Bin cover

Bin

Rating 4.1
Word count
1.2K words
Chapters
8

Tags

Summary

Bin is an ancient place name, referring to the area around present-day Bin County and the southwest of Xunyi County in Shaanxi Province, China.

Editor's review

This book centers on "Bin," an ancient place name, tracing its geographical and historical threads in the area of present-day Bin County and the southwest of Xunyi County in Shaanxi. For general readers the character is obscure, yet it occupies a key position in the early history of the Zhou clan and in the place-name system of the Classic of Poetry. Published by Bashu Press, the book is concise and suitable as an introductory reader on ancient place names and regional culture. It need not be read straight through; readers can use maps and related texts to restore the name to specific mountains, rivers, and settlements, and understand how "Bin" moved from a capital name into classical texts. Its value lies not in offering a complete general history but in establishing clear coordinates for an obscure place name—suitable for browsing by those interested in pre-Qin geography, local culture, or the background of the Classic of Poetry, and as background reading before visiting the Bin County and Xunyi area.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • General readers interested in pre-Qin place names and early Zhou history
  • Those preparing to visit or travel in the Bin County and Xunyi area of Shaanxi
  • Students needing a quick understanding of the character "Bin" and its geographical reference
  • Enthusiasts seeking regional background while reading the Classic of Poetry

Not a good fit for

  • Academic researchers expecting a systematic general history or lengthy textual criticism
  • Professionals needing detailed archaeological materials and atlases for comparison
  • Casual readers hoping for rich stories and character plots

Reading tips

  1. First locate Bin County and Xunyi on a map, then read the main text to build a sense of space.
  2. Read alongside the "Bin Feng" section of the Classic of Poetry, placing the place name back in its textual context.
  3. Keep a page of notes recording the associations between "Bin" and variants such as "Bin" (邠) and Gong Liu's fief.

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.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 七月
  3. 鸱鸮
  4. 东山
  5. 破斧
  6. 伐柯
  7. 九羘
  8. 狼跋

FAQ

How is the character "豳" pronounced?
"豳" is pronounced bīn and is interchangeable with "邠"; it is a character used in ancient place names. The book revolves around this place name; readers need not be deterred by its obscure form—just remember the pronunciation and then understand it in geographical terms.
What is the relationship between this book and the "Bin Feng" section of the Classic of Poetry?
This book focuses on the geographical and historical reference of "Bin" as an ancient place name, while "Bin Feng" is a group of poems in the Classic of Poetry. The two provide context for each other: understanding the location of Bin helps in understanding the early Zhou life depicted in "Bin Feng."
Can I read it without a classical Chinese background?
Yes. The book is concise, and its core is an introduction to the place name and regional background, not dependent on deep classical Chinese proficiency. When encountering obscure characters or quotations, consult reference books and maps to read smoothly.

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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.

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