Lilac

Meng SenJul 2024

4.2

Word count: 9.8K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early forms of thought have their own distinctive character: religious theology, medical classics, ancient military texts, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and arcane studies, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and topography are all vast and profound in content. This series, "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts," preserves the original appearance of the books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

This book, titled after the lilac, belongs to the series "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts" and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. The editors preserve the original appearance of the book so that readers can come into direct contact with the literary essence left by ancient sages. Its content touches on a broad range of fields: religious theology, medical classics, ancient military texts, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and arcane studies, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and topography, presenting the originality and literary quality of early forms of thought. Readers need not rush through it; it can be treated as an anthology of traditional culture, to be leafed through slowly in leisure time, cultivating the temperament through classic texts and quietly experiencing the appeal of Chinese learning. It is suitable as an introductory reader for general readers curious about traditional culture, and also for readers with some grounding who wish to review and renew their knowledge. Note that the book focuses on preserving the original appearance and may not provide detailed annotations for difficult words and phrases; readers may wish to consult reference works alongside it.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers curious about traditional Chinese culture who wish to gain a preliminary understanding of the Chinese classics.
Literature lovers who enjoy reading the essence of ancient literature and value the original appearance of the text.
Readers who wish to cultivate their temperament through classic reading and engage in slow, self-directed study.
Readers who need an anthology of traditional culture as material for daily browsing.

Not a good fit for

Scholars of Chinese learning expecting systematic academic textual criticism or detailed annotations.
Readers hoping for tightly plotted modern novels or popular stories.
People impatient with classical Chinese and ancient thought who seek fast reading.

Reading tips

Begin by browsing the table of contents and start with chapters that interest you; there is no need to read straight through in order.
Keep a reference work on classical Chinese at hand and look up difficult words as you encounter them.
Read a short passage each day and write a sentence or two of reflection afterward to help absorb the content.
Read alongside other anthologies in the same series to appreciate different facets of traditional culture.

版权信息
丁香花
一
二

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no grounding in Chinese classics?

It can serve as an introductory browsing text, but since the book preserves the original appearance, some classical Chinese expressions may require reference works. It is best to start with chapters that interest you and not insist on reading straight through; the point is to appreciate the literary quality and thought of the classic texts.

What range of content does this book include?

According to the source materials, it touches on religious theology, medical classics, ancient military texts, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and arcane studies, the Twenty-Four Histories, local customs and topography, and other traditional cultural content. It is a comprehensive anthology of Chinese learning; for specific selections, refer to the original book.

Do I need to read this book in order from beginning to end?

No. The book focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture; the pieces are relatively independent, so readers may choose according to interest or use it as a volume for casual daily browsing, returning repeatedly to favorite chapters.

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About the author

Meng Sen Author · China · 1869–1938

Meng Sen (1869–1938), courtesy name Sunsun and literary name Xinshi, was a native of Wujin, Jiangsu, and one of the founders of the modern discipline of Qing history. He studied law and political science in Japan in his early years, and after the founding of the Republic of China turned to historical research, teaching successively at Central University and Peking University. He pioneered the study of the Manchu founding period and of Ming and Qing dynastic history. His representative works include Lectures on Qing History, Lectures on Ming History, and A Comprehensive Chronicle of the Ming, Yuan, and Qing Lineages. This library holds twenty of his works, including The Early History of the Qing and the Old Peking University lecture series. His dynastic-history lectures are clearly organized and firmly grounded in textual criticism, with attention to institutional change and source analysis; they have long been regarded as classic introductions to and studies of Ming and Qing history, exerting a profound influence on later teaching and research in the field.