On Acknowledging Shortcomings
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Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Students and researchers studying the Lunheng and Han intellectual history
- Readers interested in the relation between Confucian scholars and clerks and Han views on talent
- Teachers needing examples of ancient argumentative prose for writing instruction
- Readers who enjoy short classical arguments and wish to take close-reading notes
Not a good fit for
- Readers wishing to read the entire Lunheng systematically
- Beginners lacking a classical Chinese foundation who need line-by-line vernacular translation
- Readers who prefer literary narrative to argumentation
Reading tips
- Read the title and first paragraph first, clarify the meaning of "xie duan," then read the whole text to grasp the topic.
- As you read, list the shortcomings Wang Chong identifies in Confucian scholars and clerks, making a comparison table.
- Read with basic knowledge of the Han official selection system to understand the real background of the dispute between scholars and clerks.
- After reading, try restating Wang Chong's argument in modern Chinese to check whether you have grasped the levels of his reasoning.
About the publisher
Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 谢短篇第三十六
FAQ
What does the title "Xie Duan" mean?
Do I need to know the whole Lunheng before reading this piece?
Does Wang Chong wholly reject both Confucian scholars and clerks?
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About the author
Wang Chong (27–c. 97), courtesy name Zhongren, was a native of Shangyu in Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). A thinker, literary critic, and atheist of the Eastern Han, he entered the Imperial Academy in Luoyang in his youth and studied under Ban Biao; later he left office, stayed at home, and devoted himself to writing. His representative work, the eighty-five-chapter Lunheng (Balanced Inquiries), criticizes Chenwei superstition and the theory of interactions between Heaven and humanity, advocates a naturalist theory of qi, and stands as an important representative of Han-dynasty materialist thought. Wang Chong valued evidence and analysis in his writing, often developing arguments through questions and debates in a plain but sharp style. The collection holds sixty-nine of his works, including such pieces as Shizhi pian, Wenkong pian, Ziran pian, Daoxu pian, Duizuo pian, and Hanwen pian, covering philosophy, social criticism, and literary appreciation. He championed independent thinking and opposed blind submission to authority, exerting a lasting influence on later thought and literary criticism.
