The Writings of Gu Yanwu
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Summary
Editor's review
The editor believes that Mr. Wang Ning's selections are marked by keen judgment: rather than simply listing famous pieces, he focuses on revealing the systematic character of Gu Yanwu's thought and the essence of his scholarly method. The selections from the Ri Zhi Lu especially highlight its three characteristics—"valuing originality," "extensive evidential support," and "practical application"—enabling readers to grasp clearly his scholarly trajectory. Gu Yanwu's textual criticism was not pursued for its own sake; its fundamental aim was to "clarify the Way and save the world," and this character of closely linking scholarship to the fate of the nation and the world is fully embodied in the book. The Commercial Press edition is meticulously collated, with concise and apt annotations, ensuring scholarly rigor while also attending to the readability of the text. Reading this book is not only to understand the thought of a historical figure but also to appreciate a scholarly spirit and personal style that integrates individual learning into concern for the times; it offers profound inspirational value for today's readers as they reflect on the role and responsibility of intellectuals.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with an interest in the intellectual and academic history of Ming-Qing China
- Readers of literature and history who wish to understand the practical-learning tradition of "putting learning to practical use" and the methods of evidential scholarship
- University teachers, students, and researchers seeking to combine academic research with real-world concern
- Readers of classical prose who wish to appreciate Gu Yanwu's solemn, forceful, and earnest style
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking only light storytelling or shallow popular history
- Beginners who find classical Chinese and traditional scholarly expression difficult to understand
Reading tips
- It is recommended to begin with the "Editorial Notes" or introduction, to learn about Gu Yanwu's life, the outline of his thought, and the selection logic of the book.
- Read the selections from the Ri Zhi Lu in light of specific historical contexts, focusing on how he draws broad institutional reflection and social criticism from detailed textual and historical examination.
- Treat the selections from the Tianxia Junguo Libing Shu as case studies of his practical-learning thought, considering the statecraft intent behind his geographical, economic, and military investigations.
About the publisher
The Commercial Press is a publisher known for classic works and academic publishing, with titles spanning Eastern philosophy, foreign literature, world history, social culture, and applied psychology. Its list includes classical commentaries such as Zhu Xi's Collected Commentaries on the Analects and Wang Bi's Commentary on the Zhouyi, as well as modern annotated translations like Zhuangzi with Modern Notes and Translation. In foreign literature it offers War and Peace and Crime and Punishment, while in world history it carries Braudel's The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II. Applied psychology is represented by Irvin D. Yalom's Existential Psychotherapy, and ethical texts include a Greek-Chinese-English edition of the Nicomachean Ethics. Its authors and translators include Zhu Xi, Wang Bi, Yalom, Braudel, and translators such as Huang Zheng, Zhang Yiling, Shen Dongyu, and Tang Jialong, balancing the editing of original texts with academic translation.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 总序之一——在阅读中走近中华优秀传统文化
- 总序之二——植入健康的文化基因
- 新编导言——读懂顾炎武，增强文化自信
- 原书绪言
- 凡例说明
- 散文选读
- 郡县论九篇
- 广师
- 初刻《日知录》自序
- 《金石文字记》序
- 抄书自序
- 《广宋遗民录》序
- 莱州任氏族谱序
- 《三朝纪事阙文》序
- 拽梯郎君祠记
- 复庵记
- 山阳王君墓志铭
- 常熟陈君墓志铭
- 从叔父穆庵府君行状
- 先妣王硕人行状
- 吴同初行状
- 书吴潘二子事
- 与友人论学书
- 与友人论门人书
- 与友人辞祝书
- 答原一公肃两甥书
- 与戴枫仲书
- 答李紫澜书
- 答曾庭闻书
- 复陈蔼公书
- 答子德书
- 与次耕书
- 与李中孚书
- 与三侄书
- 与周籀书书
- 与人书六篇
- 答友人论学书
- 规友人纳妾书
- 答徐甥公肃书
- 与杨雪臣
- 与潘次耕札（一）
- 与潘次耕札（二）
- 《日知录》选读
- 自视欿然
- 夸毗
- 医师
- 人聚
- 水利
- 街道
- 官树
- 法制
- 周末风俗
- 两汉风俗
- 正始
- 宋世风俗
- 名教
- 廉耻
- 俭约
- 大臣
- 除贪
- 贵廉
- 著书之难
- 直言
- 文人之多
- 文人摹仿之病
- 文章繁简
- 文人求古之病
- 诗体代降
- 酒禁
- 赌博
- 方音
FAQ
Which works of Gu Yanwu does this book include?
What are the characteristics of Mr. Wang Ning's selections?
Is this edition difficult for ordinary readers?
Comments
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About the author
Wang Ning: publicly available information is limited, and the shape of his work emerges mainly from the thirty-five titles held in the collection. Judging by his representative works, his writing spans several fields. He has produced works on Chinese language and philology such as Principles of Exegesis (Expanded Edition), Twelve Lectures on the Structure of Chinese Characters, and Ancient Chinese. He has also worked on classical texts including the Zuo Commentary and the Huainanzi, on the poetry of Wen Tingyun, and on the travel record of Xu Xiake, as well as on communication research methods. This range suggests a scholar engaged with both traditional philology and classical documents, writing with scholarly rigor while keeping specialized knowledge clear and readable. The collection also classifies his works under Eastern philosophy, examination preparation, essays, and film and television, indicating that he writes for classrooms, research, and general readers alike. Because his dates, nationality, and educational background are unknown, this note offers no speculation and limits itself to an objective sketch of his subjects and orientations.
Gu Dexi is an author about whom public information is limited: neither nationality nor dates of birth and death are confirmed, and no verifiable personal career details are available. According to the records in our database, 11 works appear under this name, spanning classical poetry and prose, philosophy, and history, including Travels of Xu Xiake, Poems of Wen Tingyun, Huainanzi, The Book of Lord Shang, Literature of the Han, Wei and Six Dynasties, Writings of Gu Yanwu, Poems of Xie Lingyun, and Poems of Huang Zhongze. The common categories cover miscellaneous prose, classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, history readings, classic works, and folk literature. Judging from the selected titles, the editorial work focuses on presenting classic texts and famous poetry and prose, covering a broad range and embracing both intellectual classics and literary readings, offering readers diverse access to traditional works.
Tang Jinggao's life is now obscure, and publicly available information is limited: his birth and death years, native place, and nationality are not clearly recorded. What can be confirmed is that one work of his is included in this site's catalogue, Gu Yanwu Wen (The Writings of Gu Yanwu), commonly classified as a history reading. The book centres on Gu Yanwu, the famous scholar of the late Ming and early Qing, and belongs to the popular literature introducing the man and his writings. Judging by its subject, the selections and commentary take account of Gu's scholarly thought, his concern for practical statecraft, and the style of his prose, seeking to give readers a basic picture of this thinker within limited space. Owing to the scarcity of materials, the book's specific editorial approach, background, and publication history cannot be described in detail, nor can Tang Jinggao's other experiences be traced. Readers may use it as one of the introductory works for understanding Gu Yanwu's life and writings; further study should still consult fuller primary sources and scholarly studies.
