In Search of Qin

Name: In Search of Qin
ISBN: 9787101163421

Nie ZuopingZhonghua Book Company · ChinaFeb 2024

3.4

Word count: 158K words
Chapters: 11
ISBN: 9787101163421

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Summary

The people of Qin began as a small tribe living in the "western marches." Over several centuries of twists and turns, they gradually grew stronger and rose to power in the west, becoming the hegemon of the western regions and ultimately unifying the six states. The Qin moved their capital eight times, from the first true capital, Qin Yi, to the final capital, Xianyang, in a strenuous effort to gain territory, contend eastward, and pursue strategic expansion. Following the migration routes of the Qin people, the author seeks out the traces they left on the ground and discovers remnants of Qin customs and culture preserved among local folkways. Through geographical exploration, fieldwork, and analysis, he reveals both the contingency and the inevitability of how Qin grew from small to large and from weak to strong, ultimately unifying the six states.

Editor's review

Xun Qin Ji is not the well-known martial arts novel by Huang Yi, but a rigorous and literary work of Qin history tracing by the historian Nie Zuoping. Published by Zhonghua Book Company, the book guides readers through a dual "search for Qin" in historical geography and cultural spirit. Eschewing the novelist's fictional methods, the author uses fieldwork as his warp and textual research as his weft. He visits important sites, passes, and ancient roads of the former Qin territory, corroborating the cold records in texts such as the Shiji with the mountains, rivers, ruined walls, and broken tiles before his eyes, thereby reviving a history with warmth and texture. Nie Zuoping's writing combines scholarly prudence with literary sensibility. He not only traces the arc of Qin's rise and fall from a border tribe to rulers of a unified empire, but focuses on how the geographical environment shaped the Qin people's tough, pragmatic, even harsh character, and how that character profoundly influenced the course of Chinese history. Reading this book is like following a learned guide through the Guanzhong Plain and the mountains and waters of Longshan and Shu, identifying the footprints of history amid overgrown weeds and wild grass, and gaining an embodied understanding of history's complexity and continuity that goes beyond book knowledge.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the rise of the Qin empire who are not satisfied with popular retellings and want solid historical understanding.
History and culture travel enthusiasts who wish to take a deep "virtual tour" of historical sites through words.
Readers who appreciate nonfiction writing that blends scholarly research, fieldwork, and elegant prose.
Thinkers who want to understand the deep connections between geography, environment, civilizational character, and historical destiny.

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for the plot or time-travel story of the martial arts novel of the same name, Xun Qin Ji.
Readers who expect a fast-paced historical narrative or biography with a tight plot.

Reading tips

It is recommended to read this book alongside the relevant chapters of the Shiji to appreciate the interplay between textual records and on-site evidence.
Readers may wish to consult maps of the Guanzhong and Qin-Long regions while reading, following the author's footsteps to build a sense of space.
This book is suited to quiet, slow reading, savoring the personal reflections and humanistic musings the author weaves into the historical narrative.

About the publisher

Zhonghua Book Company China · Founded in 1912

Zhonghua Book Company is a publisher known for collating ancient texts and academic publishing, with its output centered on Eastern philosophy, culture, classic works, art, and historical reading. Its library contains 532 titles, including Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guo Qingfan's Collected Commentaries on Zhuangzi, the four-volume Chinese Literature: Four Great Classical Novels, and the two-volume Table of Seal and Clerical Script Forms from Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin. These titles span historical classics, commentaries on the philosophers, classical novels, and philological reference works. Representative authors include Chen Shou, Guo Qingfan, Wu Cheng'en, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, Xu Wenwu, and the Hanyu Dazidian character-form group, reflecting a focus on primary sources and scholarly editors. Its publishing character lies in combining authoritative editions and annotated texts with both accessible classics and specialized research. Public information on its fuller catalog is limited; this note describes only the directions evident in the library's holdings.

版权信息
一半是田野，一半是文字（代序）
第一章漂荡的祖先
第二章西垂之地
第三章汧邑与汧渭之会
第四章寻找平阳
第五章雍城时光
第六章泾阳往事
第七章栎阳之变
第八章咸阳：六王毕，四海一
秦国（朝）世系图

FAQ

What is the relationship between this book and the novel Xun Qin Ji?

None whatsoever. This book is a work of nonfiction by the historian Nie Zuoping about the history and culture of Qin. It belongs to the genre of historical essays or historical field notes, based on fieldwork and textual research, and aims to trace the real historical trajectory of Qin.

How is this book rated on Douban?

According to checks, Nie Zuoping's Xun Qin Ji has received high praise on Douban, with a rating above 8.0 (the exact score may fluctuate). Readers generally recognize its solid content, depth of thought, and elegant prose.

What is the background of the author, Nie Zuoping?

Nie Zuoping is a contemporary Chinese writer and historian known for historical essays and cultural-historical nonfiction. His works are typically grounded in in-depth historical research and extensive fieldwork, with a rigorous yet literary style that strikes a good balance between popularizing history and serious reflection.

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About the author

Nie Zuoping Author · China · 1969

Nie Zuoping was born in 1969 in Fushun, Sichuan, and now lives in Chengdu. A member of the China Writers Association, he has long worked as a professional writer and has published more than fifty books, spanning history, prose and folk literature. His historical works focus on dynastic change and the fate of writers, including 1644: The Pain of an Empire and The Collapse of the Late Ming, as well as books tracing the lives of Du Fu and Li Shangyin. He has also written for several documentaries. For younger readers he has retold Chinese myths in full-color revised, phonetic and other editions, some recommended as extracurricular reading by the Ministry of Education. His works also include Yang Shen, Literary Master of the Ming, Breaking the Cocoon and Seeking Qin. His writing combines accessible scholarship with readable narrative.