Talks on Ancient History

Lü BoyouOct 2021

3.5

Word count: 12K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

In any history, Chinese or foreign, the prehistoric period, being so remote in time and beyond verification, is generally treated as myth. These ancient texts and strange tales are, of course, hard to believe. Even the names of figures such as Youchao and Suiren, long regarded by historians as relatively reliable, strike us as somewhat doubtful. Yet we need only recognize that these are, in all likelihood, symbols of social progress in a certain era; whether they are literally true need not concern us too much. Accordingly, this book draws only on what is factually possible, selecting a portion of it, sometimes expanding on it, sometimes discarding the unfounded.

Editor's review

This book treats "ancient history" as a cultural question rather than forcing it into a credible historical account. From the outset the author frankly acknowledges how remote early times are and how little the surviving records can be trusted, and so adopts a restrained, pragmatic approach: only the factually possible is retained, either expanded upon or stripped of its unfounded elements. This method steers the book clear of two common pitfalls: it neither sensationalizes myth as fact, as some popular histories do, nor grinds to a halt through excessive skepticism. For general readers, its value lies in offering a way of thinking about "how to view early records": names like Youchao and Suiren may not correspond to any specific person, yet they may symbolize social progress in a certain era. What readers gain is not merely scattered knowledge of antiquity but a sense of judgment when faced with ambiguous material. Suited to reading in segments on the commute or before bed, and to laying groundwork before turning to the original ancient texts.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in ancient history who want an overall picture first
Middle school students and history enthusiasts wanting to understand how myth differs from history
Teachers needing restrained, unexaggerated introductory material for lesson preparation
Readers who enjoy understanding early legends through cultural symbols

Not a good fit for

Academic researchers expecting rigorous textual criticism and extensive annotation
History readers seeking a complete chronological system and fixed dates
Casual readers who prefer strongly narrative, tightly plotted storytelling

Reading tips

Read the opening explanation first to grasp the author's principles of selection and omission, then move on to the chapters.
When encountering names and legends, jot down the social progress they may represent rather than memorizing them.
Read alongside the author's works on myth to appreciate the division of labor between history and myth.
After each section, retell it in your own words to check whether you have grasped the symbolic meaning.

版权信息
序说
最初的世界是怎样的
教人造屋子的老师
树林里烧死的野兽
一条麻绳真有用
这是一件好东西
小虫儿变成鸟卵一般了
指示方向的木头人
皇帝对于我有什么关系呢
害不死的哥哥
也许我们都变为鱼了
三千多人像牛一般地喝酒
百姓们为什么敬重桎梏

FAQ

Is the ancient content in this book reliable?

The author does not claim these contents are credible history. He states at the outset that early times are remote and unverifiable, and that he draws only on what is factually possible while discarding the unfounded. Readers should treat it as a book for understanding the symbolism of early social progress, not a chronicle with fixed dates.

How does the book treat Youchao and Suiren?

The book treats these names as symbols of social progress in a certain era rather than as necessarily corresponding to specific individuals. The author frankly admits doubt about such names, emphasizing instead the cultural significance they represent rather than their literal truth.

Can I understand it without a history background?

Yes. The language is plain and not weighed down by textual scholarship; the emphasis is on helping readers develop a judgment about early material. As long as you are willing to read slowly and think as you go, you can follow it without specialized training.

Comments

Find this book

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

Lü Boyou Author · Chinese

Lü Boyou was a modern Chinese editor, educator and children's literature writer from Zhejiang, and a student of Li Shutong. He worked as an editor at Zhonghua Book Company, edited children's periodicals such as Children's World and Little Friend, and wrote An Introduction to Children's Literature, giving him a representative place in the history of children's literature theory and criticism in twentieth-century China. Public information on his life, including birth and death dates, is limited. Judging from the works held here, his writing was aimed at children and general readers and drew largely on myth, ancient history and classical fables: he produced readable surveys such as Ancient Myths and Talks on Ancient History, and also retold traditional stories in fairy-tale form in Chinese Fairy Tales and Fairy Tales from Han Feizi. Overall, he was skilled at turning classical texts and legends into plain, accessible narratives that combined information with interest, and his editorial and creative work helped promote children's publishing and the popularization of folk literature in his time.