Weights and Measures of the Mountains

Guan ZhongJinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJun 2024

3.9

Word count: 2.4K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

The Guanzi is a compilation of writings by Jixia Daoists honoring Guan Zhong, representing the Guanzi school of Jixia learning. The Hanshu Yiwenzhi lists it under the Daoist class of the Masters section, while the Suishu Jingjizhi places it under the Legalist class.

Editor's review

Shan Quan Shu comes from the Guanzi. The Guanzi is a compilation of writings by Jixia scholars honoring Guan Zhong, bearing the character of the Jixia Guanzi school; the Hanshu Yiwenzhi lists it under the Daoist category, while the Suishu Jingjizhi places it among the Legalists, and this very divergence in classification points to the complexity of the text. This edition, printed by Shanghai Jinzhang Shuju and reprinted in 2024, is suitable as an introductory text for approaching the relevant chapters of the Guanzi. It should not be read as the work of a single school, but rather with attention to its blending of Daoist and Legalist elements and its incorporation of various schools, as well as to the scholarly shifts behind the classification of ancient texts. Since the materials indicate only the chapter's affiliation and provide no annotation format, readers should use it alongside a reliable annotated edition or reference works. It is better suited to readers interested in pre-Qin thought and the Jixia school who are willing to verify matters themselves, rather than to beginners seeking popular explanations. Its length and format make it more of a reference reading, usable as supplementary material when studying the school affiliation of the Guanzi.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary and historical readers interested in pre-Qin thought and the Jixia school
Researchers who need to consult chapters of the Guanzi and materials on its classification
Scholarly enthusiasts concerned with the divergence between Daoist and Legalist categories in ancient bibliography
Advanced readers who wish to approach the Guanzi text through primary sources

Not a good fit for

Beginners without a foundation in classical Chinese who need vernacular translation
Readers expecting a systematic philosophical introduction or popular explanation
General readers who only want story-driven content

Reading tips

First understand the composition of the Guanzi and the background of the Jixia school before entering specific chapters, so as to avoid isolated interpretation.
Compare the classifications in the Hanshu Yiwenzhi and the Suishu Jingjizhi, and consider the origins of the divergence between Daoist and Legalist attribution.
Read alongside a reliable annotated translation, and promptly verify institutional and economic terminology when encountered.

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

版权信息
山权数第七十五

FAQ

Why is the Guanzi classified under both Daoism and Legalism?

The materials show that the Hanshu Yiwenzhi lists the Guanzi under the Daoist category, while the Suishu Jingjizhi places it among the Legalists. This indicates that the book incorporates various schools, and that bibliographers of different eras classified it according to different emphases; readers may thus observe shifts in ancient scholarly classification.

Is Shan Quan Shu an independent work within the Guanzi?

According to the materials, Shan Quan Shu belongs to the Guanzi. The Guanzi is a compilation of writings by Jixia scholars honoring Guan Zhong, bearing the character of the Guanzi school, and it should therefore be understood within the context of the whole book rather than as a completely independent work.

Can this edition be read directly without annotations?

The materials do not specify the annotation format of this edition. If you lack experience in reading classical Chinese, it is advisable to have a reliable annotated translation or reference works at hand, and to verify unfamiliar institutional terminology promptly so as not to misunderstand the original meaning due to linguistic barriers.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Guan Zhong Author · Chinese

Guan Zi is Guan Zhong, of the Ji clan and the Guan lineage, named Yiwu, styled Zhong, posthumously honored as Jing, a native of Yingshang (present-day Yingshang County, Anhui). A statesman of the early Spring and Autumn period and a forerunner of Legalism in the state of Qi, he assisted Duke Huan of Qi in uniting the feudal lords and setting the realm in order, and has been acclaimed as "the foremost minister of China." His thought is preserved in the book Guanzi, of which 28 related works are held in the collection, with representative chapters including "Guo Xu," "Nei Ye," "Di Yuan," "Qing Zhong Ding," "Zhou He," "Li Zheng," "Jin Zang," and "You Guan." These pieces span economic regulation, mind-and-nature cultivation, geography and products, and statecraft; their style is sometimes terse and substantive, sometimes developed through dialogue, reflecting an early blend of Legalist and Qi-regional scholarship. Public sources on the details of his life are limited, and later accounts mostly rely on the Guanzi text and pre-Qin histories. His works are commonly classified under Eastern philosophy, prose and miscellaneous writings, comprehensive biography, and literary appreciation, and have influenced both ancient political thought and the prose tradition.