Commentary and Subcommentary on the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive, and literary. Early forms of thought have distinctive characteristics: religious theology, classical texts of traditional Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and gazetteers are all vast and profound. This "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture 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 character and subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
The Annotated Rituals is a core classic for understanding ancient Chinese ritual institutions and the Confucian social order. Zheng Xuan's commentary preserves Han Confucian systematic explanations of the ceremonies, names, objects, and institutions in the Rituals; reading commentary and subcommentary together reveals how the classic text was interpreted layer upon layer within the classical tradition. This book is included in the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture Original Texts" series, preserves the original book's appearance, and is suitable as a primary source reader for studying ritual learning. Its value lies not in a general cultural overview but in providing ritual procedures, naming norms, and ethical grounds that can be repeatedly consulted; it offers practical help for understanding ancient family structure, interpersonal relations, and gentlemanly cultivation. When reading, it is best to take individual ceremonies as units and use the commentary to understand names, objects, and measures; there is no need to read it through in one go. It is suitable as a desk reference for students of classical texts, ancient history, and ritual studies, and also for readers with a strong interest in traditional ritual institutions who wish to study it step by step.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Students of classical philology and ancient history who need to study primary texts of ritual learning
- Readers with a strong interest in Confucian ritual institutions and ancient social order
- Teachers of traditional culture in primary and secondary schools who need to check ritual names, objects, and naming norms
- Enthusiasts with some classical Chinese foundation who wish to understand the Rituals systematically
Not a good fit for
- Readers with no classical Chinese reading foundation who expect accessible vernacular explanations
- Casual readers who only want an overview of Chinese cultural knowledge and are unwilling to study the annotation format
- Readers who need a practical guide to modern etiquette rather than an ancient ritual text
Reading tips
- First read the table of contents and general principles to understand the classification of ceremonies, then choose individual chapters according to interest
- For each section, first read the canonical text through, then consult Zheng Xuan's commentary to understand names, objects, and the meaning of ceremonies
- Keep a notebook recording recurring titles, objects, and ritual steps for easy cross-reference
- When encountering institutional terms, consult reference works; do not insist on understanding all commentary at once
Contents
- 版权信息
- 卷一士冠礼第一
- 卷二士冠礼第一
- 卷三士冠礼第一
- 卷四士昏礼第二
- 卷五士昏礼第二
- 卷六士昏礼第二
- 卷七士相见礼第三
- 卷八乡饮酒礼第四
- 卷九乡饮酒礼第四
- 卷十乡饮酒礼第四
- 卷十一乡射礼第五
- 卷十二乡射礼第五
- 卷十三乡射礼第五
- 卷十四燕礼第六
- 卷十五燕礼第六
- 卷十六大射第七
- 卷十七大射第七
- 卷十八大射第七
- 卷十九聘礼第八
- 卷二十聘礼第八
- 卷二十一聘礼第八
- 卷二十二聘礼第八
- 卷二十三聘礼第八
- 卷二十四聘礼第八
- 卷二十五公食大夫礼第九
- 卷二十六公食大夫礼第九
- 卷二十六下觐礼第十
- 卷二十七觐礼第十
- 卷二十八丧服第十一
- 卷二十九丧服第十一
- 卷三十丧服第十一
- 卷三十一丧服第十一
- 卷三十二丧服第十一
- 卷三十三丧服第十一
- 卷三十四丧服第十一
- 卷三十五士丧礼第十二
- 卷三十六士丧礼第十二
- 卷三十七士丧礼第十二
- 卷三十八既夕礼第十三
- 卷三十九既夕礼第十三
- 卷四十既夕礼第十三
- 卷四十一既夕礼第十三
- 卷四十二士虞礼第十四
- 卷四十三士虞礼第十四
- 卷四十四特牲馈食礼第十五
- 卷四十五特牲馈食礼第十五
- 卷四十六特牲馈食礼第十五
- 卷四十七少牢馈食礼第十六
- 卷四十八少牢馈食礼第十六
- 卷四十九有司彻第十七
- 卷五十有司彻第十七
FAQ
Can I read this book without a classical Chinese foundation?
It will be quite difficult. This book preserves the original appearance; both the canonical text and commentary are in classical Chinese, with dense terminology for names, objects, and institutions. If you have no classical Chinese foundation at all, it is advisable first to read a selected edition of the Rituals with vernacular translation and annotation, build basic vocabulary and ritual knowledge, and then return to this book; the reading experience will be much smoother.
What role does Zheng Xuan's commentary play in the book?
Zheng Xuan's commentary is an important achievement of Han dynasty classical scholarship on the Rituals, mainly explaining the order of ceremonies, the forms of objects, the meanings of titles, and institutional background. When reading the canonical text, if you do not understand why a certain step is performed, the commentary often provides an explanation. Only by reading commentary and subcommentary together can one understand how the classic text was understood and transmitted within the classical tradition.
Should I read it through or selectively?
Selective and thematic reading is more suitable. The chapters of the Rituals are relatively independent, and reading straight through can be tiring because of the detailed ceremonies. You may first closely read chapters related to family, social interaction, and life rituals, and after becoming familiar with the format, gradually expand; this makes it easier to build an overall understanding of ritual structure.
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About the author
Zheng Xuan
Author · China
Zheng Xuan (127–200), courtesy name Kangcheng, was a native of Gaomi in Beihai Commandery (present-day Gaomi, Shandong) during the Eastern Han dynasty and a leading synthesizer of Han-dynasty classical scholarship. He annotated the Confucian classics extensively, integrating the New Text and Old Text traditions and founding the school known as "Zheng Studies"; later generations honored him as the "God of the Classics." Nine of his works are held in this collection, including the Mao Shi Jian, Yili Zhushu, Liji Zhu, Xiaojing Zhengyi, Xiaojing Zhu, and Yiwei Bianzhongbei. His works are commonly classified under ancient poetry, literary appreciation, culture, Eastern philosophy, and classic works. His annotations are distinguished by meticulous glossing of names and things and by their broad incorporation of earlier scholarship, clarifying the meaning of the classics while preserving a wealth of Han-dynasty interpretations. His commentaries on the Three Rites were especially influential and have long been valued in ritual studies and classical education. Public information on the details of his life is limited, so this introduction focuses on the subjects and influence of his writings.
