On Coincidence
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers studying Han dynasty intellectual history and ancient Chinese views of fate
- General readers interested in Lunheng who wish to read a single chapter
- Thinkers concerned with anti-teleology and philosophical problems of contingency
- Teachers and researchers needing thematic materials in Chinese intellectual history
Not a good fit for
- Beginners seeking a systematic philosophical survey or introductory overview
- Casual readers who prefer narrative and literary texts
- Those impatient with classical Chinese argumentative prose who need vernacular translation and annotation
Reading tips
- Read "Fengyu" and "Xing'ou" first, then this chapter, to grasp the progressive thread of Wang Chong's theory of fate.
- Mark key terms such as "ou" (coincidence), "ming" (fate), and "ziran" (nature) as you read, and trace the layers of his argument.
- Read against the background of Han dynasty thought on mutual resonance between Heaven and humanity to appreciate whom his refutations target.
- After reading, write a hundred-character summary restating in your own words the meaning of "the numbers of apt coincidence."
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
- 卷三 偶会篇第十
- 正文一
- 正文二
- 正文三
- 正文四
- 正文五
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About the author
Wang Chong (27–c. 97), courtesy name Zhongren, was a native of Shangyu in Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). A thinker, literary critic, and atheist of the Eastern Han, he entered the Imperial Academy in Luoyang in his youth and studied under Ban Biao; later he left office, stayed at home, and devoted himself to writing. His representative work, the eighty-five-chapter Lunheng (Balanced Inquiries), criticizes Chenwei superstition and the theory of interactions between Heaven and humanity, advocates a naturalist theory of qi, and stands as an important representative of Han-dynasty materialist thought. Wang Chong valued evidence and analysis in his writing, often developing arguments through questions and debates in a plain but sharp style. The collection holds sixty-nine of his works, including such pieces as Shizhi pian, Wenkong pian, Ziran pian, Daoxu pian, Duizuo pian, and Hanwen pian, covering philosophy, social criticism, and literary appreciation. He championed independent thinking and opposed blind submission to authority, exerting a lasting influence on later thought and literary criticism.
