The Classic of Forbearance + The Classic of Endurance (2 Volumes)

马银春 / Liu YangChina Yanshi Press · ChinaJul 2023

2.5

Word count: 298K words
Chapters: 132

Summary

The Classic of Forbearance: Forbearance is an ability, a cultivation, and a strategy. "Bear all things patiently, think more about your own shortcomings, and increase what you are incapable of; take the overall situation into account, and as long as no major principle is compromised, forgive others more. Forbearance is difficult, but as a politician, one must practice forbearance." This is a penetrating analysis of "forbearance" made by Mao Zedong in 1944. A gentleman endures what others cannot endure, tolerates what others cannot tolerate, and handles what others cannot handle.

The Classic of Uprightness: Based on the eighteen-point outline of the "Classic of Uprightness" described by Li Hongzhang, several exceptionally refined sayings were collected and compiled from many of Zeng Guofan's works. Taking discussion as the warp and events as the weft, each point is interpreted and explained one by one. It is hoped that readers can explore the profound meaning of "uprightness" from The Classic of Uprightness and attain the supreme realm of life: "achieving things outwardly, cultivating virtue inwardly."

Editor's review

This set combines The Classic of Forbearance and The Classic of Uprightness. The former centers on the traditional theme of "forbearance" in dealing with the world, discussing the measure and value of forbearance from the perspectives of personal cultivation, consideration of the overall situation, and bottom-line principles. The latter is based on the eighteen-point outline of Zeng Guofan's "Classic of Uprightness" as described by Li Hongzhang; it collects and compiles several sayings from Zeng Guofan's related works, taking discussion as the warp and events as the weft, and interprets them point by point, focusing on the responsibility, perseverance, and outward achievement and inner virtue represented by "uprightness." Read together, the two books form one soft and one hard, constituting two sides of the traditional scholar's wisdom in dealing with the world: forbearance is not weak yielding, nor is uprightness mere rigidity. Through comparison, readers can appreciate the sense of measure in advancing and retreating appropriately. The compiler presents traditional materials through accessible interpretation, making this suitable as an introductory reader for understanding Zeng Guofan-style cultivation and Chinese-style philosophy of dealing with the world. It should be read slowly and savored in connection with one's own circumstances, not regarded as a directly applicable operations manual.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in traditional Chinese wisdom on dealing with the world and cultivation
Professionals who wish to understand the spirit of "uprightness" from materials related to Zeng Guofan
Young readers who need to regulate emotions and practice forbearance and restraint
Readers who enjoy interpreting classics through examples and prefer accessible traditional Chinese studies readers

Not a good fit for

Classical literature researchers expecting strict academic textual research or critical editions of the original text
Readers seeking systematic management or psychological theory
Readers who dislike traditional moral exhortation-style expression

Reading tips

Read The Classic of Uprightness first and then The Classic of Forbearance to appreciate how the two sides of hardness and softness complement each other.
After reading each point, write down in one sentence one change you can put into practice.
Compare the book's views with a recent difficulty you have encountered and make brief annotations.
Read the two books in alternation; when you encounter contradictions, pause and think about where the measure lies.

About the publisher

China Yanshi Press China · Founded in 1995

China Yanshi Press is a comprehensive publisher whose output covers politics, law, economics, management, history, culture, and cadre education, alongside general-interest titles in documentary literature, inspirational growth, essays and miscellaneous works, classics, youth literature, and social novels. Its library currently holds 146 titles. Representative books include classics such as The First Half of My Life: Complete Edition and Liang Qichao's Family Letters, inspirational works such as Dale Carnegie's The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking, and technical titles such as Theory and Technology of Humanoid Robots. Its authors include Aisin-Gioro Puyi, Liang Qichao, Hu Shi, and Dale Carnegie. The press has built considerable strength in documentary literature and classic works while also serving academic theory and general reading, showing a publishing profile that values multiple fields. Public information is limited, and the above is based mainly on the books held in the library.

版权信息
忍经
前言
第一章大材之忍
“忍”中大材李世民
楚庄王一鸣惊人
“忍”中奇才康熙帝
汉高祖刘邦以“忍”得天下
萧何伴君与“虎”共舞
廉蔺忍让将相和
隐忍圣者曾国藩
第二章忍辱负重
勾践卧薪尝胆
司马迁忍辱著《史记》
孙膑忍辱斗庞涓
苏武牧羊威武不屈
西施为国屈自身
第三章以屈求全
刘禅乐不思蜀
李后主悲词万里长
第四章不忍之忍
吕不韦善谋不善忍
名士不忍遭横祸
魏延忍耐不到底
有大才没大忍的韩信
洪承畴难过美人关
李善长不会忍
第五章忠义之忍
屈原隐忍尽忠
晁错能忠不能忍
周亚夫憨直之忍
岳飞冤死风波亭
袁崇焕为国不谋身
第六章宏量之忍
宰相权大肚量亦大
刘秀柔道中兴
第七章旷达之忍
魏晋风度也是忍
苏东坡才高愈旷达
陶渊明隐于山林观于世
第八章残忍之忍
吕雉刚毅残忍压服群臣
武则天残忍夺帝位
第九章奸诈之忍
郑庄公忍耐纵奸除祸患
杨广虚伪之忍成恶帝
王莽书生之忍
奸臣秦桧的忍术
和珅贪婪之忍
吴三桂野心之忍
第十章磨难之忍
重耳忍受磨难成霸业
唐玄奘坚忍求佛法
第十一章为官之忍
范雎功成知隐退
陈平大忍掩小节
萧规曹随也是忍
韬晦大师司马懿
挺经
前言
第一章内圣
一、修炼身心的四种法门
二、君子独处须精诚谨慎
三、言行勤俭可修己治人
第二章砺志
一、君子要树立远大志向
二、读书修身以明理为先
三、持之以恒则德业日进
第三章家范
一、曾氏家训为八字八本
二、家族败落的四种因由
三、孝友为家可绵延不绝
第四章明强
一、追求学问能获得智明
二、担当大事以明强为本
三、强于自修不与人争竞
第五章坚忍
一、坚忍卓绝是成功之基
二、保持浑厚要不露痕迹
三、咬牙力撑到最后一刻
第六章刚柔
一、刚柔相济方至刚至柔
二、保持倔强来激励志气
三、强毅与刚愎相去霄壤
第七章英才
一、贤才也要择能而使之
二、忠诚耿直是难得品质
三、才能靠磨炼打造而成
第八章廉矩
一、廉洁方正不容易做到
二、君子应尽心遵守礼制
三、崇俭有助于保持廉洁
第九章勤敬
一、治理国家需御人之术
二、治道不外乎勤劳谦虚
三、苦懊思遁须奋勉力行
第十章诡道
一、用兵之道在仁义礼法
二、理解战争的残酷本质
三、练兵作战有如做文章
第十一章久战
一、久战之道忌势穷力竭
二、作战不可无安排算计
三、名将领军擅提高士气
第十二章廪实
一、家庭兴旺在勤俭自持
二、君子不应置理财不讲
三、立国离不开商战二字
第十三章峻法
一、治民需要靠严刑峻法
二、革新吏治要简汰劣羸
三、宽严则名利礼义兼全
第十四章外王
一、面临侵略要自立自强
二、据物为己学先进技术
三、师夷之智为自强之本
第十五章忠疑
一、君子立身应无所愧疚
二、不生二心可避免祸端
三、尽性知命能化解猜疑
第十六章荷道
一、文章气象光明最可贵
二、作文要出自思虑精微
三、道理足文章自然醇厚
第十七章藏锋
一、君子需懂得屈伸之道
二、厚藏匿锐则如鼎之镇
三、英雄有恭谨厚藏之风
第十八章盈虚
一、世人皆不能毫无缺陷
二、知天命方可持盈保泰
三、惜福而节势自然悠久

FAQ

Is The Classic of Uprightness a complete work written by Zeng Guofan himself?

No. According to the material, this book is based on the eighteen-point outline of the "Classic of Uprightness" described by Li Hongzhang; it collects and compiles several sayings from many of Zeng Guofan's works and then interprets and explains them point by point. It is a work of compilation and interpretation, not an independent complete original work.

Are the two books suitable for reading straight through?

They can be read straight through, but reading them in comparison is recommended. The Classic of Forbearance discusses forbearance and taking the overall situation into account, while The Classic of Uprightness discusses responsibility and perseverance. One is soft and the other hard; reading them alternately makes it easier to appreciate the sense of measure in advancing and retreating appropriately in traditional wisdom on dealing with the world.

Can readers without a foundation in classical Chinese understand it?

Yes. This book is mainly interpretation and explanation, not a compilation of pure classical Chinese original text. General readers can understand the main ideas with the help of the interpretive text. When encountering quotations, slow down and focus on grasping the main argument of each point.

Can the views in the book be directly copied into the modern workplace?

Direct copying is not advisable. The book discusses cultivation and ways of dealing with the world in a traditional context. Readers should make choices in light of modern workplace rules and their own principles, treating it as a reference for thinking about measure rather than an operations manual.

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

马银春 Author · China · 1974

Ma Yinchun, born in 1974 in Yongdeng, Lanzhou, Gansu, is an experienced writer and publishing professional who has worked in the book industry for more than a decade. He has long written popular books for general readers on motivation, management, social skills, and self-cultivation, and 95 of his titles are held in the collection, with subjects also extending to social culture, history, philosophy, and social psychology. Among them, the four "24 Lessons Heard at Peking University" volumes on wealth, history, philosophy, and management, together with works such as Businesspeople Should Learn Some Chinese Classics, Businesspeople Should Know Some History, and Businesspeople Should Understand Some Philosophy, reflect his approach of connecting the humanities with business practice and everyday cultivation. His writing is generally accessible and clearly organized, with an emphasis on practicality and readability. Publicly available information about his education, awards, and specific career history is limited, so these are not elaborated here.

Liu Yang Author · China · 1986

Liu Yang, born in 1986 in Neijiang, Sichuan, is a Chinese science fiction writer. He holds a PhD in condensed matter physics from Beijing Normal University and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Chongqing University. He began publishing science fiction in 2012. His major works include the novels Mars Orphans, City in the Well and The Crack, as well as the short story collections Perfect Doomsday, Honeycomb and Wings of Flowing Light. He has won the Chinese Science Fiction Nebula Award several times. Beyond science fiction, the library also includes his works in law, computing, applied psychology, fashion and succulent plants, such as the 44th edition of A General Introduction to German Civil Law, Practical Federated Learning and several introductory books on succulents, showing interests that span the sciences and humanities. Public information is limited; his science fiction writing often draws on his scientific background and balances expertise with accessibility.