Chicken Ribs

赵崇绚Jun 2024

Rating 2.5

Word count: 3.2K words
Chapters: 41

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive, and literary. Early intellectual forms are distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all are vast and profound. This series, "Essence of the Chinese Classics: Original Texts," preserves the original appearance of the books and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. Reading the literary essence left by ancient sages cultivates character and quietly introduces the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

"Chicken Rib" also belongs to the "Essence of the Chinese Classics: Original Texts" series, whose aim is to preserve and transmit traditional thought and culture, retaining the original appearance of the text without excessive rewriting. The title itself carries a thought-provoking tension: tasteless to eat, yet a pity to discard. It may point to a dilemma of choice in some situation, or reflect the ancients' tone of self-mockery and reflection. The pleasure of reading this book lies not in finding standard answers but in following the concise expression of the original text and appreciating how traditional texts handle subtle judgments such as "worth it or not" and "keep it or let it go." It is compact and suitable as an entry point to the classics of Chinese learning, and also for readers with some reading experience to dip into and savor repeatedly. One caveat: preserving the original appearance means readers must accept a certain linguistic distance and should not expect the smooth experience of modern popular reading. Kept on the desk and read one or two pieces at a time, it is all the more flavorful.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in attitudes toward life and self-mocking tone in traditional texts
General readers with a little classical Chinese experience willing to work through words and phrases on their own
People who want to build a daily reading habit with a lightweight original-text reader
Reflective readers who like to start from titles and chapter names and read with questions in mind

Not a good fit for

Readers with no classical Chinese foundation who are unwilling to consult reference works
Readers expecting modern psychological self-help or life-guidance content
People who need detailed introductions and sentence-by-sentence translation to enter the text

Reading tips

Start from the title and chapter names, read with the question "why call it chicken rib," and revise your guesses as you go.
When you hit a puzzling passage, mark it and keep reading; look it up after finishing the whole section to avoid frequent pauses that break the feel of the language.
After each piece, write two or three sentences recording judgments you agree or disagree with, building a personal reading record.
Read alternately with "Alertness" in the same series and compare the two books' selection of materials and expression.

版权信息
鸡肋
羊侃勇力
肉飞僊
萧詧恶见妇人
刘邕嗜疮痂
到彦之初担粪
妇人有须
男子乳生湩
累世有列传
千里驹
知囊
八达
万石君
佩六印
噀酒救火
水镜
扑镜
倒用印
大人迹
猨臂善射
垂手下膝
口吃人
古人嗜好
梦笔
军中有女子
古人酒量
汉两张禹
晋两刘毅
唐两李光进
玉环
玉楼
银河
白鸟
玄驹
夜光
司花女
绕梁
莫难
小蛮
忽雷

FAQ

Does the title "Chicken Rib" mean the content is worthless?

It should not be understood that way. The title is more like a hint with a tone of self-mockery and reflection; its specific meaning must be judged in light of the book's content. Readers need not assume the worst—just treat it as a question to enter the text with.

Can I understand it without annotations?

That depends on your classical Chinese foundation. The book preserves the original appearance; if you often get stuck, prepare reference works or compare with an annotated edition. Seek the general meaning first, then go back to study the words closely.

How is this book different from others in the same series?

The series shares the editorial aim of preserving the original appearance and transmitting traditional thought and culture; the differences lie in the texts and themes each book selects. Choose which to read first based on the interest the title suggests.

Related on WeRead

鸡肋编庄绰

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About the author

赵崇绚 Author

Zhao Chongxuan is an author about whom little public information is available. The only work currently confirmed is Chicken Ribs, which is often placed in the category of classic works. Since details such as dates of birth and death, nationality, and English name cannot be verified, it is difficult to sketch the outlines of his life, and only the work itself can be briefly discussed. The title Chicken Ribs comes from the classical allusion "tasteless to eat, yet a pity to throw away," which in itself carries a sense of dilemma over value and ambiguous worth, suggesting that the work may revolve around situations in life that are hard to decide. In terms of subject matter, a title of this kind often points to close observation of everyday experience and human entanglements, and the writing style may lean toward restraint and subtlety, bearing thought-provoking meaning through plain narration. Although Zhao Chongxuan has few surviving works and limited fame, Chicken Ribs is listed as a classic work, indicating that it still holds a place in certain readers' and editors' eyes and deserves cautious treatment and further examination given the insufficient materials.