The Book of Compulsion
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive, and literary. Early intellectual forms are especially distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series preserves the original appearance of the books, with 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 subtly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
The Book of Urgency (Qiu Shu) is a major scholarly work by Zhang Taiyan. Its contents span classical studies, the various masters, historiography, language and writing, and ethnic thought, and it is known for its breadth and difficulty. It is a key text for understanding the scholarly transition of the late Qing and Zhang's thought. This book belongs to the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series, preserves the original appearance of the text, emphasizes the preservation and transmission of traditional thought and culture, and offers readers convenient access to the original. Its value lies not in being popular and easy to read but in showing how a scholar used traditional scholarly resources to respond to the problems of his time; reading it reveals philological rigor interwoven with intellectual sharpness. It is suitable for readers with some foundation in literature and history for thematic study, or for reading alongside works on modern intellectual history. First-time readers should not rush; they should select chapters for close reading and gradually go deeper with reference works and related scholarship in order to appreciate its scholarly weight and intellectual tension.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Researchers and students of modern Chinese intellectual history and academic history
- Chinese and history majors with some foundation in classical Chinese and philology
- Readers interested in Zhang Taiyan's thought and the scholarly transition of the late Qing
- Advanced undergraduates and graduate students who need to engage the original text for thematic study
Not a good fit for
- General readers without classical Chinese who want light reading
- Readers who only want Zhang Taiyan's biography and anecdotes rather than the original work
- Beginners expecting popular explanations or modern vernacular translations
Reading tips
- Begin with the publisher's note and table of contents to understand the general structure, then choose chapters related to your interests for close reading.
- Keep reference works and related research at hand; look up institutions, names, and terminology as needed, and do not expect to understand everything in one pass.
- Read in groups by theme, such as classical studies, the various masters, and historiography, and after each group write brief notes summarizing Zhang's arguments.
- Read alongside general works on modern intellectual history to help situate The Book of Urgency in its historical context.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 訄书前录
- 原学第一
- 订孔第二
- 儒墨第三
- 儒道第四
- 儒法第五
- 儒侠第六
- 儒兵第七
- 学变第八
- 学蛊第九
- 王学第十
- 颜学第十一
- 清儒第十二
- 学隐第十三
- 订实知第十四
- 通谶第十五
- 原人第十六
- 序种姓上第十七
- 序种姓下第十八
- 原变第十九
- 族制第二十
- 民数第二十一
- 封禅第二十二
- 河图第二十三
- 方言第二十四
- 订文第二十五
- 述图第二十六
- 公言第二十七
- 平等难第二十八
- 明独第二十九
- 冥契第三十
- 通法第三十一
- 官统上第三十二
- 官统中第三十三
- 官统下第三十四
- 商鞅第三十五
- 正葛第三十六
- 刑官第三十七
- 定律第三十八
- 不加赋难第三十九
- 明农第四十
- 禁烟草第四十一
- 定版籍第四十二
- 制币第四十三
- 弭兵难第四十四——戊戌春作是难时俄罗斯弭兵会未起
- 经武第四十五
- 议学第四十六
- 原教上第四十七
- 原教下第四十八
- 争教第四十九
- 忧教第五十
- 订礼俗第五十一
- 辨乐第五十二
- 相宅第五十三
- 地治第五十四
- 消极第五十五
- 尊史第五十六
- 征七略第五十七
- 哀焚书第五十八
- 哀清史第五十九
- 中国通史目录
- 杂志第六十
- 别录甲第六十一——杨颜钱
- 别录乙第六十二——许二魏汤李
- 解辫发第六十三
FAQ
What kind of work is The Book of Urgency?
The Book of Urgency is a collection of scholarly essays by Zhang Taiyan covering classical studies, the various masters, historiography, language and writing, and ethnic thought. It concentrates his scholarly method and intellectual concerns and is an important original text in modern intellectual history.
What is the greatest difficulty in reading The Book of Urgency?
The main difficulties are its concise and abstruse classical Chinese, dense allusions, and extensive traditional scholarly terminology, figures, and texts. Readers need some foundation in philology and the patience to look things up; otherwise they may get stuck on individual chapters.
Is this book suitable for beginners to read directly?
It is not very suitable for complete beginners. If you are interested in modern scholarship, first read relevant introductions or research works to build background, then return to the original and read selected chapters. Proceeding step by step is more effective than forcing your way through the whole book.
Should one read selected chapters or the whole book?
For most readers, selected reading is more practical. Start with chapters on classical studies, the various masters, or ethnic thought according to the table of contents, and expand after thoroughly reading several chapters. Specialists may read the whole book and take systematic notes according to their research needs.
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About the author
Zhang Binglin (Zhang Taiyan)
Author · Chinese · 1869–1936
Zhang Binglin (Zhang Taiyan, 1869–1936), style name Taiyan, was a native of Yuhang, Zhejiang. A democratic revolutionary, thinker, and master of Chinese classical learning in the late Qing and early Republican era, he edited the Min Bao, the official newspaper of the Tongmenghui, and was known both for his revolutionary stance and his deep scholarly attainments. His research spanned the classics, history, philology, and the various schools of thought. His works include Qiu Shu, Guogu Lunheng, Wenshi, and Xin Fangyan, written in an archaic, rigorous style that combines polemical force with solid textual scholarship. He lectured and wrote for many years, and his students included Huang Kan, Qian Xuantong, and Lu Xun, giving him a profound influence on modern scholarship and literature. This library holds 24 of his works, covering classics, Eastern philosophy, literary appreciation, and culture, including public-domain editions of Guogu Lunheng and Qiu Shu as well as lectures on national learning and academic history, offering readers different angles on his thought and prose style.
