Record of the Eastern Tour

赵彦卫Jun 2024

3.2

Word count: 823 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive and literary. Early forms of thought have distinctive features, and such fields as religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and local gazetteers are vast and profound. This series, Classic Essence of Chinese Culture: Original Texts, preserves the appearance of the original 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 subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Dongxun ji is included in the series Classic Essence of Chinese Culture: Original Texts. It presents an ancient text in a form that preserves the appearance of the original book, offering readers a relatively reliable edition for encountering traditional thought and culture. Judging by the series' positioning, the book is suitable as an introductory reader for understanding the look of traditional texts and experiencing the literary essence of the ancient sages. Its value lies not in consuming Chinese learning as novelty but in presenting the original book relatively intact, so that readers can feel the originality and intellectual depth of traditional culture through reading. Reading requires patience: readers should use annotations and reference works to understand the text and should not seek to race through it. Those with a sustained interest in ancient forms of thought, religious theology, customs and local gazetteers, and similar topics may treat it as one option for extended reading; those expecting modern vernacular explanation or a systematic academic introduction will need to supplement it with other works.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in the original appearance of traditional texts who are willing to read slowly
People who wish to broaden their reading in Chinese learning and accumulate experience with ancient texts
Readers who like to study on their own with reference works and do not rely on modern translations

Not a good fit for

Beginning readers who want direct vernacular translation or light interpretation
People who need a systematic academic introduction or a framework for specialized research

Reading tips

First look through the table of contents and preface to understand the book's structure and the series' editorial intent, then decide which pieces to read closely.
Prepare a reference work for ancient Chinese; look up unfamiliar characters and words as you go, and do not insist on understanding everything in one pass.
Limit each reading session to one or two pieces, and after reading summarize the main points in your own words; avoid taking on too much.
Read alongside other texts in the same series and note the intellectual connections between different texts.

版权信息
东巡记

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no foundation in classical Chinese?

Not very. The book preserves the appearance of the original and provides no sentence-by-sentence vernacular translation, so readers with a weak foundation in classical Chinese may find it hard to get through. It is advisable first to read annotated introductory works on Chinese learning and, after accumulating some vocabulary and experience with syntax, try this book.

What do the books in the series Classic Essence of Chinese Culture: Original Texts have in common?

According to the available information, the series focuses on preserving the appearance of the original books and aims to preserve and transmit traditional Chinese thought and culture. Its contents cover religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, customs and local gazetteers, and other fields; it is suitable as an anthology for reading primary texts.

Does reading this book require supplementary materials?

It is advisable to use it together with a dictionary of ancient Chinese, relevant annotated editions, or reliable introductory materials. The presentation of the original text poses certain difficulties for modern readers; reference works and background materials can reduce obstacles to understanding and make it less likely that readers give up because they cannot follow the text.

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About the author

赵彦卫 Author

Zhao Yanwei was a man of letters of the Song dynasty. Public information about his life, including his dates and native place, is limited, and what can be known today comes mainly from his writings. Two works are extant under his name, the best known being the notebook Yunlu Mancao (Random Notes from the Cloud-Footed Mountain). Its contents are varied, touching on institutions, the examination of names and objects, comments on poetry and prose, and miscellaneous records of things seen and heard; the style is concise and often shows the care of a textual scholar, and the book is frequently cited by later students of Song history and literature. The other work, Dongxun Ji (Record of the Eastern Journey), describes travels in a plain, factual manner and values faithful record over embellishment. On the whole, Zhao Yanwei's writing combines the casual nature of the notebook with a literatus's eye for appreciation, and his subjects mostly center on classic works and historical and literary anecdotes, giving him a place among Song dynasty notebook literature. Because biographical material is scarce, knowledge of the man and his books still depends chiefly on the works that survive.