Record of Adversity and Prosperity

刘定之Nanhai Publication Company · ChinaSep 2023

3.7

Word count: 9.5K words
Chapters: 3

Report an error Find this book

Summary

This is Paitai Lu (A Record of Stagnation and Prosperity), by Liu Dingzhi.

Editor's review

Paitai Lu comes from the Ming scholar Liu Dingzhi. Its title evokes the turning of pi and tai, stagnation and prosperity, and it presents records and discussions of adversity and smooth passage in human affairs, with a clear tone of historical commentary and admonition. The writing is concise and the reasoning clear, suited to readers interested in Ming scholarly views of history and note-style writing. Its value lies not in offering a complete general history but in showing how one scholar used historical events to discuss circumstance, choice, and the success or failure of human endeavors; readers can sense the traditional historiographical manner of using events to articulate principles. While reading, attend to the author's narrative choices and the measure of his commentary, and consider why he selected these examples and how he moves from event to principle. Read alongside background materials on Ming politics and scholarship to better grasp his concerns; as a note-style work, it is also best read slowly, piece by piece, with notes taken as you go.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Ming notes and historical commentary
History and literature enthusiasts who wish to understand traditional scholarly views of history
Students of ancient history and literature seeking to broaden their reading

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for popular stories and light entertainment
Readers hoping for a complete general history of the Ming
Those unaccustomed to classical Chinese argumentative prose

Reading tips

Read piece by piece; after each entry, first restate the event, then revisit the author's commentary to clarify the movement from event to principle.
Prepare brief background materials on the Ming and compare them with the people and events in the book to avoid reading out of context.
Record the book's judgments alongside your own views and use them as thinking notes.

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
否泰录
否泰录

FAQ

How should the title's “pi and tai” be understood?

Pi and tai are hexagram names in the Book of Changes, often used to figure adversity and smooth passage. The title broadly suggests the turning of affairs from stagnation to prosperity and the mutual causation of rise and decline, prompting readers to understand the recorded human affairs in terms of change and transformation rather than isolated gains and losses.

Is this book historical material or commentary?

Both. It contains records of historical events and figures as well as the author's judgments and extensions, belonging to the note-style type that combines record and comment. When reading, separate the events recounted from the arguments advanced in order to grasp the respective boundaries of material and opinion.

Do I need to be familiar with Ming history before reading this book?

Not necessarily, but basic background helps. Many discussions rest on specific circumstances and figures, and a general understanding of Ming political developments will make them clearer. Beginners can read a few pieces first to get a feel for the style, then fill in the background, rather than setting the book aside for lack of preparation.

Related on WeRead

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

刘定之 Author

L"u Dingzhi's birthplace, dates of birth and death, and other biographical details are not well documented in publicly available sources and remain difficult to verify. Three of his works are held in the collection, the representative one being Pi Tai Lu (also written Fou Tai Lu). In terms of common classification, his works fall under folk literature, classic works, and Eastern philosophy, suggesting that their content deals largely with the rise and fall of human fortunes, the gains and losses of the world, and reflections on the philosophy of life. The title Pi Tai Lu derives from the Pi and Tai hexagrams of the Book of Changes, and the work typically uses the workings of heaven to discuss how misfortune and blessing give rise to one another and how prosperity and decline follow in turn. Its style leans toward argument and reflection, combining the plainness of folk narrative with the speculative flavor of philosophical prose. Because relevant materials are scarce, the details of his life and the full scope of his writing still await further study, and readers may begin with the texts themselves to appreciate his intent of observing worldly affairs through the ideas of Pi and Tai.