The Forest of Tang Talk

王谠Jul 2024

Rating 4.5

Word count: 159K words
Chapters: 26

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history and are highly original, inventive, and literary. Early forms of thought have distinctive features: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This series, "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts," preserves the original appearance of the books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers can cultivate their temperament and quietly appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

Tang Yulin is a note-style work compiled by Wang Dang of the Northern Song dynasty. It draws widely on historical materials, anecdotes, institutional regulations, and the words and deeds of figures from the Tang dynasty to the early Song, arranging them by category. Its contents cover many dimensions, including the successes and failures of court politics, the conduct of scholars, literary anecdotes, and social customs. This edition belongs to the series "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture: Original Texts" and focuses on preserving the original appearance of the book, providing readers with an edition close to the traditional text. Its value lies not in constructing systematic historical argument but in presenting the speech and behavior of Tang people and the atmosphere of the age through fragmentary records. Many entries are short and pithy, offering both historical reference and reading pleasure. For readers familiar with the framework of Tang history, it can serve as supplementary reading beyond the official histories, helping them appreciate character and everyday detail; for lovers of classical notes, its categorized arrangement also makes it easy to dip into. Note that this is an edition preserving the original appearance of the text, and its language and background are distant from the present; beginners should use reference works or read selected categories rather than insisting on reading it through.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Tang history and anecdotes about historical figures who wish to broaden their reading beyond the official histories
General readers who enjoy classical notes and character sketches and prefer short, fragmentary reading
Students of ancient literature and history who need direct contact with original historical note materials from the Tang dynasty
Readers who wish to understand the words and deeds of traditional scholars and social customs and to approach Chinese learning in a relaxed way

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic general history or complete storylines; this book consists of categorized fragments
Beginning readers needing vernacular annotations and detailed guidance; this series focuses on preserving the original appearance of the text
Readers who only want to read Tang poetry itself; this book is not a poetry anthology

Reading tips

First browse the categorized table of contents and start with a category of interest; there is no need to read from the first page in order.
Prepare simple reference works on Tang figures and official titles, and check unfamiliar names and terms as you go to reduce obstacles.
Read only a number of entries at a time and mark those that can be cross-checked against the official histories, then review them after accumulating more.
Read alongside Tang histories or related notes and compare how the same figure appears in different records.

版权信息
唐语林
卷一德行
卷一言语
卷一政事上
卷二政事下
卷二文学
卷三方正
卷三雅量
卷三识鉴
卷三赏誉
卷三品藻
卷三规箴
卷三夙慧
卷四豪爽
卷四容止
卷四自新
卷四企羡
卷四伤逝
卷四栖逸
卷四贤媛
卷五补遗（起高祖至代宗）
卷五补遗（起德宗至文宗）
卷七补遗（起武宗至昭宗）
卷八补遗（无时代）
辑佚

FAQ

What kind of book is Tang Yulin?

It is a note-style work compiled by Wang Dang of the Northern Song dynasty. It draws on historical materials and anecdotes from the Tang dynasty to the early Song and arranges them by category, covering court politics, the words and deeds of figures, literary anecdotes, and social customs. It is not a systematic history but presents Tang people through fragmentary records, offering both historical reference and reading pleasure.

Can I understand it without a foundation in Tang history?

You can read it, but there will be some obstacles. The book involves many Tang figures, official titles, and institutions, and it preserves much of the original text without detailed annotations. It is advisable first to learn the basic outline of Tang history and prepare reference works, or start with categories of interest and build up gradually rather than insisting on reading it through.

Is this book suited to reading through or to selective reading?

It is better suited to selective and casual reading. The book is arranged by category, its entries are short, and the categories are relatively independent. Readers can choose categories of interest and read a few entries at a time. For research, they can search across categories around specific figures or themes.

How can this book be used alongside reading the official histories?

It can be treated as a supplement to the official histories. The official histories provide the framework of institutions and major events, while this book offers more of people's conversation and everyday detail. When reading about a familiar figure, you can turn back to the relevant records in the histories and compare the portrayals, which deepens understanding and reveals the distinctive value of note-style historical materials.

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About the author

王谠 Author

Wang Dang was the compiler of the Song-dynasty notebook work Tang Yulin (A Forest of Tales from the Tang). Publicly available information about his life is very limited: his dates of birth and death, native place, and official career are all unknown, and neither his courtesy name nor his nationality can be verified. What can be confirmed is his close association with Tang Yulin. Modeled on A New Account of Tales of the World, the book classifies and records anecdotes, remarks, and customs of Tang literati, along with court and local lore and institutional practices. Its sources are wide-ranging, touching on politics, literature, and social customs, and it preserves many passages not found in the official histories, giving it considerable historical and literary value. The language is concise and the narratives vivid; a few words often bring a figure's speech and manner to life. It is an important text for understanding Tang society and the life of its literati. Given the limited materials, Wang Dang's own experiences and thought cannot be assessed in depth; readers may instead glimpse his learning and interests through the selections and style of Tang Yulin.