Numerous Regions

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

4.0

Word count: 1.1K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Duofang, an old term for the feudal lords of the various states; also meaning "many aspects"; and describing broad but miscellaneous learning. See "Mozi · Gong Meng": "What people contract illnesses from is manifold: some from cold and heat, some from toil and hardship."

Editor's review

"Duofang" is another proclamation (gao) from the early Zhou period in the Book of Documents, similar in nature to "Duoshi," and concerns admonitions addressed to the lords of the many states and to the remnants of the Yin people. The term "duofang" originally referred to the feudal lords of the various states, and also carries the senses "many aspects" and "broad but miscellaneous learning"; the passage cited from "Mozi · Gong Meng" takes the latter sense, showing the term's polysemy in the pre-Qin context. This proclamation repeatedly sets forth the doctrine that Heaven's mandate is inconstant and favors only virtue, admonishing the lords of all quarters to keep to their stations and duties. Its style is meandering and repetitive, making it good material for appreciating early Zhou political rhetoric and the features of the proclamation genre. This Bashu Press edition offers readers a convenient aid for study. When reading, note the shifting levels of reference of "duofang" within the proclamation, and the political intent behind the repeated admonitions. It may be read alongside "Duoshi" to compare the audiences and wording of the two proclamations, and pre-Qin texts such as the Mozi may be used to understand the extended usage of "duofang," thereby gaining a fuller grasp of the relation between pre-Qin vocabulary and texts.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Learners of ancient Chinese and early texts studying the proclamation literature of the Book of Documents
Researchers of pre-Qin history concerned with early Zhou politics and the Yin remnants
Enthusiasts of literature and history seeking to understand polysemy in pre-Qin vocabulary
Readers engaged in guided classics reading and traditional culture teaching

Not a good fit for

General readers seeking light, casual reading
Complete beginners with no classical Chinese background who are unwilling to read annotations
Workplace readers expecting modern management or motivational content

Reading tips

First use the annotations to grasp the general meaning of the proclamation, then sort out what "duofang" refers to in each context.
Read it against "Duoshi," comparing the audiences, tone, and argumentation of the two proclamations.
Draw on usages of "duofang" in pre-Qin texts such as "Mozi · Gong Meng" to appreciate its extended senses.
During close reading, mark the recurring statements on Heaven's mandate and virtuous rule, and summarize the core arguments.

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
周书·多方第二十

FAQ

What does "duofang" mean in the title of this Book of Documents chapter?

In the title, "duofang" originally refers to the feudal lords of the many states and domains; the proclamation is addressed to the lords of the various quarters and those associated with them. In the passage cited from "Mozi · Gong Meng," however, "duofang" means "many aspects," an extended usage. The contexts differ, and readers should distinguish between them.

What is the relation between "Duofang" and "Duoshi"?

Both are early Zhou proclamations in the Book of Documents, similar in nature and both concerned with admonishing the Yin remnants and the various forces. Their audiences and specific wording differ, however. Reading them together allows comparison of the different persuasive strategies directed at different audiences in the early Zhou, a useful way to understand early Zhou political discourse.

Is this book suitable for learning ancient Chinese?

It suits readers with some grounding in classical Chinese. The proclamation style is archaic and meandering, with distinctive syntax, making it typical material for learning pre-Qin written language, but it is not suitable as a primer for complete beginners. It is best used with annotations, translations, and relevant grammar references, and with an edition of reliable quality.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.