An Introductory Course in Chinese National Studies

Name: An Introductory Course in Chinese National Studies
ISBN: 9787511355829

Zhang Binglin (Zhang Taiyan)China Overseas Publishing House · ChinaMar 2017

3.9

Word count: 201K words
Chapters: 15
ISBN: 9787511355829

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Summary

National studies (guoxue) arose in the early 20th century and flourished in the 1920s. After the upsurge of exploration and reflection on "traditional Chinese culture" in the 1980s and 1990s, it has revived once again today. This book collects records of Mr. Zhang Taiyan's two public lectures on national studies in 1922 and 1935, systematically reflecting the overall landscape of national studies and demonstrating Zhang's profound scholarship. It is truly a must-read for enthusiasts and researchers of national studies. The book incisively discusses the connotations of national studies and the methods of studying them, systematically introduces the evolution of traditional classical studies, philosophy, and literature, and offers exquisite and original evaluations of the characteristics of academic development in various periods, representative figures, and works. It can be regarded as a brief history of Chinese classical studies, philosophy, and literature. Moreover, to help readers better understand national studies, the editor has annotated the obscure and difficult passages, making it truly an essential introductory book for enthusiasts of national studies.

Editor's review

Mr. Zhang Taiyan's "国学入门课" is not a rigorously systematic textbook, but the crystallization of a master of national studies' scholarly experience and guidance on the path of learning. The book originates from records of his lectures on national studies in his later years, and its greatest value lies in its orientation of "teaching people to fish." Zhang's national studies are rooted in xiaoxue (philology: writing, phonology, and exegesis), which he regarded as the sole gateway to all learning in the classics, histories, masters, and belles-lettres. His attitude toward the classics in the book is quite critical and independent; for example, his analysis of the distinction between the modern and ancient text versions of the Shangshu, and his sober observations on the historical formation of Confucian classics, all break out of the mold of blind reverence for the classics and display the rational spirit peculiar to the modern academic transition period.

Reading this book, readers can deeply feel the breadth and depth of Zhang Taiyan's scholarship. When he discusses the Shuowen Jiezi, he not only explains glyphs and meanings but also connects them to ancient social institutions and cultural psychology; when he discusses the various masters, he compares them vertically and horizontally, revealing the evolution of thought. This way of explaining specific knowledge by placing it within a grand historical and cultural context is the most essential part of the book. However, readers should also note that Zhang's remarks are sometimes vehement, and some of his specific academic views (such as his views on oracle bone script) have been surpassed by later research. Therefore, this book is better suited as a window into the academic landscape of the Republic of China era and a glimpse of the master's way of thinking, rather than a textbook for obtaining definitive knowledge. For readers intent on delving deeply into national studies, following the master's pointed path and cultivating an emphasis on primary sources and critical thinking is far more important than memorizing the specific conclusions in the book.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Chinese department students or enthusiasts with some classical Chinese foundation who wish to systematically understand the scope and methods of national studies
Researchers interested in the academic and intellectual history of the late Qing and early Republic, who want to view the academic style of that era through representative figures
Advanced readers who have already read some introductory works on national studies and wish to further encounter the master's original, highly personal insights
Readers seeking a path to traditional learning different from currently popular interpretations, eager to encounter a critical and evidential approach

Not a good fit for

Absolute beginners expecting a relaxed, story-based introduction to national studies
Readers seeking standard answers or systematic textbooks, who find it hard to accept personalized, controversial views in academic history

Reading tips

It is recommended to first read through the preface and first chapter to grasp Zhang Taiyan's definition of the scope of national studies and the core of his methodology, then choose chapters of interest for deeper reading
While reading, keep the Shuowen Jiezi or related reference works at hand, verifying as you go, to practice Zhang's scholarly approach of emphasizing "xiaoxue"
Read alongside materials on modern academic history to understand the significance and limitations of Zhang Taiyan's views in their historical context, forming a three-dimensional understanding

About the publisher

China Overseas Publishing House China · Founded in 1988

China Overseas Publishing House focuses on philosophy, history, world classics and mystery and detective fiction, with a secondary interest in foreign literature and folk literature. Its catalogue of roughly 960 titles includes Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, Jiang Tingfu's Modern Chinese History, Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, Arthur Conan Doyle's Complete Sherlock Holmes, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, as well as Classic Collected Edition of Greek Myths and a beautifully illustrated edition of Zhuangzi, giving it a publishing profile centred on classic translations and traditional Chinese culture. Its authors and translators range from Wittgenstein, Jiang Tingfu, Mitchell, Conan Doyle and Saint-Exupéry to Huang Min, Fu Donghua and Liu Shijie. Public information about its editorial philosophy and series system is limited.

版权信息
编者序
代序：国学之统宗
上卷国学概论
第一章概论
第二章经学之派别
第三章哲学之派别
第四章文学之派别
第五章结论：国学如何进步
下卷国学略说
第一章小学讲义
第二章经学解说
第三章史学研究
第四章文学略讲
第五章诸子百家

FAQ

What are the fundamental differences between this book and other "Introduction to National Studies" books on the market?

The fundamental difference lies in its strong personal academic character and its function as path guidance. It is not an objective, neutral disciplinary overview, but Zhang Taiyan's own pointing out of what he considers the core of national studies and the correct method of study, based on his profound scholarship. It has a distinct nature of discussing and guiding learning, especially emphasizing starting from xiaoxue (philology).

Can I understand this book without a solid foundation in classical Chinese?

There will be some difficulty. Although the book is compiled from lecture drafts and the language is relatively colloquial, it involves a large number of quotations from ancient texts and specialized terminology. Although the modern edited edition has annotations, the core discussion is still mainly in classical Chinese or a mix of classical and vernacular. It is recommended to attempt it after acquiring the basic ability to read original texts such as the Analects and the Records of the Grand Historian, or to read it alongside a detailed annotated translation.

Are all of Zhang Taiyan's views in the book correct? How should we regard them?

"Correctness" should not be the sole criterion. Many views in the book are Zhang's personal opinions; some (such as doubts about certain classics) remain controversial in academic circles, and some specific textual criticisms have been revised by newly unearthed materials. The value of reading lies in learning his scholarly logic, problem awareness, and spirit of bold questioning of the classics, understanding them within the context of academic history, rather than wholly accepting his conclusions.

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About the author

Zhang Binglin (Zhang Taiyan) Author · Chinese · 1869–1936

Zhang Binglin (Zhang Taiyan, 1869–1936), style name Taiyan, was a native of Yuhang, Zhejiang. A democratic revolutionary, thinker, and master of Chinese classical learning in the late Qing and early Republican era, he edited the Min Bao, the official newspaper of the Tongmenghui, and was known both for his revolutionary stance and his deep scholarly attainments. His research spanned the classics, history, philology, and the various schools of thought. His works include Qiu Shu, Guogu Lunheng, Wenshi, and Xin Fangyan, written in an archaic, rigorous style that combines polemical force with solid textual scholarship. He lectured and wrote for many years, and his students included Huang Kan, Qian Xuantong, and Lu Xun, giving him a profound influence on modern scholarship and literature. This library holds 24 of his works, covering classics, Eastern philosophy, literary appreciation, and culture, including public-domain editions of Guogu Lunheng and Qiu Shu as well as lectures on national learning and academic history, offering readers different angles on his thought and prose style.