The Life-Saving Book

Lü KunThe Commercial Press · ChinaJul 2024

3.6

Word count: 11K words
Chapters: 7

Summary

Is there any urgency in life greater than that of saving one's life? Is there any human affair more important than saving lives? If for a thousand years people could always enjoy peace, and every household had a way to escape danger, then lofty city walls and moats, which exhaust the people and drain resources, would already be the work of the insane; how much more so the discussion of military preparations! Since ancient times, sage emperors and enlightened rulers have valued the farming seasons most: for public works they said to wait until winter, and for military training they used the slack seasons of the four seasons. Even in spring and summer, when all things flourish, they did not avoid a thousand men hunting and ten thousand horses pursuing. Were emperors and kings not human? They knew that people dying by the blade was worse than suffering from hunger and cold, and they wished to save the people's lives, so they had no leisure to pity the people's resentment.

Editor's review

"The Life-Saving Book" is a practical work on life and emergency relief written by Lü Kun of the Ming dynasty; this edition is the original printing by the Commercial Press in the Republican period. The title reveals its purpose: nothing in life is more urgent than life itself, and no human affair is more important than saving life. The author argues from city defense and military preparations, military training in farming slack seasons, and the harms of weapons versus the sufferings of hunger and cold. The tone is earnest and carries a clear practical statecraft orientation. The book does not indulge in empty speculation but places "saving the people's lives" within concrete administrative arrangements. It reflects both traditional scholar-officials' concern for the hardships of the people and the practical dimension of Ming dynasty local governance and defense thinking. For today's readers, its value lies not in offering emergency plans to be copied directly, but in showing how ancients thought about preparation and responsibility between peace and calamity. The writing is concise and forceful, the argument direct; it is suitable as an introductory reader for understanding Ming statecraft texts and emergency concepts, and also for reading alongside local gazetteers and famine relief works.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers in history and literature studying Ming statecraft thought, famine relief, and local governance can use it as topical material.
General readers interested in traditional emergency concepts and livelihood issues can gain historical perspective.
Readers who enjoy short classical Chinese arguments and are willing to read slowly and reflect can appreciate its earnest style.
University students in history and sociology can use it as outside reading and material for book reports.

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for modern emergency manuals or specific rescue skills will not find such plans here.
Readers who prefer literary narrative or light reading may find the argument direct and the background remote.
Beginners without a foundation in classical Chinese who are unwilling to consult annotations will face certain obstacles in understanding.

Reading tips

Read the opening general discussion first, grasp the core issue of "the urgency of life," then return to the specific arguments.
Read against the background of Ming local governance and famine relief, understanding concepts such as city walls, military preparations, and farming slack seasons.
Compare the book's claims with modern emergency management concepts and make brief notes; do not force ancient-modern correspondences.
The text is not long; read it in two or three sessions, and after each session summarize a core point in your own words.

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

"Republic-era Commercial Press Original Editions" refers to original books printed by The Commercial Press during the Republican period, not a separate publishing house. Judging from the 300 titles held in the collection, its publishing focus centers on classical poetry and lyrics, literary appreciation, classic works, military texts, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy. Representative titles include Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua, Zhong Rong's Shipin, the lyric collections of Xin Qiji and Liu Yong, Sun Wu's The Art of War, and Lü Buwei's Xianshi Lan. Its author resources are mainly classical writers, together with modern scholars such as Li Jingbang and Guo Huaruo, whose collations and annotations are also represented, giving the list a character centered on original texts while attending to annotation and appreciation. Public information on the precise Republican-era catalog and printings is limited; this overview is based only on the titles held in the collection.

版权信息
救命书序
救命书题辞
救命书
救命书跋
救命书点校凡例
附录

FAQ

What is "The Life-Saving Book" mainly about?

The book argues around "saving lives," touching on practical issues such as city defense, military training, farming seasons and labor service, and the harms of weapons and hunger. Lü Kun discusses from a statecraft standpoint how to prepare in ordinary times and respond in emergencies; the core is concern for livelihood and life safety, not providing specific medical or rescue techniques.

What is the significance of reading this book today?

Its significance lies mainly in historical understanding and conceptual inspiration. Readers can learn how Ming scholar-officials thought about local security, livelihood hardships, and government responsibility, and can compare it with modern emergency management to appreciate the continuity and change in "preparation" and "emergency relief" thinking. If you expect a directly usable operational guide, this book is not suitable.

What are the characteristics of the Republican-period Commercial Press original edition?

The Republican-period Commercial Press original edition represents a modern collated reprint form, generally preserving the basic appearance of the original book and giving readers access to the old typesetting and character usage of the traditional text. It is of reference value to those studying textual transmission or accustomed to reading old editions; ordinary readers should use modern annotations or introductions to reduce the obstacles of classical Chinese and old typesetting.

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About the author

Lü Kun Author · Chinese · 1536–1618

Lü Kun (1536–1618), courtesy name Shujian and style name Xinwu, was a native of Ningling, Henan, and a Ming dynasty thinker and man of letters. A jinshi of 1574, he served as Grand Coordinator of Shanxi and Vice Minister of Justice; upright and incorruptible in office, he was known with Shen Li and Guo Zhengyu as the "three worthies" of the Wanli reign. He championed practical learning and helped open the way for the late Ming and early Qing currents of reformist and enlightenment thought. His works include Shenyin Yu, Quwei Zhai Ji and Shizheng Lu. His writing spans Eastern philosophy, prose miscellany and folk literature; twelve titles are held here, including several editions of Shenyin Yu, Xinwu Lü Xiansheng Shizheng Lu, Jiuming Shu, Xu Xiao'er Yu, and the annotated Chinese family-instruction series. Whether discussing self-cultivation and governance, recording administrative and everyday life, or collecting maxims and household precepts, his plain, practical style emphasizes daily conduct and has influenced later writing on self-improvement and literary appreciation.