Records of Questions

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaAug 2020

2.8

Word count: 1.1K words
Chapters: 7

Summary

Refers to memorizing the Odes and Documents in preparation for questions or as material for conversation. Wang Anshi, "On Discussion: Selecting Talent": "Those who devote themselves to classical studies merely take memorization as their ability, without demanding the great meaning; all are of the ignorant and shallow sort."

Editor's review

Though titled Jiwen ("Memorized Questions"), this book in fact addresses fundamental questions about how to read and what attitude to take toward learning. It examines the practice of "memorizing the Odes and Documents in preparation for questions or as material for conversation," pointing out the tendency to treat mere memorization as scholarship and to make a virtue of answering questions or adding to small talk, and uses Wang Anshi's remark that people "merely take memorization as their ability, without demanding the great meaning" to reveal its limits. The book is short, yet it sets out clearly the tension between memorization and understanding, between wide reading and genuine insight, and is well suited to being kept at hand and reread. It offers no quick-fix techniques but reminds readers that memorization is not useless in itself; what matters is whether it aims at seeking the great meaning. As you read, compare it with your own motives for reading—for exams, for conversation, or for knowledge—and the point becomes easier to grasp.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers concerned with methods of reading and scholarly attitude who wish to reflect on the relation between memorization and understanding
Lovers of classical literature and history hoping to draw lessons on reading from the words of the ancients
Teachers and parents seeking to guide children in handling recitation and thinking correctly
General readers troubled by fragmented knowledge who want to recover the habit of deep reading

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting specific memory techniques, speed-reading methods, or exam tips
Those who want only stories and entertaining content and lack patience for argumentative prose
Researchers of ancient texts needing systematic scholarly textual criticism or detailed annotations

Reading tips

Read the opening definition of jiwen first, and only after grasping the concept go on to the analyses that follow.
Jot down your own usual motives for reading as you go, and compare them with the practices criticized in the book.
Combine the book's views with your own experience of recitation and write a short reading note.
It is short; read a small section a day and leave time for thought rather than finishing it in one sitting.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
记问第五
正文一
正文二
正文三
正文四
正文五

FAQ

What exactly does jiwen mean? Is it pejorative?

Jiwen means memorizing the Odes and Documents in order to be ready for others' questions or to serve as conversational material. The term is not pejorative in itself, but the book, citing Wang Anshi, points out that if one takes memorization as ability and does not seek the great meaning, one easily becomes shallow. Readers may take it as a neutral concept; the point is to examine the relation between memorization and understanding.

Is this book better suited to students or to adults?

Both can read it, with different emphases. Students can use it to reflect on whether recitation equals understanding, while adults more readily compare it with their own experience of reading for conversation or social occasions. The book offers no concrete methods, being more a reminder and an analysis, so it suits readers who already have some reading experience and are willing to examine themselves.

Does the book contain specific reading methods?

According to the material, the book mainly discusses the practice of jiwen, focusing on the limits of mere memorization without seeking the great meaning rather than offering step-by-step reading methods. Readers who want practical techniques should look elsewhere; the value of this book lies in helping readers first clarify the purpose and attitude of reading.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.