Zhang Zai

邹贺Zhonghua Book Company · ChinaNov 2024

Rating 3.7
Word count
52K words
Chapters
12
ISBN
9787101166910

Tags

General Biography Educational PracticeQi OntologySocial ReformIntellectual BiographyNeo-Confucian MasterPhilosophical ThoughtUniversal LoveView of NatureGuan SchoolNorthern Song Scholar

Summary

Zhang Zai, the renowned Northern Song scholar, thinker, and educator, founded Guanxue, an important branch of Song Neo-Confucianism. Alongside the Cheng brothers' Luoxue, it ranked among the most influential schools of the late eleventh century. He advanced philosophical views such as "qi transforms all things" and "all people are my siblings," championed social reform, valued social education and family organization, and observed natural phenomena, proposing that "the moon orbits the earth and the earth orbits the sun"—centuries before Europe. Su Shi, Shao Yong, Sima Guang, Zhu Xi, Wang Yangming, Wang Fuzhi, Tan Sitong, Qian Mu, and other scholars and notable figures past and present have spoken of Zhang Zai in the highest terms, some even directly inheriting and developing his thought. By reconstructing the main events of Zhang Zai's life and situating them in the era and social environment of the Northern Song, the book explores and reveals the rich historical content, humanistic sentiment, and contemporary significance of the spirit of the "Four Sentences of Hengqu."

Editor's review

Zhang Zai is a standout title in Zhonghua Book Company's "Dajia Xiaoshu" (Great Masters, Small Books) series, written with care by the historian Zou He. With rigorous scholarship and an accessible style, the book systematically traces the life, thought, and far-reaching influence of Zhang Zai, a founder of Northern Song Neo-Confucianism. Zhang Zai is not only the author of the famous "Four Sentences of Hengqu"—"To establish the heart of heaven and earth, to establish the mission of the people, to continue the lost learning of past sages, and to open peace for all generations"—but also a pivotal figure in the history of Chinese philosophy. Zou He clearly outlines Zhang Zai's legendary path from martial training in his youth to seeking the Way in midlife and retiring in his later years, and focuses on analyzing the formation and inner logic of his core philosophical ideas, such as the theory of qi as fundamental substance and "all people are my siblings, all things my companions." He examines these ideas against the broader backdrop of Song political and cultural change, revealing the practical concerns with which Zhang Zai's thought responded to the issues of his time. The book's distinctive value lies in avoiding both overly abstruse academic discussion and superficial popularization: through solid interpretation of historical sources and clear conceptual analysis, it builds a bridge to Zhang Zai's spiritual world. Reading it offers not only a profound understanding of a great thinker's inner landscape but also an appreciation of the lofty ideal in traditional Chinese culture that binds personal cultivation closely to social responsibility.

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Reading tips

  1. Begin with the introduction to grasp the overall framework and historical placement of Zhang Zai's thought
  2. Draw on the book's quotations from such original works as Zhengmeng and Ximing to try to understand core concepts such as "the Great Void is qi"
  3. Compare Zhang Zai's ideas with those of his contemporaries the Cheng brothers and Wang Anshi to gain a fuller view of Northern Song scholarship

About the publisher

Zhonghua Book Company China · Founded in 1912

Zhonghua Book Company is a publisher known for collating ancient texts and academic publishing, with its output centered on Eastern philosophy, culture, classic works, art, and historical reading. Its library contains 532 titles, including Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guo Qingfan's Collected Commentaries on Zhuangzi, the four-volume Chinese Literature: Four Great Classical Novels, and the two-volume Table of Seal and Clerical Script Forms from Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin. These titles span historical classics, commentaries on the philosophers, classical novels, and philological reference works. Representative authors include Chen Shou, Guo Qingfan, Wu Cheng'en, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, Xu Wenwu, and the Hanyu Dazidian character-form group, reflecting a focus on primary sources and scholarly editors. Its publishing character lies in combining authoritative editions and annotated texts with both accessible classics and specialized research. Public information on its fuller catalog is limited; this note describes only the directions evident in the library's holdings.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 出版说明
  3. 导读
  4. 谋划边事
  5. 立志苦读
  6. 府学教授
  7. 虎皮讲《易》
  8. 登第入仕
  9. 朝堂是非
  10. 试验井田
  11. 提倡古礼
  12. 张载生平简表

FAQ

Is this book Zhang Zai's original work or a study of him? It is a research-based biography and intellectual study of Zhang Zai; the author, Zou He, systematically traces and interprets Zhang Zai's life and philosophy. It is not an anthology or annotation of Zhang Zai's own writings.
Does reading this book require a strong philosophical background? No. The book belongs to the "Dajia Xiaoshu" series and aims to be accessible; the author explains complex concepts in plain language, making it suitable as an introduction for general readers interested in Chinese studies and philosophy.
How does this book differ from other books on Zhang Zai on the market? Published by Zhonghua Book Company, it offers assured scholarly quality. The author, Zou He, has a background in history and emphasizes the historical context of the thought, giving the figure greater depth and making the intellectual lineage clearer; the book balances scholarship with readability.

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About the author

邹贺 Author

Zou He is an author of Chinese biographical writing. Publicly available information about the author is limited, and details such as biography, nationality, and dates of birth and death are unknown. Judging from the two works held in the collection, Zou He's writing focuses on introducing Chinese sages and historical figures. Representative works include Zhang Zai and Di Qing: Stories of Chinese Sages. Both books fall under the general category of biography and present the deeds of sages to general readers in accessible language with clear narrative, balancing historical fact and readability. Zou He tends to choose representative figures from Chinese intellectual and military history as subjects, presenting their lives, character, and historical contributions in a story-driven way and helping readers understand the historical context and spirit of traditional figures. The works are suitable for readers interested in traditional Chinese culture and historical figures.