Treasured Classics of the Canon and Commentaries
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Summary
Editor's review
From an editorial perspective, the book's most striking value lies in its balance: it preserves academic rigor while remaining readable. Professor Xiao Dongfa taught and researched textual scholarship at Peking University for many years, ensuring the accuracy of the textual evidence; at the same time, he unpacks abstruse classical concepts in plain, accessible language, so that ordinary readers can appreciate the essence of the classics. Each chapter includes a "Contemporary Relevance" section that brings classical wisdom into dialogue with modern social issues—an especially valuable approach.
Notably, the book adopts a "canon and commentary as one" perspective, attending not only to the canonical texts themselves but also to the evolution of commentary across dynasties, helping readers understand how the classics were interpreted and reconstructed in different eras. This historicized approach avoids the tendency to ossify or dogmatize the classics. For readers who want a systematic understanding of the Confucian canon without getting bogged down in tedious textual criticism, this book offers an ideal entry point.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in traditional Chinese culture and the Confucian classics but lacking systematic knowledge
- Thinkers who wish to apply classical wisdom to modern life and work
- Teachers, copywriters, and other professionals who need a foundation in traditional culture
- Structured learners who like to build knowledge systems through reading
Not a good fit for
- Academic researchers seeking in-depth specialized textual criticism or collation of editions
- Fragmented readers expecting simple excerpts of famous sayings and maxims
Reading tips
- Read chapters in order to first build an overall understanding of the "Thirteen Classics" system
- Read alongside selected passages from the original texts to appreciate the author's interpretive insights
- Pay attention to each chapter's "Contemporary Relevance" section and reflect on how the classics connect to reality
About the publisher
Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序言
- 儒家教材——儒家四书
- 为人处世哲学的《论语》
- 提倡施行仁政的《孟子》
- 修身治国之学的《大学》
- 人性修养著作的《中庸》
- 最古文献——儒家五经
- 最早的诗歌总集《诗经》
- 最早的历史文献《尚书》
- 最早的典章制度《礼记》
- 最早的哲学著作《周易》
- 最早编年体史书《春秋》
- 史学宝典——春秋三传
- 最早编年体史书《左传》
- 阐释微言大义的《公羊传》
- 强调礼乐教化的《谷梁传》
- 伦理纲常——儒学著作
- 以人法天纲领的《周礼》
- 先秦礼仪制度的《仪礼》
- 儒家伦理观之作《孝经》
FAQ
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About the author
Xiao Dongfa (1949–2016), whose ancestral home was Tianjin and who was born in Shenyang, was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and director of its Institute of Modern Publishing. An important scholar in editing and publishing studies, he focused on the history of Chinese books, publishing history, and yearbook studies. He edited the History of Chinese Editing and Publishing and Chinese Libraries of Book Collecting, and led the National Social Science Fund key project A General History of Chinese Publishing, laying a solid foundation for the organization and narration of Chinese publishing history. Beyond academic writing, he attended to Peking University's institutional history and humanistic traditions, writing works such as Character: From the Imperial University to Old Peking University, Exemplars: Former Residences and Anecdotes of Peking University Notables, and Scenes: Yanyuan Landscapes and Cultural Heritage, which recount campus memories and personal stories with warmth. His works also touch on the four treasures of the study, garden architecture, and academic writing standards. Some 491 of his titles are held in the library, spanning language and culture, biography, and architecture, and combining scholarly rigor with accessible readability.
