Biography of Han Yu

Name: Biography of Han Yu
ISBN: 9787513944809

张弘韬民主与建设出版社 · ChinaMar 2024

3.4

Word count: 106K words
Chapters: 44
ISBN: 9787513944809

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Summary

Drawing on a wealth of historical sources, this book rediscovers Han Yu through a clear narrative and vivid storytelling, tracing his family background, childhood, examination career, exiles, teaching, campaigns against rebellions, and later years, in an effort to restore a true Han Yu within his historical context. Its aim is to give readers a deep understanding of the life, literary achievements, and spiritual stature of this great master, and to let them feel for themselves how Han Yu, amid every kind of trial, upheld the way of benevolence and righteousness in the chaotic mid-Tang world of decaying rites and collapsing order, becoming a master revered by later generations.

Editor's review

Han Yu: A Biography is scholar Zhang Hongtao's in-depth study and interpretation of the life of Han Yu, the man who 'revived literature after eight dynasties of decline.' Rather than a simple recital of events, it places Han Yu within the grand context of mid-Tang political turmoil, intellectual debate, and literary reform, analyzing his multiple identities—as writer, thinker, and statesman—and their inner tensions. Zhang Hongtao's narrative combines scholarly rigor with readability: he cites extensively from Han Yu's own poems, prose, and memorials, and draws widely on the Old and New Books of Tang and major commentaries across the centuries, striving to recover a flesh-and-blood soul wrestling with ideal and reality. The rise of the Classical Prose Movement, Han Yu's polemics against Buddhism and Daoism, and his perseverance and compromise amid the ups and downs of official life all receive deep and original analysis. For readers, this is more than a tribute to a historical figure; it is a profound journey into the spiritual tradition of the Chinese literati-official, the transformation of Confucianism in crisis, and how literature responds to the questions of its age. Its value lies in exceeding the bounds of biography to become an important window onto the cultural spirit of the mid-Tang and the inner journey of the intellectual.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers and enthusiasts interested in the history of classical Chinese literature, especially the Tang-Song Classical Prose Movement.
Readers seeking a deeper understanding of Han Yu's life, thought, and historical standing.
Intellectuals concerned with the literati-official spirit and the theory and practice of Confucianism.
Biography readers who enjoy finding the complexity of a figure within historical detail and grand narrative.

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for light entertainment; the book is serious and scholarly in content.
Readers who wish only to sample Han Yu's literary achievements and do not want to delve into his political and intellectual world.

Reading tips

It is advisable to acquire some preliminary knowledge of mid-Tang history and the Classical Prose Movement for a deeper reading experience.
Read alongside Han Yu's representative works (such as 'On Teachers,' 'On Progress in Learning,' and 'On the Buddha's Bone') for mutual illumination.
As you read, consider whether the dilemmas Han Yu faced might speak to the situation of intellectuals today.

About the publisher

民主与建设出版社 China · Founded in 1994

Founded in 1994, Democracy and Construction Press organizes its publishing around economic management, the humanities and history, and united front culture, while also covering foreign literature and classic works. Among the 732 titles in the collection are translations of foreign classics such as The Brothers Karamazov and On War, fantasy literature such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Illustrated Collector's Edition, and modern literary masterpieces including Lao She's Four Generations Under One Roof and Camel Xiangzi · The Problem of Nothing, and Lu Xun's Call to Arms. Translators Geng Jizhi and Wang Jinhua, together with authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and Carl von Clausewitz, form the resource base for its combination of scholarly translation and general reading. As public information is limited, this description focuses on the publishing profile reflected in the titles held in the collection.

版权信息
一孤苦流徙少年时
儒学传世家
三岁失怙恃
泣血哀号天
避地在宣城
二十年竞艺在长安
登高望烽火
风云一朝会
长安交游者
三两府戎幕心龊龊
大梁从相公
彭城赴仆射
文士初聚会
洛阳山水情
四为民请命谪阳山
风雨灵台夜
为民谪阳山
贤哉阳山令
遇赦归江陵
五避语阱分司东都
东都避语阱
诗文星璀璨
都官强项令
六任职京官频转徙
职方到博士
比部兼修撰
随势官浮沉
七平淮西建功军旅
平“淮西之乱”
淮西获大捷
撰平淮西碑
八谏佛骨再贬岭南
上表论佛骨
大雪拥蓝关
潮州驱鳄鱼
量移刺袁州
商南哭幼女
九晚年尽忠穆宗朝
任国子祭酒
勇夺三军帅
宦海再沉浮
魂归河阳墓
附录

FAQ

What distinguishes this biography of Han Yu from others on the market?

The author, Zhang Hongtao, is concerned with portraying Han Yu within concrete historical and political contexts, with particular attention to his roles as political actor and intellectual combatant. He analyzes the inner connections among Han Yu's memorials, polemical essays, and literary positions. The book is more scholarly and its interpretations more thorough and systematic.

How does the book evaluate Han Yu's 'doctrine of the orthodox tradition' and his anti-Buddhist thought?

The author situates Han Yu's 'orthodox tradition' thought against the background of Confucian revival and the challenge of Buddhism and Daoism. He affirms its positive intent to rebuild Confucian spiritual authority while also analyzing its historical limitations and practical political considerations, maintaining a relatively objective and dialectical stance.

Can non-specialist readers understand this book?

Although it has some scholarly depth, the writing is clear, the narrative well organized, and key concepts are explained. Readers with a high-school-level or above knowledge of history and literature can fully understand and benefit from it, given patience.

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About the author

张弘韬 Author

Zhang Hongtao is an author about whom little public information is currently available; it is known only that he wrote the book Han Yu Zhuan (Biography of Han Yu), the single work by him included in the library, commonly classified under general biography. Based on this limited information, Zhang Hongtao's writing focuses on the field of biography, and his choice of Han Yu, a major figure in the literary and intellectual history of the Tang dynasty, as his subject suggests an interest in historical figures with deep cultural significance. In terms of subject matter, the Biography of Han Yu is a biographical work centered on the subject's life and thought while taking the historical background into account, which generally requires the author to balance the organization of historical sources with narrative expression. Because there are no reliable records of Zhang Hongtao's own identity, experience, or other writings, it is difficult to judge his overall writing style and scholarly orientation, or to assess how the book has been received by readers and academia. On the basis of the available work, he may be regarded as an author writing in the direction of historical biography, and his Biography of Han Yu offers readers an account of Han Yu's life and the cultural context of the Tang dynasty.