book replace a bibliography textbook? Not entirely. This is a guide combining classic selections with commentary, focused on presenting representative discussions and scholarly approaches rather than systematically laying out knowledge points in teaching order. It is better suited as a supplementary reader alongside a textbook, to deepen understanding of a particular branch or as extended course reading.
Do the thirty-five selections need to be read in order? Strict order is not necessary. The book is organized into ten categories that are related in knowledge but relatively independent. It is recommended to read the general theory first to build a framework, then choose branches according to your needs; if studying for a course, follow the teaching schedule and read the corresponding categories, then review the whole once at the end to form an overall understanding.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

漆永祥 Author

Qi Yongxiang has long been engaged in the research and teaching of Chinese classical philology and the academic history of the Qing dynasty, and his writing balances scholarly depth with readability. Nine of his works are included here, spanning academic monographs, guided readings of primary texts, college Chinese textbooks, and cultural essays. His representative work, A Study of Qianjia Textual Criticism (Revised and Expanded Edition), systematically traces the context and methods of textual scholarship during the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing dynasty, while The Record of Envoys' Travels and the Study of East Asian Historical Culture (2 volumes) extends the scope to cultural and historical exchange in East Asia. He has also edited or co-authored teaching materials such as Classic Guided Readings in Classical Philology, College Chinese (Second Edition), and The First Lesson in the Department of Chinese at Peking University (Second Edition), and has written note-style works including Notes on Qing Scholarship and Shuo Hu from the Purple Stone Studio. His plain, well-grounded style attends closely to documentary evidence. His works fall under categories such as literary appreciation, culture, examinations, and inspirational growth, and suit students and readers interested in literature and history. Because public information is limited, details of his personal life are not listed here.