Biographies of the Literati
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Summary
Editor's review
The editor believes that the value of this book lies in its unique angle of approach and its readable narrative style. The author Qin Yu attempts to avoid grand historical narratives and instead delves into the daily lives, emotional worlds, and creative moments of these literati, revealing their inner pride, anguish, struggle, and transcendence through their poems, letters, and anecdotes. The book offers a multi-layered interpretation of the spiritual essence of "maverick"—that complex temperament combining a sense of crisis, critical spirit, and aesthetic pursuit—helping readers understand the deep and moving source of power in classical Chinese literature.
However, the book may lack depth. For readers familiar with Chinese literary history, some chapters may seem somewhat superficial, and the sharpness and originality of the analysis could be strengthened. It is better suited as a window to inspire ordinary readers' interest in the world of classical literati rather than to provide groundbreaking academic insights. Overall, this is a smoothly written, emotionally rich introductory work of considerable value in popularizing traditional culture and building emotional resonance between modern readers and ancient literati.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers interested in ancient Chinese literature and culture who wish for an easy introduction
- Enthusiasts who enjoy reading literati anecdotes and historical lore
- Students seeking to understand the spiritual tradition and aesthetic taste of Chinese literati
- Writers seeking creative inspiration and resonating with the 'literary temperament'
Not a good fit for
- Historians or literature researchers seeking rigorous textual criticism and in-depth academic analysis
- Readers expecting a complete and systematic literary history
Reading tips
- It is not necessary to read in order; begin with the chapters on literati who interest you most
- Consult the relevant original poems while reading to appreciate the contexts analyzed in the book
- Thinking about the literati's fates in relation to their historical backgrounds will yield deeper understanding
About the publisher
Jinghua Publishing House is a comprehensive publishing institution based in China, founded in 1993, with 20 titles in the library collection. Judging from the available books, its publishing focus leans toward history and finance and management, while also covering biography, travel and culture. Its common categories include history, finance, biography, travel, management and culture. Representative titles include Meng Sen's The Great History of the Qing Dynasty, Chen Wei's Four Hundred Years of Japanese Business and its sequel, Liu Canrong's Idle Reflections on the Affairs of Wu and Yue, the Yongzheng Emperor title From Lonely Minister to Lonely Sovereign, The Amorous Einstein and 100 Holiday Paradises Around the World. Its author resources include Meng Sen, Chen Wei, A Meng, Liu Canrong, Mai Di, Li Zichi, the Dream Journey editorial board and Qiang Wei. The house shows a publishing character centered on historical narrative and business observation while also serving general reading and leisure culture; because public information is limited, other publishing details are not expanded here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 前言
- 第一章 《国语》
- 第二章 王绩
- 第三章 独孤及
- 第四章 陆羽
- 第五章 杜佑
- 第六章 李肇
- 第七章 韩愈
- 第八章 刘禹锡
- 第九章 李翱
- 第十章 柳宗元
- 第十一章 白居易
- 第十二章 杜牧
- 第十三章 李商隐
- 第十四章 罗隐
- 第十五章 皮日休
- 第十六章 陆龟蒙
- 第十七章 袁皓
- 第十八章 王禹偁
- 第十九章 欧阳修
- 第二十章 李觏
- 第二十一章 司马光
- 第二十二章 曾巩
- 第二十三章 沈括
- 第二十四章 苏轼
- 第二十五章 颍滨遗老传上
- 第二十六章 颍滨遗老传下
- 第二十七章 徐梦莘
- 第二十八章 张荣
- 第二十九章 陆游
- 第三十章 何耕
- 第三十一章 萧德藻
- 第三十二章 陈亮
- 第三十三章 叶适
- 第三十四章 岳珂
- 第三十五章 罗大经
- 第三十六章 宋濂
- 第三十七章 方孝孺
- 第三十八章 叶盛
- 第三十九章 袁宏道
- 第四十章 冯梦龙
- 第四十一章 王士祯
- 第四十二章 龚炜
- 第四十三章 钱泳
- 第四十四章 赵翼
- 第四十五章 昭梿
- 第四十六章 李光庭
- 第四十七章 梁章钜
- 第四十八章 沈复
- 第四十九章 许仲元
- 第五十章 乐钧
- 第五十一章 朱翊清
- 第五十二章 陈景钟
- 第五十三章 王仲言
- 第五十四章 吴循吾
- 第五十五章 陈陵
- 第五十六章 李旻
- 第五十七章 翁相
- 第五十八章 裴奭
- 第五十九章 张一赞
- 第六十章 李渔
- 第六十一章 毛先舒
- 第六十二章 萧汉臣
- 第六十三章 莫有春
- 第六十四章 胡吉豫
- 第六十五章 莫维新
- 第六十六章 万邦宪
- 第六十七章 孔尚友
- 第六十八章 陈廷璋
- 第六十九章 丁野鹤
- 第七十章 俞行简
- 第七十一章 俞大彰
- 第七十二章 释云阇黎
- 第七十三章 了元
- 第七十四章 德明
- 第七十五章 汪康年
- 第七十六章 李伯元
- 第七十七章 许国英
FAQ
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About the author
Qin Yu is a Chinese author about whom limited public information is available; neither the dates of birth and death nor personal experience have been clearly recorded. Judging from the fifteen works held in the library, Qin Yu's writing centers on inspirational growth, self-cultivation and the popularization of traditional culture, while also touching on politics, social culture and biography. Representative works include Conscientious Ministers' Memorials and Petitions, What the Poor Are Poor In, Laozi Academy, Han Feizi Academy, Mencius Academy, Zhuangzi Academy, Xunzi Academy and Learning, Self-Cultivation and Character Building. Qin Yu is adept at organizing pre-Qin thinkers' ideas in an academy-style format, turning classic propositions of Daoism, Confucianism and Legalism into accessible primers, while also attending to ordinary people's circumstances and mental adjustment. The writing is plain and fluent, emphasizing practicality and readability, and has found a readership among introductory works on traditional culture and self-improvement.
