Chapter on Strange Vacuity

Wang ChongJul 2024

4.0

Word count: 2.8K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early forms of thought have distinctive features: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography—all are profound and extensive. This series, "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts," preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

"On Emptiness and Falsehood" (Yi Xu Pian) is a famous chapter in Wang Chong's Lunheng. This edition is included in the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series, which preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. Wang Chong is known for "condemning the empty and false," and this chapter concentrates on analyzing and distinguishing false claims, embodying his critical spirit that values evidence and logic. It is an important text for understanding the rational-skeptical strain in Han dynasty thought. Unlike ordinary selections of Chinese classics that favor Confucian texts, this chapter shows the questioning and debating side of early thought, allowing readers to see how ancient thinkers examined vulgar rumors and claims of the strange and supernatural. The writing is strongly argumentative and clearly organized, making it suitable as an introductory piece for understanding the overall intent of the Lunheng. When reading, pay attention to its argumentative method and historical context, and do not simply equate it with modern scientific standards. For readers of Chinese classics who wish to move beyond mere recitation to reflective thinking, this is a selection that can spark discussion, and it is also suitable for book clubs to discuss "how to distinguish empty and false words."

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Han dynasty thought and the critical spirit of the Lunheng
Readers hoping to gain training in critical thinking through reading Chinese classics
Students in philosophy and intellectual history
Members of book clubs who enjoy argumentative classical Chinese texts

Not a good fit for

Beginners with no foundation in classical Chinese who are unwilling to consult annotations
People who only want narrative stories and lack interest in argumentative essays
Readers expecting a systematic and complete understanding of the whole Lunheng

Reading tips

First understand Wang Chong's basic position of "condemning the empty and false," then grasp the targets of argument section by section.
While reading, mark the specific claims the author refutes and sort out the logic of his rebuttals.
Compare with other selections from Chinese classics to appreciate the rational-skeptical side of Han dynasty thought.
After reading, try to retell the core argument in your own words to test your understanding.

版权信息
异虚篇第十八
正文

FAQ

What is the place of "On Emptiness and Falsehood" in the Lunheng?

It is one of the chapters in the Lunheng that embodies Wang Chong's spirit of condemning the empty and false and valuing evidence, and it concentrates on analyzing and distinguishing popular false claims. This chapter has a strong argumentative character and can serve as an introductory selection for understanding the overall critical intent of the Lunheng, but reading a single chapter cannot replace a systematic understanding of the whole book.

Do I need to read the entire Lunheng before reading this chapter?

No. This chapter is relatively self-contained and can be read on its own. But if you want a deeper understanding of Wang Chong's concerns and argumentative background, it is advisable to first read a relevant introduction or overview of the Lunheng to understand the intellectual atmosphere of his time, and then return to this chapter for close reading; your understanding will be more complete.

What can this chapter's argumentative method teach us today?

Wang Chong valued questioning and analyzing popular claims, and his argumentative method embodies a skeptical attitude that does not readily believe rumors. Read today, it can help us reflect on the phenomenon of misinformation spreading through repetition, but we should note that his arguments relied on the conditions of his time and should not be directly equated with modern scientific methods.

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About the author

Wang Chong Author · Chinese

Wang Chong (27–c. 97), courtesy name Zhongren, was a native of Shangyu in Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). A thinker, literary critic, and atheist of the Eastern Han, he entered the Imperial Academy in Luoyang in his youth and studied under Ban Biao; later he left office, stayed at home, and devoted himself to writing. His representative work, the eighty-five-chapter Lunheng (Balanced Inquiries), criticizes Chenwei superstition and the theory of interactions between Heaven and humanity, advocates a naturalist theory of qi, and stands as an important representative of Han-dynasty materialist thought. Wang Chong valued evidence and analysis in his writing, often developing arguments through questions and debates in a plain but sharp style. The collection holds sixty-nine of his works, including such pieces as Shizhi pian, Wenkong pian, Ziran pian, Daoxu pian, Duizuo pian, and Hanwen pian, covering philosophy, social criticism, and literary appreciation. He championed independent thinking and opposed blind submission to authority, exerting a lasting influence on later thought and literary criticism.