Fate and Portion

Bai JuyiBashu Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

3.4

Word count: 260 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

It means fate. Bai Juyi of the Tang dynasty, in his poem "White Cloud Period": "As I grow older I understand fate; my heart is lazy and I undertake little." Yu Wenbao of the Song dynasty, in the Outer Collection of Chui Jian Lu: "People below the average, chasing profit and desire, if they do not know where fate stops, will act recklessly and wildly, and there is nowhere they will not go." Zhang Ning of the Ming dynasty, in Fangzhou Miscellaneous Words: "If fame can be expected, the god sends a clear dream; if fate is shallow and thin, may the god graciously reveal it!"

Editor's review

This book centers on the classical concept of "mingfen," and the materials show that it points to fate, one's proper lot, and limits. From Bai Juyi's self-reflection in "As I grow older I understand fate; my heart is lazy and I undertake little," to the Song writer Yu Wenbao's warning against reckless pursuit of profit, to the Ming writer Zhang Ning's discussion of the depth of fame through dream omens, all show how the ancients used "mingfen" to settle body and mind and restrain desire. The 2024 Bashu Publishing House edition makes the relevant documents and annotations accessible, suitable for readers interested in traditional views of fate, Tang-Song-Ming-Qing notes, and the life philosophy of scholars. Read it as a mirror: see how the ancients talked about limits, and think about how people today can balance effort and acceptance. It is not a success manual but a classical reference on self-positioning and restraining desire.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in ancient Chinese views of fate and the life philosophy of scholars
Readers who enjoy Tang-Song-Ming-Qing notes, poetry talks, and miscellaneous essays
Adult readers seeking psychological balance between effort and acceptance
Those engaged in popularizing traditional culture or teaching Chinese who need relevant materials

Not a good fit for

Practical readers hoping for specific fortune-telling formulas or prediction methods
Students expecting a systematic textbook on fate calculation or a complete theoretical system
Readers who prefer modern psychology self-help manuals and are unused to classical quotations

Reading tips

Read the relevant passage from Bai Juyi's "White Cloud Period" first to appreciate the specific context of "understanding fate" in the poet's life.
Read the Song and Ming notes in comparison to observe how "mingfen" extends from personal cultivation to social restraint.
Keep a pen ready to jot down sentences that resonate with your own life experience, and review your notes after finishing.
There is no need to finish in one sitting; read in three or four sessions, each focused on one dynasty or one piece of material.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
命分

FAQ

What does "mingfen" mainly mean in this book?

According to the materials, "mingfen" means fate and also carries the sense of proper lot and limits. Bai Juyi's "As I grow older I understand fate" emphasizes understanding fate and one's own limits with age; the Song writer uses it to warn profit-chasers to know where fate stops. It is closer to a classical view of life and self-restraint than to a specific predictive technique.

Is this book about fortune-telling?

From the given materials, this book gathers poetry and notes around the concept of "mingfen," focusing on ancient discourse on fate, proper lot, and limits; it does not provide operational fortune-telling methods such as casting charts or reading destinies. If you want to learn specific predictive arts, it is not the right book; if you want to understand traditional views of fate, it has reference value.

Can I read it without a foundation in classical Chinese?

The quotations in the materials are mostly short poems and note fragments, not long, but they involve classical expression. Readers without a foundation can first read the publisher's annotations and explanations, then read slowly item by item; do not insist on fully understanding difficult sentences at once—grasp the general meaning from context, and consult reference works for key words as needed.

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

Bai Juyi Author · Chinese

Bai Juyi (772–846), courtesy name Letian and styled Xiangshan Jushi, was born in Xinzheng, Henan, with ancestral roots in Taiyuan. A leading Tang dynasty realist poet, he championed the New Yuefu movement together with Yuan Zhen, and the two were known as "Yuan-Bai"; he is also paired with Liu Yuxi as "Liu-Bai." Bai Juyi served as a Hanlin academician and Left Remonstrator, among other posts. His wide-ranging work includes satirical poems on the hardships of ordinary people and long narrative and lyrical songs. Masterpieces such as "Song of Everlasting Sorrow," "Song of the Pipa," and "The Charcoal Seller" are noted for their plain, natural language and sincere feeling, and have exerted a lasting influence on later poetry. His Bai Shi Changqing Collection survives, and this library holds 77 of his works, including poems, prose collections, and verse groups such as Poems from Qin and Spring by the Xunyang River, commonly classed under ancient poetry, classic works, and inspirational growth.