Guanzi

Name: Guanzi
ISBN: 9787101113556

Li ShanZhonghua Book Company · ChinaDec 2021

4.3

Word count: 62 words
ISBN: 9787101113556

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Summary

An important work recounting the words and deeds of Guanzi. The Guanzi, published under the name of Guan Zhong, is an important text among the philosophers of the Warring States period. It chiefly traces and sums up the historical experience of Guan Zhong, an early Spring and Autumn period statesman who assisted Duke Huan of Qi in achieving hegemony. Its most distinctive features are its advocacy of 'enriching the state' and its economic theory that consumption stimulates employment, a singular stroke in Chinese intellectual history that retains value for reference even today.

Editor's review

As a classic work embodying the political, economic, and military thought of the pre-Qin period, Guanzi is far more than a historical document. Mr. Li Shan's annotated translation, published by Zhonghua Book Company, bridges the gap between contemporary readers and ancient wisdom through rigorous scholarship and clear modern Chinese interpretation. This is no mere collation of an ancient text: through detailed annotations and fluent translation, it probes the rich thought embedded in Guanzi, such as the economic foundation theory that 'when granaries are full, people know propriety and ritual,' the social division of labor idea of 'the four classes of people each pursuing their own calling,' and the early rule-of-law concept of 'governing the state by law.' In the editor's view, Li Shan's annotations and translation attend not only to textual accuracy but also to revealing the internal logic and historical context of the thought, making this seemingly daunting classic approachable. For readers who wish to understand the origins of classical Chinese political philosophy and explore the wisdom of ancient social governance, this edition offers a reliable entry point and rich lines of reflection. It shows us how thinkers over two thousand years ago contemplated state governance, wealth distribution, and the laws of human nature—reflections that still shine with insight today.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a strong interest in the history of ancient Chinese political and economic thought
Students and researchers seeking management wisdom from the classics
Lovers of literature and history who enjoy reading annotated translations of intellectually substantial classics
Readers seeking to understand the pragmatic governance ideas in traditional Chinese culture

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting purely literary stories or strongly plot-driven works
Complete beginners unfamiliar with Classical Chinese and ancient institutions who lack the patience to work through them

Reading tips

Begin by reading Mr. Li Shan's 'Preface' or 'Introduction' to grasp the overall framework and core threads of thought.
There is no need to finish it in one sitting; read by section and theme, such as the 'Jingyan' and 'Waiyan' chapters, referring to the annotations as you go.
While reading, try comparing concepts in the book (such as the 'art of light and heavy') with modern social phenomena to make the reading more relevant to reality.

About the publisher

Zhonghua Book Company China · Founded in 1912

Zhonghua Book Company is a publisher known for collating ancient texts and academic publishing, with its output centered on Eastern philosophy, culture, classic works, art, and historical reading. Its library contains 532 titles, including Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guo Qingfan's Collected Commentaries on Zhuangzi, the four-volume Chinese Literature: Four Great Classical Novels, and the two-volume Table of Seal and Clerical Script Forms from Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin. These titles span historical classics, commentaries on the philosophers, classical novels, and philological reference works. Representative authors include Chen Shou, Guo Qingfan, Wu Cheng'en, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, Xu Wenwu, and the Hanyu Dazidian character-form group, reflecting a focus on primary sources and scholarly editors. Its publishing character lies in combining authoritative editions and annotated texts with both accessible classics and specialized research. Public information on its fuller catalog is limited; this note describes only the directions evident in the library's holdings.

FAQ

What are the features of this annotated translation of Guanzi?

Li Shan's annotated translation is based on an authoritative text, with detailed annotations and accurate, fluent rendering. It pays particular attention to explicating the thought and explaining the historical background, combining scholarship with readability. It is one of the titles in Zhonghua Book Company's 'Complete Annotated and Translated Chinese Classics' series, so its quality is assured.

What practical significance does reading Guanzi have for people today?

The economic thought, management wisdom, and philosophical reflection in Guanzi still offer lessons for understanding China's traditional logic of governance and for thinking about resource allocation, social development, and similar issues. It helps us understand the pragmatic dimension of Chinese culture more deeply.

Is the content too specialized and difficult to understand?

Li Shan's annotated translation greatly lowers the barrier to entry. With paragraph-by-paragraph annotations and a complete vernacular translation, even non-specialist readers can grasp the general meaning. Of course, some of the technical terms and concepts still require patient reflection.

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About the author

Li Shan Author · Chinese · 1963

Li Shan, born in 1963, holds a doctorate in literature and is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Chinese Language and Literature, Beijing Normal University. His research focuses on the literature of the pre-Qin, Han, Wei, and Northern and Southern Dynasties periods. He has long been engaged in the study and popularization of the Classic of Poetry (Shijing) and Chinese culture, and is the author of works including The Cultural Spirit of the Classic of Poetry, An Interpretive Reading of the Classic of Poetry, How the Classic of Poetry Should Be Read, and A History of Chinese Culture. Nine of his works are included in the collection, among them the Classic of Poetry, Selections from the Classic of Poetry, The Grand Air of a Great State: Li Shan on the Classic of Poetry, and the expanded illustrated edition of An Interpretive Reading of the Classic of Poetry, as well as Guanzi, Guanzi (Complete Text, Full Annotation, and Modern Translation of Chinese Classics), A Brief History of Fifty Thousand Years of China (two volumes), and On the Dream of the Red Chamber in Sound and Color: From the 1987 TV Series to the Original Novel. His writing spans literary appreciation, historical reading, and Eastern philosophy, emphasizing the cultural context of classics through solid textual analysis, and he has lectured on the Classic of Poetry on CCTV's Lecture Room, building a bridge between academic research and general reading.