How to Read Ancient Books Today

Name: How to Read Ancient Books Today
ISBN: 9787523706770

胡怀琛Emergency Management Press · ChinaApr 2025

3.8

Word count: 70K words
Chapters: 22
ISBN: 9787523706770

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Summary

This book offers readers a comprehensive and practical guide to reading classical Chinese texts. It begins by explaining the significance and methods of reading classical works today, opening the door to such reading. It then details the various reference books and materials that should be used during reading to help readers better understand classical texts. It further explores the origins and development of Chinese scholarship and of classical books themselves, enabling readers to grasp the broader context of ancient culture. Finally, the author shares ten personal impressions gained from reading classical works—insights that spark ideas and offer readers much inspiration. For readers eager to study and deepen their understanding of Chinese classics, this book is an eminently practical and beneficial introductory work, helping them bridge the gap of time and establish effective communication with ancient classics as they embark on a journey into the riches of ancient culture.

Editor's review

Hu Huaichen's *How to Read Old Books Today* is a compact yet highly practical introductory guide. Its value lies not in deep annotation of any single classic but in building an actionable reading framework for beginners: it first explains why and how to read old books, then introduces the selection of reference works and materials, surveys the origins of Chinese scholarship and old books, and closes with the author's ten impressions from his own reading. This arrangement—method, background, then personal reflection—gives readers both a concrete path and a broad perspective. The warmest part is the ten impressions, colored by personal experience, which help ease readers' intimidation before old texts. Best kept on the desk as a reading handbook: consulting relevant chapters before and after starting a particular classic is more effective than reading it straight through.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers new to Chinese classics who need methodological guidance
Literature and history enthusiasts seeking a systematic understanding of the origins of old books and scholarly lineages
Primary and secondary school Chinese teachers who can use it as a reference for guiding students in reading classical Chinese
Readers who want a practical reading guide for the family bookshelf

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers with solid philological training seeking in-depth textual criticism
Readers who want direct line-by-line annotation or translation of a particular classic
Readers who prefer light entertainment and avoid methodological content

Reading tips

Read the method section first, then consult the reference-works and origins chapters as needed; no need to finish it in one sitting.
Before starting a particular classic, read the corresponding chapter first and read with questions in mind for better results.
While reading the ten impressions, jot down your own questions to verify later through reading.
Read alongside a classic text at hand, practicing the book's methods as you go.

About the publisher

Emergency Management Press China · Founded in 1951

Emergency Management Press is a publisher that combines professional publishing with general reading. Its publishing scope covers professional fields such as emergency management, work safety, disaster prevention, mitigation and relief, fire safety, emergency rescue and the coal industry, and it undertakes the publication of the syllabus and tutorial materials for the Intermediate Certified Safety Engineer examination. Books in the collection also span classics, culture, popular science, biography, social sciences and philosophy. Representative titles include Call to Arms and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk from the "Little Blue Book of Literary Classics" series, as well as Examples of Historical Taboo, From One to Infinity: Facts and Speculations in Science, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Under the Red Banner, A History of Chinese Historiography and Fun Mathematics for Children: Mathematics Is So Much Fun. In terms of authors, works by Chinese and foreign figures such as Lu Xun, Chen Yuan, George Gamow and Benjamin Franklin are included, with contributions from Li Yiming, Cai Hongxia, Gong Qinghua and Nie Xiaodan. Overall, alongside professional emergency and safety publishing, the press also attends to humanistic classics and popular science reading, forming a publishing character that balances professionalism and accessibility. Due to limited public information, other aspects are not elaborated here.

版权信息
总序：新时代的思想延续与学术重光
古书今读法
第一章何谓古书
第二章何以要读古书
第三章古书与今日社会发生关系的实例（上）
第四章古书与今日社会发生关系的实例（下）
第五章古书如何读法
第六章三个字的口号
第七章明学术源流
第八章明古书源流
第九章材料与工具
第十章读了若干部古书所得到的概念
外一种：中国八大诗人
屈灵均
陶渊明
李太白
杜子美
白香山
苏东坡
陆放翁
王渔洋

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no foundation in classical Chinese at all?

Yes. The book is positioned as an introductory guide, focusing on the significance of reading old books, methods, and the selection of reference works; it does not require prior grounding in classical Chinese. The sections on scholarly origins do require some patience, however, and beginners may skip the difficult parts and start with the method chapters.

What kind of content are the "ten impressions"?

They are ten reflections the author, Hu Huaichen, shares from his own reading of old books. They are personal and experiential rather than systematic theory. Their purpose is to inspire readers and reduce intimidation; treat them as points of reference, not conclusions that must be followed.

Will I be able to read old books directly after finishing this book?

No. The book offers reading paths, guidance on reference works, and background knowledge—it teaches the method rather than the content. Truly understanding old books still requires actually reading the original texts according to the book's methods and consulting reference works. This book is a starting point, not an endpoint.

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About the author

胡怀琛 Author

Hu Huaichen was an author long active in Chinese writing and the popularization of classical literature. Public information about his life is limited, but the eight works included here show that his writing focused on poetry appreciation, methods of reading classical texts, and interpretations of traditional culture. His representative works include The Eight Great Poets of China, Hu Huaichen on the Eight Great Poets of China, and Ha Tian Shi Hua, as well as How to Read Ancient Books Today and How to Write Good Lyrical Prose. These titles suggest that he attended both to the evaluation of classical poetry and the telling of poets' stories, and to teaching ordinary readers practical methods for reading old books and writing lyrical prose. His works are commonly classified under exam preparation, literary appreciation, culture, history readers, classical poetry, and Eastern philosophy, indicating that his writing combined knowledge popularization with reading training, and tended toward an accessible style that helped readers understand traditional poetry and prose while acquiring practical reading and expression skills.