Further Tales of Peaceful Rule
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought has 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, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and customs and local gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classics: Original Texts of Traditional Chinese Culture" series preserves the original appearance of the source texts, with the aim of preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and subtly come to appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
Zhi Shi Yu Wen is a notebook-style work by Chen Hongmo of the Ming dynasty. It records court and provincial observations, institutional regulations, and the words and deeds of historical figures, and is a commonly used source for studying Ming politics and social life. As part of the "Essence of Classics: Original Texts of Traditional Chinese Culture" series, this volume preserves the original appearance of the source text and aims to present the traditional document as it is, rather than offering a modern vernacular rewrite or popular retelling. Readers will encounter Ming scholar-officials' observations and comments on current affairs, administrative conduct, and customs, with the detail and immediacy characteristic of notebook historical sources. For readers familiar with the broad outlines of Ming history, the passages can be cross-checked against official histories; for general enthusiasts of traditional culture, the book offers a glimpse into how people of the past conducted themselves and discussed current affairs. It is better suited to readers with some grounding in classical Chinese who are willing to read slowly and carefully, and will be of value for desk reference or thematic study rather than as light reading with a continuous plot.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Learners of Ming history and political institutions who need notebook-style historical sources as supplementary reference.
- Readers with a foundation in classical Chinese who enjoy the traditional notebook genre and wish to savor its prose.
- Researchers of premodern administrative conduct and scholar-official discourse who wish to gather observational material from it.
- Enthusiasts of traditional culture who wish to understand the original texts in which Ming people recorded current affairs.
Not a good fit for
- Beginners without a foundation in classical Chinese who expect vernacular explanation will find the reading threshold high.
- Readers seeking a continuous storyline or light entertainment.
- Readers who only want modern general histories and do not engage with primary sources.
Reading tips
- First read through once to grasp the structure of the entries, then reread by theme, such as institutions or figures.
- Keep a reference work or chronological table of Ming history at hand to check figures and institutional background as you read.
- Excerpt and annotate entries of interest, cross-check them against official histories, and build your own notes.
- Reading three to five entries at a time is enough; focus on savoring the feel of the classical language rather than speed.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 治世余闻
- 上篇卷一
- 上篇卷二
- 上篇卷三
- 上篇卷四
- 下篇卷一
- 下篇卷二
- 下篇卷三
- 下篇卷四
FAQ
Can I read this book without a foundation in classical Chinese?
You can try, but it will be somewhat difficult. This book preserves the classical Chinese of the original and provides no vernacular translation, so readers without a foundation in classical Chinese may struggle with vocabulary and allusions. It is advisable first to familiarize yourself with classical Chinese sentence patterns using annotated editions or reference works, or to begin with short entries and build up gradually before reading the whole book.
What is the relationship between this book and the official history of the Ming dynasty?
Zhi Shi Yu Wen is a notebook-style work that records court and provincial observations and the words and deeds of figures, and it carries the author's personal observations and comments; its format and standpoint differ from those of officially commissioned histories. It can serve as supplementary material to official histories, offering detail and different perspectives, but it should not be treated directly as settled historical fact; it is best read in cross-reference with official histories.
What editorial work has been done for this edition?
According to the available information, this book belongs to the "Essence of Classics: Original Texts of Traditional Chinese Culture" series, which aims to preserve the original appearance of the source text and to preserve and transmit traditional thought and culture; it is not a modern vernacular rewrite. For specific collation and annotation details, consult the copyright page and editorial notes of the physical book; check the edition information before purchasing.
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About the author
陈洪谟
Author
Public information about Chen Hongmo is limited, and his life, native place, and dates of birth and death are not clearly recorded. Judging from the three works included in the collection, he mainly wrote about the political and social conditions of the mid-Ming dynasty. His representative works are Zhishi Yuwen and Jishi Jiwen. Zhishi Yuwen survives in two versions, and there is also Jishi Jiwen; all are classified as historical readings. Works of this kind generally adopt the style of notes and hearsay, recording figures at court and in the countryside, institutions, and social customs in an itemized manner. They combine historical value with readability and are common references for understanding the historical scene of the mid-Ming. Chen Hongmo's writing emphasizes the arrangement of firsthand observations and hearsay, and his plain narrative provides relatively concrete material for later research on Ming political life and social conditions.
