Restoring Yin

Guan HanqingJul 2024

3.2

Word count: 12K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early intellectual forms have distinctive features: religious theology, classical medical texts, ancient military strategy, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist and Hundred Schools thought, feng shui and metaphysical studies, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography are all vast and profound. This "Essence of the Chinese Classics" series 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 cultivate their temperament and quietly absorb the classics.

Editor's review

Fu Yin, a work by Guan Hanqing in the "Essence of the Chinese Classics" series, is valuable above all for preserving the basic appearance of the original, letting readers come directly into contact with the texture of language and narrative rhythm of an ancient drama text. Guan Hanqing's writing is known for its attention to worldly life and plain, natural language; this book serves as one of the introductory readers for understanding traditional drama literature and the Chinese classics. The series as a whole emphasizes preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture and makes few modernizing alterations, so reading requires some grounding in classical Chinese and patience. Readers accustomed to vernacular Chinese are advised to use annotations or introductory materials alongside the text. The book suits a variety of settings: it can serve as supplementary material for courses in classical literature, and it is also suitable for readers interested in traditional drama and classical culture to browse in their spare time, experiencing through the original text the literary essence left by ancient sages and drawing closer to the classics without effort.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature lovers interested in Guan Hanqing and classical drama texts
Teachers and students needing original classical texts as teaching aids
Readers who wish to preserve the original appearance of the text and build a foundation in traditional culture

Not a good fit for

Beginners who prefer vernacular rewrites or modern translations
Readers expecting detailed annotations and line-by-line explanation
Readers with little interest in drama texts who only want to skim

Reading tips

Read through once for the general sense, then read closely paragraph by paragraph with annotations or reference works.
Read alongside other works by Guan Hanqing to appreciate his language style.
Jot down unfamiliar words and unclear passages while reading, and look them up together.
Do not read too much at one time; keep adapting to the feel of classical Chinese.

版权信息
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FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with no grounding in classical Chinese?

The book preserves the original appearance of the text without vernacular rewriting, so readers with weak classical Chinese will find it difficult. It is advisable to first use annotated editions or introductory materials to understand the background, then return to the original text and proceed step by step.

How does this series differ from ordinary edited editions?

According to the publisher's description, the series emphasizes preserving the original appearance of the text and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture, with few modernizing alterations. It is therefore closer to the original textual form and suits readers who wish to encounter the text as it was.

What background knowledge should I have before reading?

It helps to first learn about the social background of Guan Hanqing's time and basic knowledge of drama literature, such as role types and qupai tune names, so that the structure and expression of the original text are easier to grasp.

Comments

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About the author

Guan Hanqing Author · Chinese · 1230–1300

Guan Hanqing (c. 1230–1300) was a Yuan dynasty playwright and a founder of Yuan zaju drama. He was known by the courtesy name Yizhaisou and was a native of Dadu (present-day Beijing). He served as a physician in the Imperial Medical Academy and led the zaju writers' group Yujing Shuhui. Over his lifetime Guan wrote more than sixty zaju plays, of which eighteen survive, including The Injustice to Dou E, Saving a Courtesan, and The Single Sword Meeting. His works draw on folk life and historical stories, are written in plain, natural language, and feature vivid characters and strong dramatic conflict. He is ranked first among the Four Masters of Yuan Qu, together with Bai Pu, Ma Zhiyuan, and Zheng Guangzu, and is honored as the Sage of Qu. The library holds seventeen of his works, including The Injustice to Dou E and other representative plays, selected dramatic works, and a complete collection of his Yuan qu, making them important sources for understanding the art of Yuan zaju.