Abstaining from Lust

Chen HengqingNanhai Publication Company · ChinaSep 2023

3.0

Word count: 409 words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

This book is Abstaining from Lust by Chen Hengqing.

Editor's review

As a moral exhortation by Chen Hengqing, Abstaining from Lust is not concerned with sensational tales of karmic retribution but with restraint of desire and keeping to one's proper place, discussed from the standpoint of everyday human relations and conduct. The book is short and plainly written, and can be read as traditional edifying literature: on one hand it shows how scholars of an earlier age understood personal cultivation and family responsibility; on the other, it conveys the author's repeated warnings about the harms of indulgence. The 2023 Nanhai Publishing House edition makes this kind of text accessible to general readers. It need not be taken as a stern moral code; read alongside the pace of life today, it can prompt reflection on the relationship between self-discipline and physical and mental well-being. If you are interested in self-cultivation in traditional culture, or want to understand how modern edifying works were written, this book is a brief sample to start from.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in traditional self-cultivation and edifying culture
Those who need short moral essays as material for daily self-reflection
Readers interested in the style of modern edifying literature
Readers who prefer plain argument to plot

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic scholarship or detailed annotation
Readers who prefer storytelling and literary interest
People easily put off by moral exhortation

Reading tips

Read one short section a day, then write two sentences of reflection on your own habits.
Read through once for the main idea, then go back and mark the core points that recur.
Discuss one point of disagreement with family or a reading group, rather than accepting it one-sidedly.
Pause at an argument and give one concrete example from contemporary life.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
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FAQ

Is this book a novel or expository writing?

Judging by the author and title, it is traditional exhortative writing, mainly argument and admonition rather than a plot-driven novel. Read it as short essays on self-cultivation and focus on the author's reasoning and observations of life rather than looking for a full storyline.

Can I read it without a classical Chinese background?

This is a modern publishing house edition, usually set in simplified characters, and general readers can read it directly. If you meet old-fashioned expressions or ethical ideas, set them aside for the moment and grasp the main point of each paragraph; there is no need for word-by-word textual study.

Will a book like this feel too preachy?

Exhortative works are indeed preachy, but readers can take a dialogic approach: absorb what you agree with and note your reasons where you disagree. Treat it as a sample for understanding traditional views rather than a code you must obey, and the reading pressure will be much lighter.

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About the author

Chen Hengqing Author · Chinese · 1844–1920

Chen Hengqing (1844–1920), courtesy name Zijiu, was a native of Weixian in Shandong (present-day Weicheng District, Weifang). A late Qing official and scholar, he passed the provincial examination in 1873 and the metropolitan examination in 1886. He served successively as a secretary in the Ministry of Works, rising through the Waterways, Construction, and Colonization Departments, and later held posts as Supervising Censor of the Ministry of War, Investigating Censor of the Henan Circuit, and Chief Supervising Censor. In 1908 he was appointed prefect of Jinzhou. He retired at sixty and wrote works including Jianshu Xian Notes (also known as Jili Qingtan) and Unofficial Gleanings of the Late Qing. His extant writings are considerable, with 154 titles held in our collection, many drawing on folk literature and Eastern philosophy. They touch on modern upheavals such as the militia conflicts, the Boxer movement, and the Nian rebels, as well as rural tales and social types like foxes and swindlers, and social issues such as Manchu-Han differences, bearing the documentary flavor of note-style historiography. Public information is limited, and his literary standing and influence await further study.