Records from Official Service

戴肇辰Jun 2024

2.0

Word count: 39K words
Chapters: 9

Summary

Traditional Chinese culture and thought have a long history and are highly original, inventive and literary. Early thought forms 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 gazetteers are all profound and vast. This "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts" series 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 cultivate their character and subtly encounter the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

This book belongs to the "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts" series. Its editorial principle is to preserve the original appearance of the books, bringing together many strands of traditional thought and culture in one volume. Its value lies not in offering popular interpretation but in giving readers direct access to the original formulations of ancient texts and to the ways early thought unfolded in religious theology, classical medical texts, military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, local customs and gazetteers. For readers used to vernacular translations, this original form is both a threshold and an important entry point for understanding the context in which traditional thought was produced. It suits a desk reference for browsing: it need not be read from cover to cover but can be sampled by interest, with reference works at hand to appreciate the wording and conventions of the original. For course support or self-study foundations, first read the contents to build a framework, then choose a category close to your concerns and go deeper, so that the wide range does not cause you to lose focus.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of Chinese classics who want direct access to ancient originals and are not satisfied with vernacular paraphrase
Teachers and students who need original textual materials for courses on traditional culture
Desk readers who like to browse by category, make excerpts and do comparative reading
Self-learners interested in early thought forms and the conventions of ancient texts

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking systematic explanation, sentence-by-sentence translation and guided reading
Readers who prefer modern narrative and light reading and do not want to face classical Chinese originals
Researchers who need an in-depth study of a single topic rather than a broad compilation of materials

Reading tips

First survey the contents, mark the categories relevant to your interests, then read by topic rather than forcing yourself to read straight through.
Keep a dictionary of classical Chinese and relevant annotated editions at hand; look up unfamiliar characters and words before reading on, to avoid taking words too literally.
Take brief notes on each category you read, recording original formulations and your own questions for later comparison.
Read alongside other volumes in the series to observe how the same cultural theme is presented differently across texts.

版权信息
从公录序
从公录自序
从公录
从公三录序
从公三录
从公续录序
从公续录卷一
从公续录卷二

FAQ

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

Not very. The book focuses on preserving the original appearance of the text rather than sentence-by-sentence translation and popular explanation, so a threshold in classical Chinese reading objectively exists. With no foundation at all, it is better to start with annotated and vernacular-translated introductions, then return to this kind of original-text compilation for smoother understanding.

In what order is the content arranged?

According to the available information, this book belongs to the "Essence of Chinese Classics: Original Texts" series and covers religious theology, classical medical texts, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, local customs and gazetteers, with editing focused on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. The exact order of selections should follow the actual contents; it is best to look at the contents first and then decide your reading path.

Do I need other materials to read this book?

It is advisable to use it with reference works on classical Chinese and relevant annotated editions. Original formulations are often concise and use the vocabulary of their time, and reading them alone can easily lead to misunderstanding. Reliable annotations or scholarly introductions will help you understand the conventions and intent of the original more accurately and avoid conflating different categories.

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About the author

戴肇辰 Author

Dai Zhaochen is an author about whom very little biographical information is publicly available; records show only that four of his works survive: Qiuzhi Guanjian (Humble Views on Seeking Good Governance), Conggong Lu, Conggong Xulu, and Conggong Sanlu. Judging from these titles, his writing centers on governance and official practice and carries a clear practical, statecraft-oriented bent. Qiuzhi Guanjian appears to be notes or essays exploring the principles of good administration, while the Conggong series probably records observations, official documents, and reflections from a career in public service. In common cataloguing he is placed under culture and literary appreciation, suggesting that his writing combines record with commentary and is read chiefly as historical and literary material. Because his dates, birthplace, and career are unknown, a full biography cannot be reconstructed, and it would be inappropriate to speculate about his offices, teachers, or influence. Overall, Dai Zhaochen may be regarded as a traditional author who turned official experience and thoughts on governance into writing; his works offer useful texts for understanding the administrative realities and scholarly concerns of his time and merit further study as more historical sources come to light.