Admonitions for the Hundred Officials

许月卿Jun 2024

3.4

Word count: 28K words
Chapters: 9

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness and literary quality. Early intellectual forms are highly distinctive: religious theology, medical classics, ancient military texts, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all vast and profound in content. This "Classic Chinese Studies: Essential Cultural Original Texts" series preserves the original appearance of the texts, with the emphasis on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and come to appreciate the classics of Chinese studies imperceptibly.

Editor's review

Baiguan Zhen (Admonitions for the Hundred Officials) is a work in the admonition genre written by Xu Yueqing of the Southern Song dynasty, which uses rhymed language to admonish civil and military officials one by one, urging them to fulfill their duties and serve with integrity. This edition belongs to the "Classic Chinese Studies: Essential Cultural Original Texts" series, preserving the original appearance of the text and focusing on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. Its value lies in three aspects: first, it offers insight into the form and admonitory tradition of ancient official admonitions; second, its discussion of governance and official duties has cross-era relevance; third, its concise, rhymed language combines documentary value with readability. Readers should approach it against the background of Southern Song politics and officialdom, reading it as a slice of traditional political ethics rather than a mere collection of moral maxims. It suits readers interested in ancient official culture, admonition literature and traditional political ethics, and can also serve as a supplementary reader for reciting classics of Chinese studies.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of history and literature interested in ancient official admonitions and the bureaucratic system
University teachers and students studying traditional political ethics and thought on governance
General readers who wish to encounter classics of Chinese studies in their original form
Enthusiasts of Chinese studies who enjoy short rhymed passages suited to recitation and memorization

Not a good fit for

Beginners expecting vernacular annotation and line-by-line translation
Management readers seeking practical modern management methods

Reading tips

First read through once to feel the rhythm of the rhymed language, then go section by section, matching the titles of offices to understand whom each admonition addresses.
Keep a brief table of Southern Song official titles at hand and consult it whenever a specific title appears, to avoid confusion.
Read only three to five pieces at a time, copy out the striking maxims and write down your own understanding; this is more effective than reading straight through.

版权信息
提要
百官箴原序
钦定四库全书百官箴卷一
钦定四库全书百官箴卷二
钦定四库全书百官箴卷三
钦定四库全书百官箴卷四
钦定四库全书百官箴卷五
钦定四库全书百官箴卷六

FAQ

What kind of book is Baiguan Zhen?

It is a work in the admonition genre written by Xu Yueqing of the Southern Song dynasty, which uses rhymed language to admonish each type of official post one by one, urging diligence in duty and warning against greed and laziness. Its content centers on duties and integrity, making it a document of traditional political ethics; this edition preserves the original appearance of the text.

Can I understand it without a foundation in classical Chinese?

This edition presents the text in its original form without vernacular annotation, so readers with a weak foundation in classical Chinese will find it difficult. It is advisable to read with the help of reference works or background material on official titles, or to use it alongside an annotated anthology of Chinese studies.

What use does this book still have today?

It presents the ancients' understanding of official duty, integrity and responsibility, and can serve as a sample for observing traditional thought on governance. It is of reference value to readers studying political ethics and admonition literature, but it should not be treated as a management manual to be applied directly.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

许月卿 Author

Xu Yueqing, whose dates, native place and life remain unknown, can only be glimpsed through the two works held in the collection, as public information about him is limited. The Selected Poems of the Song Dynasty: Extracts from the Xiuxian Collection shows that his verse was included in a general anthology of Song poetry, suggesting a style in keeping with the literati tradition of the period, with themes of personal reflection and everyday observation expressed in concise, restrained language. The Admonitions for Officials, judging by its title, belongs to the genre of moral exhortation, addressing the duties of officeholders and the ethics of government, combining argument with instruction and classified under Eastern philosophy. Together the two books—one poetry, one prose—indicate an author skilled in both verse and discursive writing, attentive to personal feeling and to the principles of governance. Lacking biographical materials, his official career, circle of associates and literary standing cannot be verified; he may be regarded simply as one Song-dynasty writer of poetry and prose whose works offer a concrete sample of literati writing of the time.