The Book of Rites (Complete Text, Full Annotation, Full Translation)

The Book of Rites usually refers to the Xiao Dai Liji, traditionally compiled by the Western Han ritual scholar Dai Sheng from Confucian writings on rites from the Warring States to the Qin-Han period, in forty-nine chapters; it is one of the Confucian "Thirteen Classics" and, together with the Rites of Zhou and the Etiquette and Ceremonial, is known as the "Three Rites." The content is not limited to specific ceremonial procedures but mostly explains the meaning of "rites" and elucidates the principles behind the ritual system: there are chapters such as "Qu Li" and "Wang Zhi" recording daily conduct norms and ancient institutions, as well as famous chapters such as "Li Yun," which discusses the meaning of rites in general and proposes the social visions of "Great Harmony" and "Moderate Prosperity"; "Xue Ji" is one of China's earlier documents systematically discussing education; "Yue Ji" discusses the relationship between music, the human heart, and moral transformation; "Zhong Yong" and "Da Xue" were later extracted by Song-dynasty Confucians and combined with the Analects and Mencius into the "Four Books." In addition, the book preserves a wealth of cultural-historical material on mourning dress, sacrificial rites, capping and marriage, the district drinking ceremony, archery ceremonies, banquets, and diplomatic visits, as well as ancient appellations, objects, and clothing. This book is one of the titles in Zhonghua Book Company's "Chinese Classics: Complete Text, Full Annotation, Full Translation Series," with complete annotation and translation of the forty-nine chapters of the Xiao Dai Liji by Hu Pingsheng and Zhang Meng, in two volumes. Each chapter begins with an introductory note briefly summarizing its overall meaning; the main text is divided into sections with reference to the Peking University punctuated edition of the Annotated Thirteen Classics: The Correct Meaning of the Book of Rites and various annotated translation editions, and collated against multiple editions; annotations cover both textual exegesis and names, objects, and institutions, and indicate the pronunciation of rare characters; the translation is mainly literal, with free translation where the original is too concise. Set in simplified Chinese in horizontal typesetting, paper-over-board hardcover, convenient for general readers to read through and for research consultation.