Direct Remonstrance

AnonymousThe Commercial Press · ChinaJun 2024

3.0

Word count: 8K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Refers to remonstrating with upright words. In ancient times it was mostly used of a subject admonishing a ruler. Source: Liu Xiang, "Zhan Guo Ce: Qi Ce IV" (Western Han): "I have charge of the ancestral temples of the former rulers and guard the altars of state, and I have heard the Master speak frankly and remonstrate uprightly without concealment." Example: "Its men of worth, men who dare to act in defense of righteousness, on the twenty-fifth day all assemble at the east gate of Hualin; each is brought in separately to discuss together what has been gained and lost."

Editor's review

This book unfolds around the ancient political-ethical concept of "upright remonstrance," tracing from its classic source in "Zhan Guo Ce: Qi Ce IV" through examples of frank admonition across the ages to sketch the tradition of subjects counseling rulers with upright words. As a collated edition of the original Republican-era Commercial Press printing, it preserves the appearance of an early typeset edition; it is concise in length and suitable as introductory material for understanding the traditional culture of remonstrance. Phrases cited in the book, such as "speak frankly and remonstrate uprightly without concealment," can be read alongside texts such as "Zhenguan Zhengyao" and "Remonstrating with Emperor Taizong on the Ten Points to Ponder," helping readers grasp the space for speech in ancient ruler-subject relations. When reading, one need not seek plot but should attend to the evolution of the concept's meaning and its contexts of use; it is suitable for casual perusal while studying pre-Qin and Han texts or preparing to write on related topics.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of history and literature interested in ancient political ethics and the remonstrance system
Students taking courses in pre-Qin and Han literature or intellectual history
Researchers who need to cite the concept of "upright remonstrance" in their writing
Readers who enjoy short classical essays and prefer fragmented reading

Not a good fit for

General readers expecting a systematic history of remonstrance or stories of figures
Beginners who need vernacular translation and detailed annotation to understand classical Chinese
Readers looking for novel-like narrative or light entertainment

Reading tips

First read the original text of "Zhan Guo Ce: Qi Ce IV," then return to the book's definition and examples of "upright remonstrance."
Read the passages cited in the book alongside the remonstrance chapter of "Zhenguan Zhengyao" to appreciate differences in expression across eras.
When taking reading notes, excerpt key sentences and note their sources for later citation in writing.
There is no need to read straight through; choose the examples section according to interest, one or two items at a time.

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
正文一
正文二
正文三

FAQ

What is the difference between "upright remonstrance" and "indirect remonstrance"?

Upright remonstrance means admonishing with upright, direct words, emphasizing a proper attitude and frankness; indirect remonstrance mostly offers advice through tactful analogy. Both belong to the ancient tradition of remonstrance, but their expressive strategies differ; this book focuses on the former.

Is this book suitable for beginners to read directly?

Not very suitable for readers with no foundation in classical Chinese. The book preserves the original printed text and lacks sentence-by-sentence vernacular translation and detailed annotation, so beginners may find it hard going. It is advisable to have some ability to read literary Chinese first, or to use it together with reference works.

What is special about the original Republican-era printing?

The original Republican-era Commercial Press printing reflects the typesetting, punctuation, and selection of materials of its time and has reference value for studying modern methods of collating ancient texts. General readers may regard it as a form of edition and need not pursue textual scholarship excessively.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.