Illustrated Mencius

Name: Illustrated Mencius
ISBN: 9787513279192

龙若飞China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine · ChinaAug 2024

3.4

Word count: 49K words
Chapters: 279
ISBN: 9787513279192

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Summary

This series is a carefully curated selection of Chinese classics recommended for TCM practitioners alongside the four great classics of Chinese medicine, intended to provide readers with direct exposure to traditional culture and spiritual nourishment on their path to becoming accomplished TCM doctors. Mencius was a renowned thinker, educator, and statesman of ancient China, and a representative figure of Confucianism during the Warring States period. He inherited and carried forward Confucius's thought; Confucius is honored as the "Great Sage," and Mencius as the "Second Sage." Mencius advocated "benevolent governance" and was the first to propose the idea that "the people are most precious, the ruler lightest." He once followed Confucius's example, leading his disciples on travels through the states, but was not accepted by the rulers of his time, and subsequently retired with his disciples to write books. The collected sayings of Mencius and his disciples were compiled into the book Mencius, one of the classic works of Confucian doctrine. Its prose is fluent and persuasive, vigorous in spirit, skilled in argumentation, tightly reasoned, sharp and witty, representing the pinnacle of traditional prose writing.

Editor's review

This book restores Mencius from a "required ancient text" to the living speech of a brilliant, argumentative thinker. It does not aim for tedious word-by-word annotation, but uses an illustrated, accessible format to trace the intellectual thread of Mencius traveling through the states and debating with his disciples, returning propositions such as "benevolent governance," "the people are most precious, the ruler lightest," and "human nature is good" to their concrete contexts. For TCM readers, this reading is not merely supplementary study of the classics, but an opportunity to draw on Mencius's noble spirit and rigorous argumentation, to experience the connections among "person" and "governance," "heart" and "qi" in traditional culture, and to nourish the understanding of the ways of thinking behind TCM classics. The book's presentation of the vigor and logic of Mencius's prose also suits readers who wish to strengthen their feel for argumentation in classical Chinese. It is best treated as light bedside reading—one or two chapters at a time, read alongside the original text of Mencius, to better appreciate the sharpness and warmth of the Second Sage's words.

Who it's for

A good fit for

TCM practitioners or students who want to build a foundation in Chinese classics beyond the four great classics
General readers interested in Confucian thought who want an accessible introduction
Readers of literature and history who need to improve their classical Chinese argumentation and reasoning skills
Busy office workers who prefer illustrated, light reading
Parents who want to introduce their children to Mencius but find the original text too difficult

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers who need a full translation and annotation of Mencius or academic textual criticism
Philosophy majors seeking a systematic framework of philosophical history and conceptual analysis
Middle school students looking only for exam-oriented classical Chinese practice materials

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents and each chapter's introduction to build a map of Mencius's thought, then go back and read closely the chapters that interest you.
Keep a copy of the original Mencius at hand, read it alongside the illustrations and text, and whenever a quotation appears, turn to the original to feel its tone.
Read only a small section at a time; after finishing, retell Mencius's argumentative logic in your own words to train your reasoning ability.
Relate "benevolent governance" and "nourishing qi" to TCM clinical practice or everyday life, and think about how they connect to your own work.

About the publisher

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine China · Founded in 1989

China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on publishing books in traditional Chinese medicine, covering Chinese medical classics, clinical medicine, acupuncture and tuina, materia medica and formulae, and medical history and literature; its catalogue includes 3,277 titles. Representative books include Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue, Shang Han Lun, Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu, Zhen Jiu Da Cheng, Yi Zong Jin Jian, and Guo Aichun's Annotated Huangdi Neijing Suwen (Second Edition). These works involve writings by historical physicians such as Qian Yi, Zhang Zhongjing, Wang Shuhe, and Zhang Xichun, as well as documentary studies compiled by contemporary authors including Zhao Xin, Zhen Xueyan, Zhang Yongtai, and Wang Xiangang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the press emphasizes collation and annotation of original Chinese medical classics and the systematic presentation of famous physicians' works, balancing the transmission of ancient editions with reference for clinical application. Public information is limited, and no other publishing fields are covered here.

版权信息
内容简介
作者简介
凡例
策划人语
梁惠王上
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梁惠王下
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公孙丑上
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公孙丑下
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滕文公上
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滕文公下
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离娄上
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离娄下
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万章上
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万章下
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告子上
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告子下
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尽心上
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尽心下
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FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone with no background in reading Mencius?

Yes. It uses an illustrated format to explain the figures, era, and intellectual background, and does not require prior classical Chinese. However, it leans toward intellectual context and reading guidance rather than a word-by-word full translation and annotation, so when you encounter specific passages you will still need to consult the original Mencius or a translation and annotation edition.

What practical help does reading Mencius offer TCM practitioners?

The materials indicate that this series aims to provide TCM practitioners with exposure to traditional culture beyond the four great classics. Reading Mencius lets you experience the rigor and noble spirit of Confucian argumentation and understand traditional cultural thinking about the human heart, human nature, and governance; it offers indirect nourishment for appreciating the cultural context behind TCM classics, but cannot replace professional medical study.

What role do the "illustrations" in the book mainly play?

Judging from the title and the series positioning, the illustrations help present figures, scenes, and intellectual context, lowering the barrier to reading and making the classics more accessible. The materials do not describe the specific image content in detail; it is advisable to leaf through a physical copy to confirm whether the text-to-image ratio suits your reading habits.

After finishing this book, should I still read the original Mencius?

Yes, it is recommended. This book is more of a guide and intellectual map, helping you first build a framework and develop interest. To truly appreciate the vigor and argumentative edge of Mencius's prose, you still need to return to the original text and read it chapter by chapter with a reliable translation and annotation; the effect will be better.

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About the author

龙若飞 Author · China

Long Ruofei is a compiler and editor of Chinese classical texts; publicly available information about the author is limited. The work falls roughly into two lines: collation and commentary, and accessible compilation. Long annotated the Qing scholar Liu Sibai's Zhouyi Huajie, published by Shanghai Joint Publishing in 2015, and subsequently compiled a series of illustrated classics, including illustrated editions of the Daodejing, the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean, the Yijing, the Mencius, and the Analects, published by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The series combines text and images to present the original works and their meaning for beginners and readers in Chinese medicine, aiming to provide them with readable editions of the classics. Judging from the six works held in the library, the topics center on Yijing studies and the Confucian Four Books, with major Daoist texts also included, emphasizing readability and practical use in a plain style suited to step-by-step study.