History of Revenge

痛哭生Jun 2024

2.3

Word count: 12K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive and literary. Early forms of thought are distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all profound and vast. This "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series preserves the original appearance of the books, with the emphasis on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. Through reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate their character and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Chou Shi is included in the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series. Its value lies not in offering a popular history but in preserving a historical narrative charged with strong emotion. The title and the pseudonym "Tongkusheng" ("the weeping scholar") together signal to readers that this work can hardly be approached as a calm, objective work of historiography; it is rather a text within the tradition of Chinese thought and culture that uses historical subject matter to carry the author's laments and judgments. In reading, it is worth noting how its language, narrative stance and emotional expression intertwine with historical events, for this is precisely part of the original character of the book. Readers familiar with traditional classics may use it as a sample for observing earlier conceptions of history and habits of writing; beginners are advised to place it within a broader framework of Chinese studies and read it against works of the historical and literary branches. The book is suited to slow reading and excerpting, not to the pursuit of plot-driven excitement, nor should it be treated as the sole basis for any historical event. Overall, it is better suited to extended reading by enthusiasts of traditional culture than as a first choice for beginners.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in traditional historiography and earlier ways of writing history
Readers who enjoy sensing earlier writers' emotions and stances through the original text
Those systematically reading Chinese classics who wish to broaden the range of texts they encounter
Readers with some foundation in classical Chinese who are willing to read slowly and annotate

Not a good fit for

Beginners expecting popular storytelling or light popular history
Researchers requiring rigorous textual criticism and modern historical conclusions
Readers lacking classical Chinese who are unwilling to consult annotations

Reading tips

Read the preface or publisher's note first to understand the book's place in the series and the nature of the text.
Keep a pen and mark passages with strong emotional colouring and comments on historical events.
Read against relevant chapters of the Twenty-Four Histories, noting differences in narrative stance and selection of material.
After finishing, write a short review setting out the author's attitude to history and your own judgment.

版权信息
序
第一回惊灾变汉奸投异族上尊号满酋创雄图
第二回七大憾誓天寇明一封书开域迎敌

FAQ

Is Chou Shi suitable as an introduction to history?

Not really. It is a traditional text preserved in its original form, marked by strong emotion and a distinct stance, rather than an introductory work that systematically lays out historical developments. Beginners reading it directly may mistake the book's judgments for established historical fact. It is better to acquire basic historical knowledge first, then use it as supplementary material for observing how earlier writers wrote history.

What level of classical Chinese does this book require?

The book preserves the original text and its language is not fully modernized, so some ability to read classical Chinese is needed. If your foundation is weak, work through it passage by passage with reference works or an annotated edition, and do not aim for speed. The point is not word-for-word translation but grasping how the author narrates events and expresses laments and judgments.

What does the pseudonym "Tongkusheng" suggest?

The pseudonym carries strong emotional connotations, signalling that the author does not write history from a calm, objective stance but may be expressing lament, indignation or anxiety. In reading, note the tension between narrative and commentary, and do not take the author's emotional expression as directly equivalent to historical conclusions.

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About the author

痛哭生 Author

Kutongsheng: little is known about this author. Their real name, place of origin, dates of birth and death, and biographical details have not been clearly recorded, and publicly available information is limited; at present, only one work, Chou Shi (roughly, A History of Enmity), is known to be by them. Judging from the pen name, "Kutongsheng" resembles a pseudonym charged with strong emotion, expressing the author's lament and indignation at the ways of the world. On the basis of the available material alone, it is difficult to determine their specific identity or historical background, but it is clear that this work is often classified under literary appreciation in Chinese book cataloging, indicating that its content is readable and has some value for literary commentary. The title Chou Shi itself also suggests a strong narrative dimension and emotional tension, and may revolve around grievance, revenge, or historical memory. Overall, Kutongsheng's creative profile awaits further documentary discovery; for now, readers can glimpse the author's writing style and intellectual inclinations only through Chou Shi.