Book for Prefects and Magistrates

徐栋Jun 2024

4.2

Word count: 492K words
Chapters: 28

Summary

Traditional Chinese cultural thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early thought forms have striking features: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and arcane learning, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all profound and vast. This series, "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture," preserves the appearance of the original books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate character and subtly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Muling Shu was compiled by Xu Dong and also belongs to the "Essential Classics of Chinese Traditional Culture" series. "Muling" in the title refers to the duties of traditional local officials; the book centers on prefecture and county governance and gathers relevant documents and practical discussions, making it an important text for understanding ancient grassroots administration and the culture of official admonition. This edition prioritizes preserving the original book's appearance, retaining the original arrangement and wording so readers can directly experience the format and tone of a traditional political text. Its value lies not in literary appreciation but in institutional understanding: readers can see the specific attitudes and operational approaches of the ancients toward matters such as taxes and grain, criminal justice, moral instruction, and disaster relief. It should be used as historical source material, with entries searched by topic and cross-checked against official histories, local gazetteers, or related research. A single reading tends to leave only impressions; thematic excerpts and reflection on real governance issues yield more concrete gains.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Humanities readers studying ancient prefecture and county systems and grassroots administration
Law and political science students needing materials on official admonition and political texts
Readers interested in traditional governance wisdom who can read classical Chinese

Not a good fit for

General readers expecting light reading or literary narrative
Those with no classical Chinese foundation who do not plan to consult annotations

Reading tips

Read the prefaces and compilation notes first to understand Xu Dong's purpose and source scope
Build an index of entries by topic such as taxes and grain, criminal justice, moral instruction, and disaster relief for later reference
When reading selections, compare with local gazetteers or institutional histories to avoid understanding provisions in isolation

版权信息
序
牧令书例言
牧令书自序
牧令书卷一治原
牧令书卷二政畧
牧令书卷三持家
牧令书卷四用人
牧令书卷五事上
牧令书卷六接下
牧令书卷七取善
牧令书卷八屏恶
牧令书卷九农桑上
牧令书卷十农桑下
牧令书卷十一赋役
牧令书卷十二筹荒上
牧令书卷十三筹荒中
牧令书卷十四筹荒下
牧令书卷十五保息
牧令书卷十六教化
牧令书卷十七刑名上
牧令书卷十八刑名中
牧令书卷十九刑名下
牧令书卷二十戢暴
牧令书卷二十一备武
牧令书卷二十二事汇
牧令书卷二十三宪纲
跋

FAQ

What does "muling" mean in the book?

"Mu" means to govern or shepherd the people, and "ling" refers to a county magistrate; together they point to traditional local officials and their duties. The book centers on governance at the prefecture and county level, covering taxes and grain, criminal justice, moral instruction, disaster relief, and more. It belongs to the lineage of ancient political texts and official admonition literature, not to general anthologies of Chinese learning.

Does this edition provide vernacular translation or annotation?

According to the materials, this series follows the principle of preserving the original book's appearance and preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture, focusing on presenting the original text without emphasizing full vernacular translation. Readers with limited classical Chinese need to use reference works or consult annotated editions and scholarly studies for assistance.

How should one read it to avoid leaving only vague impressions?

Use it as historical source material: first survey the table of contents to grasp the structure, then excerpt entries by administrative topic. As you read, ask how the ancients approached specific matters and on what basis, and cross-check against official histories, local gazetteers, or institutional history research. Searching with questions is more effective than reading straight through.

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About the author

徐栋 Author

Xu Dong is an author whose works span a notably wide range of subjects. Public information about him is limited, and details of his life remain unclear. Three of his works are held in the collection, touching on different fields of knowledge: the Mu Ling Shu, which deals with ancient local governance; AI Prompt Engineering: Fundamentals, Applications, and Examples, which engages with a fast-moving technological frontier; and the multimedia micro-lecture edition of the Advanced Office 2013 Applications Tutorial, which emphasizes hands-on practice. These titles suggest that Xu Dong combines traditional textual work with contemporary technical application, looking back to Eastern philosophy and administrative wisdom while also addressing artificial intelligence and practical office software skills. His readership therefore ranges from readers of history and culture to technology learners and exam candidates. His style tends toward the practical and tutorial-like, turning knowledge into actionable guidance for readers with specific learning needs.