Criticizing Extravagance

Liu XiangNanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

3.9

Word count: 2.4K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Cishē (A Critique of Luxury) is a categorized collection of historical anecdotes compiled by the renowned Western Han scholar Liu Xiang for the political purpose of indirect remonstrance, and the earliest extant work compiled by him.

Editor's review

Cishē (A Critique of Luxury) is a categorized collection of historical anecdotes compiled by the Western Han scholar Liu Xiang for the purpose of indirect remonstrance, and the earliest extant work compiled by him. Its value lies not in providing complete pre-Qin historical sources, but in reorganizing scattered historical anecdotes around the theme of "critiquing luxury" into a mirror that reflects reality, allowing readers to see how the ancients used past events to discuss contemporary politics. When reading, it is worth noting Liu Xiang's eye for selecting and arranging anecdotes: which materials were included, which were discarded, and how the sequence of anecdotes forms layers of admonition—these arrangements are themselves a form of political expression. For readers accustomed to modern academic works, the narrative style here bears a distinct Han-dynasty political discourse flavor; one needs to slow down and understand each anecdote in the real-world context it addressed. It is suitable as introductory material for understanding the Han-dynasty tradition of remonstrance writings and the compilation of historical anecdotes, and also as corroboration and supplement when reading pre-Qin historical texts.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Han-dynasty political culture and the tradition of remonstrance
Enthusiasts of classical texts who need to understand the genre of categorized historical anecdotes
Beginner readers who wish to encounter pre-Qin historical materials in the form of stories
Beginners studying Liu Xiang's editorial thought and Han-dynasty political discourse

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic pre-Qin history textbook or a complete chronological narrative
Readers who prefer fluent modern vernacular narrative and dislike the feel of classical Chinese
Casual readers who only want stories for entertainment and do not care about the intent of remonstrance

Reading tips

First read the table of contents and the order of chapters to observe how Liu Xiang organizes anecdotes by theme, then read each piece closely.
After finishing each anecdote, first ask yourself what its remonstrance is directed at, then consult the annotations and background notes.
Read alongside similar materials such as the Intrigues of the Warring States and Garden of Persuasions to appreciate how anecdotes circulated and were rewritten.
Keep a pen at hand and jot down recurring themes of admonition; after finishing, summarize the overall thread of the book.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

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.

版权信息
卷六

FAQ

Is Cishē an original historical work by Liu Xiang?

It is not an original historical work but a categorized collection of historical anecdotes compiled by Liu Xiang. He selected materials from earlier texts and rearranged them according to his intent to remonstrate; therefore most anecdotes have earlier sources, and the book's value lies mainly in the political purpose embodied in its selection and arrangement rather than in providing primary historical sources.

How should "cishē" in the title be understood?

"Ci" means to satirize or remonstrate indirectly, and "shē" refers to extravagance and excess. The title indicates that the book uses historical anecdotes as a means to criticize, in a tactful way, the extravagant atmosphere and political abuses of the time; each anecdote should be read as a link in a chain of admonition rather than merely as an independent historical anecdote.

Can someone without a foundation in classical Chinese read this book?

Yes, but with the help of annotations and translations. The book was written in the Western Han, and its language differs from modern Chinese; a version with annotations or translation is recommended—first clarify the wording, then understand the intent of remonstrance. If one is entirely unwilling to engage with the feel of classical Chinese, the reading experience will be rather difficult.

What background should one know before reading this book?

It is best to have a basic understanding of the political environment of the mid-to-late Western Han and Liu Xiang's identity as a remonstrating official—knowing for whom such categorized collections were written and why they were compiled. In addition, some familiarity with the general outline of pre-Qin historical anecdotes will make it easier to see the intent behind Liu Xiang's choices in selection and arrangement.

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About the author

Liu Xiang Author · Chinese (Western Han)

Liu Xiang (77 BCE–6 BCE), courtesy name Zizheng and originally named Gengsheng, was a member of the Western Han imperial clan and a scholar of the classics, a bibliographer, and a literary figure. Publicly available details of his life are limited, and even his birth and death years are disputed, yet his place in the history of Chinese bibliography and literature is clear. Under Emperor Cheng he led the collation of the imperial library and compiled the Bielu, a systematic catalogue and edition of court texts, and later generations honored him as the founder of Chinese bibliography. He edited and compiled the Intrigues of the Warring States and the Songs of Chu, helping to preserve both works, and wrote such books as the Xinxu, Shuoyuan, and Lienü Zhuan, which often use historical anecdotes and the words and deeds of figures to expound political and ethical teachings, combining historical value with literary interest. His editorial and compilation work spans literary appreciation, folk literature, Eastern philosophy, and documentary prose, and has greatly aided later understanding of thought and writing from the pre-Qin through the Han period.