The Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial: Translation and Notes

Name: The Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial: Translation and Notes
ISBN: 9787532582235

杨天宇Shanghai Classics Publishing House · ChinaNov 2020

4.4

Word count: 359K words
Chapters: 20
ISBN: 9787532582235

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Summary

The Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial (Yili) is the earliest and most important work of Confucian ritual studies. It is of great significance not only for the study of Confucian ritual scholarship but also for understanding the thought, daily life, and ethical and moral concepts of the ancients. This book provides a complete translation and annotation of the Yili based on the text in the Thirteen Classics with Commentaries and Explanations (Shisanjing Zhushu) as collated by Ruan Yuan and reproduced by Zhonghua Book Company. Each chapter consists of five parts: an introductory note, the original text, annotations, a translation, and a brief summary.

Editor's review

Yang Tianyu's Annotated Translation of the Yili is a classic work of ancient-text compilation and annotation into which the author poured years of effort. As an important volume in Shanghai Classics Publishing House's "Annotated Translations of the Thirteen Classics" series, its scholarly value lies first of all in its rigorous textual collation and meticulous annotation. Taking Ruan Yuan's collated edition of the Thirteen Classics with Commentaries and Explanations as his base text, Mr. Yang consulted a wide range of editions and adopted the best readings, providing readers with a reliable and accessible modern text. What is especially valuable is that his translation, while accurately conveying the ancient meaning, strives for fluency and coherence, making the notoriously difficult original text of the Yili clear and intelligible and greatly lowering the barrier to reading this ancient ritual classic.

The Yili records the capping, wedding, funeral, sacrificial, court audience, diplomatic mission, district, and archery ceremonies and other rites of the scholar-official class from the Zhou dynasty through the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. It is a core document for studying ancient Chinese social structure, ethical concepts, cultural institutions, and even the details of daily life. Yang Tianyu's translation and annotation not only clarify words, phrases, and passages but also, through detailed textual research and appropriate editorial notes, reveal the historical context and cultural connotations behind each ceremony. For example, his interpretation of the elaborate procedures of the "Capping Ceremony of a Scholar" is in fact connected to the ancients' conception of coming of age and the establishment of social roles, while his careful analysis of the "Mourning Garments" chapter profoundly reflects the hierarchical relations of kinship under the patriarchal clan system.

For modern readers, reading the Yili is by no means a simple exercise in nostalgia. This book offers us a key to understanding the deep logic of traditional Chinese culture—that unique wisdom which rendered social order, moral norms, and daily behavior artistic and ritualized. It helps us move beyond a simplistic, superficial understanding of "ritual" and recognize its historical role as a complex symbolic system in shaping communal identity and sustaining the operation of society. With its solid foundation and clear exposition, Yang Tianyu's annotated translation is undoubtedly one of the best guides for contemporary scholars and enthusiasts of traditional culture seeking to enter this profound hall.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Professional scholars and students engaged in the study of ancient Chinese history, intellectual history, sociology, and textual scholarship
Enthusiasts of traditional Chinese ritual culture who wish to gain a systematic understanding
Writers who frequently need to cite classical ritual institutions and seek reliable texts and explanations
Advanced readers with some grounding in classical Chinese who wish to take on the challenge of reading the Yili, a core Confucian classic

Not a good fit for

Those who only wish to learn about history through light storytelling and lack the patience for serious academic texts
Complete beginners with very weak grounding in classical Chinese and no prior familiarity with ancient institutions and regulations

Reading tips

Readers may begin with the long Preface at the front of the book, which provides a concise overview of the Yili's authorship, composition, content, value, and scholarly history, establishing a framework for reading the full text.
There is no need to read straight through in order; readers may start with relatively life-related chapters such as the "Capping Ceremony of a Scholar" and the "Wedding Ceremony of a Scholar," using the translation and notes to appreciate the details.
While reading, compare the translation with the original text and focus on the annotations' textual explanations of names, objects, and ritual procedures, which are the key to understanding the ritual scene and the ancient mindset.

About the publisher

Shanghai Classics Publishing House China · Founded in 1956

Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.

版权信息
前言
士冠礼第一
士昏礼第二
士相见礼第三
乡饮酒礼第四
乡射礼第五
燕礼第六
大射第七
聘礼第八
公食大夫礼第九
觐礼第十
丧服第十一
士丧礼第十二
既夕礼第十三
士虞礼第十四
特牲馈食礼第十五
少牢馈食礼第十六
有司第十七
附录

FAQ

What are the main features of Yang Tianyu's translation compared with other annotated editions of the Yili?

The greatest feature of Yang's translation is that it "combines translation and annotation, balancing popular accessibility and scholarship." It adopts modern punctuation and paragraphing and provides a detailed vernacular translation, greatly facilitating modern readers; at the same time, its annotations draw extensively on the interpretations of famous scholars of past dynasties and incorporate the results of modern scholarship. The textual research is meticulous and the scholarly value high, making it an excellent collated edition that balances readability and professionalism.

For non-specialist readers, what is the practical significance of reading the Yili?

The significance lies in cultural awareness and intellectual training. Through the Yili, one can directly experience the concrete forms of ancient China's "civilization of rites and music" and understand how the ancients used a whole set of refined, visible behavioral norms (rites) to settle relations between people, between people and society, and between people and nature. This helps us reflect more deeply on the views of order, ethics, and the aesthetics of life in our own cultural tradition.

How difficult is this book to read, and what preparation is needed?

Those with high-school-level or above reading ability in classical Chinese can generally read through it with the help of the translation and annotations. However, because the book involves a large number of ancient proper terms (such as clothing, implements, dwellings, and ritual procedures), a basic understanding of the historical background from the Western Zhou through the Spring and Autumn period will be helpful before reading. It is advisable to have a dictionary of ancient Chinese or a relevant historical reference book on hand for consultation at any time.

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About the author

杨天宇 Author

Yang Tianyu is an author in the field of collating and annotating classical Chinese texts. Public information about him is limited, and details such as his native place, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly recorded. Judging from the five works held in the collection, his work centers on modern annotation and translation of the Confucian classics known as the "Three Rites," including Annotated Translations of the Book of Rites, Annotated Translations of the Rites of Zhou, and Annotated Translations of the Etiquette and Ceremonies; the Book of Rites volume exists in both separate and two-volume editions. These works fall under the common categories of Eastern philosophy and history readings and are intended for general readers and beginners who wish to read the original ritual classics directly. His annotation style is mainly to explain meanings alongside the text and clarify sentences, striving to lower the barrier to reading pre-Qin ritual documents so that ancient ceremonial institutions and ideas become more accessible to modern readers, and thus offers some reference value in popularizing traditional ritual studies.