On Missions

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

2.3

Word count: 5.8K words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

Fengshi (奉使) is a Chinese term.

Editor's review

This book is titled Fengshi ("Serving as Envoy"), a term the available information identifies as a Chinese word or expression. Its length and content are extremely brief, resembling a lexical entry rather than an extended monograph. Its value lies in offering a point of entry: readers may use it to notice how the term fengshi is used in ancient texts, and thereby understand the institutional background and related records of envoys traveling on orders in antiquity. Because the information only identifies it as a lexical item, whether the book includes definitions, examples, or further explanation must be checked against the actual edition; readers should not assume it contains a full historical narrative or institutional analysis. When reading, it is best treated as a dictionary consultation or supplementary material for classical Chinese, and read alongside other histories and dictionaries to gain a more complete understanding. Those hoping to systematically understand the ancient diplomatic envoy system will clearly need more than this volume and should seek out specialized works.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers consulting classical Chinese terms who need to understand the meaning of fengshi
Those who encounter the term while reading ancient texts and want a quick check
Enthusiasts collecting leads on terms related to ancient offices and envoys

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping to systematically understand the ancient diplomatic envoy system
Readers expecting a long historical discussion or a complete story
Advanced researchers needing rich examples and detailed annotations

Reading tips

First confirm what the book actually contains—whether it is a bare entry or includes definitions and examples.
Note the sources cited as you consult it, so you can check the original texts later.
Read it alongside a classical Chinese dictionary or a dictionary of official titles to fill in the lexical background.
If studying the envoy system, use this book only as a lexical lead and find specialized works for deeper study.

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.

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FAQ

What does the word fengshi mean?

Fengshi means to be sent on a mission—that is, to receive orders from a ruler or superior and travel elsewhere to handle affairs. In ancient texts it is mostly used of envoys traveling on orders. The exact meaning and usage must be judged from context; this book, as a lexical entry, can be consulted, but one should not rely on a single entry to understand the full institutional background.

Is this book suitable for researching ancient diplomacy?

Not very suitable as a main source. The information shows that the book deals only with the term fengshi and is limited in length, so it can hardly carry a full discussion of institutional or diplomatic history. For research on ancient diplomacy, one should find specialized historical works; this book can at most serve as a lexical lead or auxiliary reference.

What background is needed to read this book?

Basically no special background is needed; being able to use a Chinese dictionary is enough. But to understand what fengshi means in specific texts, it is best to have some ability to read classical Chinese and to read alongside dictionaries and histories, so as not to confuse lexical definition with historical institution.

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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.