Unrestrained Conduct
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Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers interested in Wei-Jin demeanor and literati culture
- Liberal arts students who need selected single chapters from A New Account of Tales of the World
- Readers who enjoy brief anecdotes and note-style writing
- General readers interested in ancient Chinese character aesthetics and modes of behavior
Not a good fit for
- Specialist researchers who need a complete annotated translation of A New Account of Tales of the World
- Readers of fiction who expect coherent plots and complete narratives
- Readers impatient with classical Chinese note-style writing who prefer long vernacular texts
Reading tips
- Read through the entries in order, then pick the figures that leave the deepest impression and look back at related records about them in other categories
- While reading, mark places where "ren dan" conflicts with ritual propriety and consider the political and aristocratic-clan background behind Wei-Jin literati unconventionality
- Read alongside chapters such as "Magnanimity," "Arrogance," and "Mourning the Departed" in A New Account of Tales of the World, comparing how different categories calibrate their portrayals
About the publisher
Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 正文
FAQ
Which book does Ren Dan come from, and who is the author?
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About the author
Liu Yiqing, courtesy name Jibo, was a member of the Southern Song imperial clan and a man of letters from Pengcheng (present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu). He inherited the title Prince of Linchuan and served in posts such as governor of Jingzhou. Of simple temperament and few desires, he liked to gather literary talents around him and presided over the compilation of A New Account of the Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu); he also wrote the Youming Lu and other works. As public information on details of his life, including his birth and death years, is limited, his image emerges mainly through his writings. Shishuo Xinyu records in note form the words and deeds of scholars from the late Han to the Eastern Jin, with concise and memorable language that captures character in a few phrases; it has had a lasting influence on later note-style fiction and literati aesthetics. Dozens of related works are held in the collection, commonly classified under classical literature, literary appreciation, and Eastern philosophy, showing the continued circulation of his writings in later reading and research.
