The King's Words

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

2.4

Word count: 80 words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

Wang Yan, Part Twenty-One.

Editor's review

This book is Part Twenty-One of Wang Yan, published by Bashu Publishing House in 2024. The author is unknown, and the work belongs to the category of traditional textual compilation. Judging from the title and arrangement, the book takes "Wang Yan" as its guiding thread and divides the text into parts; Part Twenty-One should be a later section of the whole work. It is suited to readers interested in ancient political discourse, the way of ruler and minister, and the recovery of lost texts. Its value lies not in offering new interpretations but in preserving the appearance of the text and presenting traditional modes of speech, allowing readers to glimpse how people in antiquity discussed the art of governance through the form of "royal words." It should be read alongside comparable classical texts, with attention to the order of the parts and the connections between wording and argument. Readers familiar with the pre-Qin and Han traditions of political discourse will find the treatment of the relation between "words" and "government" typologically significant; those encountering it for the first time may feel distant because the author is unknown and there are no notes. It is best approached with a textual rather than a literary-critical eye: read one part through first, then compare related sections, and gradually grasp the structure of the whole.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars of literature and history concerned with ancient political discourse and the tradition of ruler-minister speech
Textual scholars who need to consult the arrangement and structure of traditional compilations
Readers interested in collecting fine editions of ancient texts from Bashu Publishing House
University students in ancient literature or history taking relevant courses

Not a good fit for

Beginners expecting modern vernacular explanations or detailed annotations
General readers who prefer plot-driven or story-based reading
Readers seeking a full account of the author's life and creative background

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and the note on arrangement first, confirm where Part Twenty-One stands in the whole book, then proceed to the main text.
After reading one part through, compare it with the first twenty parts and note the continuities and changes in the "royal words" format.
Keep a comparable political-discourse classic at hand for reference; mark difficult passages first and return to them after finishing the whole part.
For research purposes, note the part number, title, and textual structure as you go, to facilitate later textual comparison.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
王言第二十一

FAQ

Is this book an annotated translation or an edition of the original text?

The available information only identifies it as Part Twenty-One of Wang Yan, published by Bashu Publishing House in 2024, with an unknown author; no information on annotation or translation is provided. Readers who need a vernacular translation or detailed notes should first check the physical book's editorial notes and table of contents to confirm the editorial approach before deciding whether to buy.

What does "Part Twenty-One" mean?

Here "part" should refer to the unit by which the whole book is divided into sections or chapters; Part Twenty-One is the twenty-first unit in that sequence. Its precise meaning must be understood in light of the book's overall structure; when reading, first look at the table of contents and preface to confirm whether the "parts" are volumes, chapters, or some other editorial unit.

Without author information, what is the reading value?

The value of anonymous classics often lies in the modes of speech and political discourse preserved in the text itself, rather than in the author's life. Readers can treat it as a sample of traditional "royal words" literature and focus on its arrangement, textual structure, and discussion of governance, without relying on the author's background for understanding.

Is it suitable for citation in academic papers?

It can be cited as a traditional textual source, but note that it is a newly published 2024 edition; when citing, verify the edition, page numbers, and editor information, and rely primarily on the physical book's copyright page and editorial notes. If the research concerns questions of authorship or date of composition, consult separate textual scholarship rather than judging solely from this book.

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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.