The Chapter on Replies to Objections
Wang ChongJinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJun 2024
Rating 4.5- Word count
- 2.7K words
- Chapters
- 2
Tags
Eastern Philosophy Humanistic ReflectionScholarly AttitudeTextual CriticismAcademic DebateScholarly AutobiographyAuthorial PrefacePolemical StyleEastern Han EssaySummary
is a work by Wang Chong.Editor's review
"Duizuo" is a chapter in Wang Chong's Lunheng that concentrates his argumentative spirit of condemning falsehoods and seeking truthfulness. The chapter analyzes the false and exaggerated claims prevalent at the time, displaying the author's critical attitude grounded in facts and logic. Reading it, one can sense the truth-seeking and practical side of Eastern Han intellectual life and appreciate the plainness of Wang Chong's prose and the edge of his argumentation. For readers concerned with ancient Chinese intellectual history, Han philosophy, or argumentative prose, this chapter is a window into Wang Chong's mode of thinking. This edition, printed by Shanghai Jinzhang Book Company, makes this classic chapter accessible. Readers are advised to first understand the overall background of Lunheng and then read this chapter closely, paying attention to its manner of questioning and argumentation, without rushing to judge whether its views are right or wrong, but rather appreciating its stance of independent thought.Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in ancient Chinese intellectual history and Han philosophy
- Students of literature and history researching Wang Chong and Lunheng
- Readers who enjoy ancient argumentative prose and critical thinking
Not a good fit for
- Casual readers seeking light entertainment or storylines
- Those who still find classical Chinese difficult and have no annotations to assist them
Reading tips
- First read the relevant background introduction to Lunheng before entering this chapter, to grasp the argumentative context.
- While reading, mark the targets of Wang Chong's questioning and his argumentative steps, and appreciate his method of reasoning.
- Read alongside other Han intellectual texts to observe the characteristics of Wang Chong's critical spirit.
About the publisher
Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 对作篇第八十四
FAQ
What does "Duizuo" mainly discuss?
This chapter belongs to Wang Chong's Lunheng and mainly analyzes the false and exaggerated claims popular at the time, embodying the author's argumentative stance of condemning falsehoods and seeking truthfulness. It is an important chapter for understanding Wang Chong's critical thought.Can I read this chapter without prior knowledge of Lunheng?
Yes, but it is advisable to first understand the background of Lunheng's composition and Wang Chong's basic intellectual orientation; otherwise, one may see only fragments of argument and miss the overall thread. Annotations or related introductions will make the reading more rewarding.Related on WeRead
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About the author
Wang Chong Author · ChineseWang Chong (27–c. 97), courtesy name Zhongren, was a native of Shangyu in Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang). A thinker, literary critic, and atheist of the Eastern Han, he entered the Imperial Academy in Luoyang in his youth and studied under Ban Biao; later he left office, stayed at home, and devoted himself to writing. His representative work, the eighty-five-chapter Lunheng (Balanced Inquiries), criticizes Chenwei superstition and the theory of interactions between Heaven and humanity, advocates a naturalist theory of qi, and stands as an important representative of Han-dynasty materialist thought. Wang Chong valued evidence and analysis in his writing, often developing arguments through questions and debates in a plain but sharp style. The collection holds sixty-nine of his works, including such pieces as Shizhi pian, Wenkong pian, Ziran pian, Daoxu pian, Duizuo pian, and Hanwen pian, covering philosophy, social criticism, and literary appreciation. He championed independent thinking and opposed blind submission to authority, exerting a lasting influence on later thought and literary criticism.