Miscellaneous Writings
Tags
Summary
Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early forms of thought are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and geography—all are profound and vast. This series, "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture: Original Texts," preserves the appearance of the original books, with a focus on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. Reading the literary essence left by ancient sages cultivates character and subtly introduces readers to the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
As one volume in the "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture: Original Texts" series, this book continues the series' editorial approach of preserving the appearance of the original books and focusing on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. For readers who wish to encounter ancient texts in their original form and experience the feel of traditional writing, the value of this kind of original-text volume lies not in popularizing explanation but in providing a relatively plain textual entry point that lets readers face the ancients' ways of expression and traces of thought directly. It is not meant to be read with the expectation of "quickly acquiring knowledge"; it is better suited to a slower pace, with attention placed on the language itself and the cultural atmosphere carried by the text. It is suitable as extended reading material for Chinese studies, used together with annotated editions or related introductions to help readers establish points of reference between the original text and commentary. For personal study, one may first read through to get an overall sense, then repeatedly chew over parts of interest; for a reading group, discussions can revolve around the appearance of the original book and its intellectual content. Overall, this is a volume that emphasizes cultural preservation and textual experience, suited to readers willing to approach traditional texts with patience.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with an initial interest in the classics of Chinese studies who wish to encounter original texts
- Self-studiers who enjoy slow reading of classical Chinese and savoring the flavor of traditional language
- Learners of traditional culture who need to read in comparison with annotated editions
- Reading group members willing to discuss around the original text
Not a good fit for
- Beginners seeking systematic vernacular explanations or introductory guides
- General readers expecting plot-driven reading or light entertainment
- Researchers needing clear information on authorship and textual history
Reading tips
- First read through once to get a sense of the overall style; do not seek word-by-word understanding, but focus on forming an impression of the text.
- Mark difficult passages for the time being and read them in comparison with annotated editions or related introductions.
- Read only a small amount at a time, then retell the gist in your own words to check your understanding.
- If participating in a reading group, select a passage of the original for close reading together and exchange interpretations.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 杂着【（紫山大全集卷二十一）】
- 论治道
- 论治法
- 论时事
- 论臣道
- 论按察失职
- 论除三冗
- 政事
- 铨调
- 铨词
- 官吏稽迟情弊
- 又稽迟违错之弊
- 又责吏不责官之弊
- 又司吏迁转之弊
- 又小民词讼奸吏因以作弊
- 论迁转太速
- 论体覆之弊
- 论沙汰
- 杂着【（紫山大全集卷二十二）】
- 宝钞法
- 又钞法虚之弊
- 论聚敛
- 论司农司
- 论农桑水利
- 论逃户
- 论复逃户
- 论积贮
- 时政
- 即今弊政
- 论定法律
- 革昏田弊榜文
- 军政
- 又一，重役重差之苦状
- 又二，军前身死在逃之弊状
- 又三，贫难消乏之弊状
- 又四，勾起正身之弊
- 又五，印书之弊
- 又六，保结之弊
- 又七，军官有名无实之弊
- 又八，合并偏重之弊
- 杂着【（紫山大全集卷二十三）】
- 县政要式
- 精选县令
- 论并州县
- 论府州县官
- 民间疾苦状
- 吏治杂条
- 折狱杂条
- 论有司不立常平权衡高下一出于编民
- 丁粮地粮详文
- 论仓粮
- 匹夫岁费
- 试典史策问
- 附录：
FAQ
Is this book suitable for readers with no foundation in classical Chinese?
Not very suitable. The book focuses on preserving the appearance of the original and is not a vernacular explanation or introductory guide, so readers with no foundation in classical Chinese may find it hard going. It is advisable to have some experience reading classical Chinese first, or to use it together with annotated editions or introductory materials before reading the original text.
How does this book differ from common interpretive works on Chinese studies?
The difference lies mainly in its positioning. Common interpretive works emphasize popular explanation and systematic knowledge, whereas this book belongs to a series that preserves the appearance of original texts and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture itself. Readers gain a relatively plain experience of reading the original text, not ready-made conclusive explanations.
What supplementary materials should I prepare for reading?
You may prepare a corresponding annotated edition or an authoritative introduction for checking rare characters, terms, and institutional or material names. A notebook is also useful for jotting down questions and reflections. If possible, find one or two like-minded readers to read together and discuss difficulties; this is often more effective than struggling alone.
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About the author
胡祇遹
Author
Hu Qiyu is an author about whom public information is very limited: his life, place of origin, and dates of birth and death are not clearly recorded, so a full account of his career cannot be given. What can be confirmed is that the library holds one work by him, titled Miscellaneous Writings (Za Zhu), commonly classified under culture. Judging from the title and category, the book is likely a collection of occasional notes and essays touching on cultural topics, written in a informal, notebook-like manner rather than as a systematic treatise. Because further background material is lacking, it is not possible at present to describe his style in detail or to assess the reach of his influence and how his work was received. The above is an objective note based only on the available catalogue record, offered for readers' reference; it may be supplemented if new documentary evidence comes to light.
