Book

AnonymousNanhai Publication Company · ChinaJan 2021

3.0

Word count: 2.7K words
Chapters: 49

Summary

The Five Classics — Confucianism originally had Six Classics: the Book of Songs, the Book of Documents, the Rites, the Music, the I Ching, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. When Qin Shi Huang "burned the books and buried the scholars," it is said that the Music was lost in the flames of Qin; on this basis the Eastern Han added the Analects and the Classic of Filial Piety, making Seven Classics; the Tang added the Rites of Zhou, the Book of Rites, the Gongyang and Guliang commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals, and the Erya, making Twelve Classics.

Editor's review

Taking the "Five Classics" as its thread, this book clearly traces the evolution of the Confucian canonical system from the Six Classics through the Seven to the Twelve, and in particular explains the loss of the Music — a key juncture in the history of classical studies — helping readers understand that the canon was never fixed but was continually expanded and adjusted across different eras. For beginners in Chinese classical learning, it offers a concise "map of the classics" that saves them from not knowing where to start amid so many titles; for readers with some background, it serves as a portable refresher of classical common knowledge. The book touches on core texts such as the Book of Songs, Book of Documents, Rites, I Ching, and Spring and Autumn Annals, making it suitable for dipping into during commutes or before bed, and as supplementary material for courses on traditional culture. Note that its length is limited: it emphasizes framework and origins rather than detailed discussion of each classic, so readers who wish to go deeper into a particular text will need to seek out annotated editions. Overall, this is an accessible, well-organized introduction, suitable for building a general understanding of the Confucian canonical system.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginners interested in the Confucian canonical system who don't know where to start
Enthusiasts of traditional culture who need to sort out the threads of classical common knowledge
Primary and secondary school teachers offering introductory courses on Chinese classics who need concise supplementary material
General readers who want to learn about the origins of the Five Classics in fragmented time

Not a good fit for

Deep readers expecting to study the original text of a particular classic word by word
Academic researchers with a solid foundation in classical studies seeking monographic textual criticism
Readers hoping for detailed annotations and vernacular translations

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents and the section on the evolution of classic titles to build an overall framework from the Six Classics to the Twelve, then go back and look closely at the introductions to each classic.
Prepare a sheet of paper and draw a timeline of canonical additions as you read, clearly marking the two expansions in the Eastern Han and the Tang.
After finishing the introduction to each classic, write one or two sentences on its general content and status for later review.
Use the book as an index: when you encounter a classic that interests you, find the corresponding annotated or selected edition for deeper reading.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
【九日应制得欢字】
【二月奉教作】
【三月奉教作】
【四月奉教作】
【五月奉教作】
【六月奉教作】
【八月奉教作】
【九月奉教作】
【十月奉教作】
【十一月奉教作】
【十二月奉教作】
【和麹典设扈从东郊忆弟使往安西冬至日恨不得同申拜庆】
【马武骑挽歌二首】
【武三思挽歌】
【天官崔侍郎夫人吴氏挽歌】
卷五十九
【日】
【月】
【星】
【风】
【云】
【烟】
【露】
【雾】
【雨】
【雪】
【山】
【石】
【原】
【野】
【田】
【道】
【海】
【江】
【河】
【洛】
【城】
【门】
【市】
【井】
【宅】
【池】
【楼】
【桥】
【经】
【史】
【诗】
【赋】

FAQ

Is this book the original text of the Five Classics?

No. This book mainly traces the evolution of the Five Classics and later canonical lists, introducing the basic situation and origins of each classic; it is not a compilation of the original texts and contains no sentence-by-sentence annotation or translation. If you want to read the originals, you will need to find the corresponding annotated or selected editions.

Is the claim that the Music was lost reliable?

The book adopts the widely circulated account that the Music was lost after the Qin burning of the books. This account has long existed in the history of classical studies, though scholars still discuss the specific details. Readers may treat it as background knowledge for understanding the evolution of the canon, without regarding it as the only conclusion.

Can I understand it without a foundation in classical Chinese?

Yes. The book emphasizes framework and origins, and its language is relatively accessible, not dependent on classical Chinese reading ability. When you encounter a classic title or term, slow down and understand it from context; it is suitable as a first introductory book on Chinese classics.

What should I read next after finishing this book?

You could start with selected pieces from the Book of Songs or the Analects, both relatively easy to approach; or find an introductory edition of the I Ching with annotations. The key is to choose one original text that interests you and read it slowly alongside an annotated edition, without trying to cover everything.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.