True Record of a Military Expedition
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive and literary. Early intellectual forms have distinctive features: religious theology, Chinese medical classics, ancient military texts, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, local customs and topography, and other fields are profound and extensive. This "Classic Chinese Studies Essential Cultural Original Texts" series 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 studies.
Editor's review
From the Campaigns is included in the "Classic Chinese Studies Essential Cultural Original Texts" series and presents traditional texts in a form that preserves their original appearance. Its value lies not in retelling stories but in giving readers direct access to the original look and intellectual texture of ancient texts. Yang Ying's book is a kind of documentary writing within the tradition of Chinese thought and culture; in reading it, one can see how the ancients recorded events, journeys and ideas, with language and structure bearing clear marks of their era. Its strength is "preserving the true": it makes no excessive modern rewriting and is suitable as an entry point for understanding the original forms of Chinese studies classics, as well as for reading alongside other texts in the same series to appreciate the expressive differences among classics and histories, the masters, and local gazetteers. In terms of reading setting, it is better suited to slow reading at one's desk or reference consultation than to leisure reading that seeks continuous plot. For readers who want to train their sense of classical Chinese and accumulate material on traditional thought, this book offers a plain sense of the textual scene; but those expecting a popular edition with detailed modern annotations and a systematic introduction will need to consult additional reference materials.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in original texts of traditional thought and culture who are willing to engage directly with classical Chinese
- Students of literature and history who need to consult Chinese studies materials and compare texts
- Collectors who like preserved original appearance and do not seek modern rewriting
- Self-learners who hope to train their stamina in reading classical Chinese through short documentary records
Not a good fit for
- Beginner readers expecting modern vernacular translation and detailed annotations
- General readers who prefer continuous plots and light leisure reading
- Readers who need systematic academic introductions or specialized research frameworks
Reading tips
- First read the table of contents and prefaces to understand the book's arrangement, then choose shorter entries to try.
- Keep a dictionary of common classical Chinese characters at hand; look up difficult words before reading on, and do not rush to full comprehension.
- Read alongside other classics in the same series and compare the differences among documentary records, quotations and historical gazetteers.
- After each piece, write a note of two or three sentences, recording questions and leads for further consultation.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 从征实录
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 七
- 八
- 九
- 十
- 十一
- 十二
- 十三
FAQ
Is this book suitable for readers with no foundation in classical Chinese?
It is not very suitable for readers with zero foundation to read straight through. The book preserves the original appearance of the text and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture; it does not explain every sentence in modern vernacular. If you have no experience with classical Chinese at all, it is advisable first to choose an annotated popular edition as a foundation, then return to original texts of this kind; otherwise it is easy to stop because of gaps in word meaning.
What are the features of the "Classic Chinese Studies Essential Cultural Original Texts" series?
According to the introduction, the series preserves the original appearance of the books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture; its content covers religious theology, Chinese medical classics, ancient military texts, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools of Thought, local customs and topography, and more. Its orientation is to preserve the true rather than rewrite, making it suitable as a reader for engaging with the original forms of Chinese studies classics, not as a modern guide-type popular book.
Do I need other materials to read this book?
It is advisable to use a dictionary of classical Chinese and to read alongside relevant texts in the same series. Because the original appearance is preserved to a considerable extent, characters and words, arrangement and background knowledge may pose obstacles; reference books and related historical and gazetteer materials can reduce the difficulty of reading and make it easier to understand individual pieces within the context of traditional thought and culture.
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About the author
杨英
Author
Yang Ying is an author about whom limited public information is available. Two works can currently be confirmed: "Veritable Records of the Campaign" (Congzheng Shilu) and "Listening to Psychology Masters Tell Stories." The two books differ markedly in subject: the former leans toward literary appreciation and historical narrative, while the latter introduces psychological knowledge to general readers and belongs to the category of applied psychology. Judging from these works, Yang Ying writes in two directions—literary reading and popular psychology—offering both narrative and critical appreciation of texts and historical events, and attempting to turn professional psychological content into accessible stories that ordinary readers can understand and accept. Because the author's nationality, dates of birth and death, educational background, and writing career are not clearly documented, biographical details cannot be elaborated; this introduction is based only on the works and classification information held in the database.
