Selections from Famous Chinese and Foreign Literary Works

Author: Chief Editor: Peng Ding'an et al
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-10-01
Features: Preface
Here is a string of pearls of thought and art for you. This collection presents a dazzling, timeless string of pearls of thought and art that once illuminated the cultural sky and artistic gardens of our nation and era, and continue to extend and expand their charm in the long river of human cultural history. They have nurtured the hearts of people across generations and nations, opening up their aesthetic horizons and creative spirits. Now, we present them to the readers, hoping and believing that they will fulfill the roles they once played, produce the influence they once had, and achieve the effects they once achieved.
The literary masterpieces of all times and places are vast as the smoke of the sea. However, after being tested by history for decades or even millennia and selected by global culture, a certain number have entered the collective heritage of human thought, culture, literature, and art, becoming universally recognized and cherished pearls. Yet even among these pearls, there are still countless works, making it difficult for everyone to share them all. Thus, we must choose again and again, selecting the finest to read. What we now offer the readers are the "pearls among pearls, the finest among the finest," recognized through enduring reading, teaching, dissemination, and circulation. Of course, the number is extremely limited—only 50 works (pieces)—truly embodying the phrase "among the three thousand rivers of Wei water, I take only a ladle to drink." Yet this "ladle" is well-chosen, extraordinary.
In these 50 works, you will not only traverse the history of literature and thought from ancient to modern times, scanning the contours of human literary and cultural development, but also, thematically, gain insights into the evolution of literary aesthetic themes and tastes. Moreover, you will get a preliminary taste of the differences and unique features of Eastern and Western aesthetic thought.
In Chinese works, you will see the dazzling aesthetic tapestry and intellectual brilliance stretching from the Classic of Poetry and Qu Poetry to Tang and Song poetry, Yuan qu, and novels, all the way to modern poetry, novels, and drama. In foreign works, we introduce works ranging from the Mahabharata to Homer’s epics, from the Divine Comedy and One Thousand and One Nights to Hamlet and Faust, from Eugene Onegin to Pierre and the Pest, from Old Man Gorky and Notes from the Hunter’s Logbook to Crime and Punishment, from War and Peace to One Night in Spring, from Ulysses to Quiet Don, and even to Snow Country and One Hundred Years of Solitude. These works, spanning from Europe and America to Latin America, from India and Arabia to Japan, in various forms, will allow you to savor the endless charm of these world-renowned literary and intellectual treasures.
Even from this initial, superficial reading and appreciation, you will gain the wisdom and insight that has already entered the treasure trove of human thought. These literary masters from all times and places were thinkers, philosophers, and wise men who stood ahead of their time. Their ideas have illuminated and will forever illuminate the vast expanse of human thought. As Heidegger said, their works are "the manifestation of truth," and "the light in the works is beauty. Beauty is a way in which truth manifests itself" (from The Origin of the Work of Art, translated from [German] by Beimer, Beijing, Commercial Press, 1996, p. 86). This intellectual nourishment is, for us, the most fundamental foundation and decisive wisdom on our life’s path and career development.
Through the appreciation of these literary masterpieces, we will quench our thirst for the nectar of art, enjoy the height of aesthetic pleasure, and experience the subtle transformation of emotions and thoughts that blend truth, goodness, and beauty into a harmonious whole. We will reap the rich fruits of purified souls, refined minds, elevated reason, and internalized aesthetic beauty. This is the combination of external shaping and internal construction of a beautiful soul.
As products of social life, the works of these literary giants, the children of their times, are also historical records, documents of their era, and social archives, containing the realities of life, historical events, and the multifaceted dimensions of politics, economy, thought, science, culture, and education. From them, we can not only learn history and thought but also broaden our knowledge, deepen our understanding, and receive comprehensive education relevant to our present needs. For example, patriotism, materialism, historicalism, collectivism, heroism, selflessness, noble ideals, steadfast faith, pure souls, lofty virtues, and refined tastes, and so on.
Moreover, in these works, we will appreciate the differences between Eastern and Western aesthetic ideals and methods—one emphasizes representation, the other expression; one pursues imitation and reproduction, depicting the true and detailed appearance of social life, while the other values soaring imagination, filled with emotional inspiration and the flow of imagery. From this, we will also gain a understanding of the differences between Eastern and Western modes of thinking. In our learning, we will blend both into "the furnace of the self," cultivating a modern mindset that harmonizes Eastern and Western cultures.
Among these 50 works, most short pieces are included in full, while long and medium-length works can only be excerpted. They are merely "bait" to entice you to glimpse the whole. Together, these 50 works are but a drop in the vast ocean of world literature, yet this "drop" can be a delicate and soothing melody of art, guiding you into the grand symphony of literature from all times and places.
This is not only an appeal to students of the humanities but also, and even more importantly, an invitation to students of science and engineering, perhaps those who are more exposed but less familiar with it. Regardless of the situation, systematically browsing or studying this series of literary works flowing down the long river of history will surely give you a sense of comprehensive understanding and the ability to grasp the whole. And even casual readings, like listening to a serenade or viewing a ink wash painting, can provide a refined pleasure, inspiring your aesthetic imagination and cultural longing. And all of this is clearly and subtly connected to your cultural refinement and the effectiveness of your science and engineering studies.
To aid in reading, learning, and appreciation, we have added an interpretive essay for each work. Please allow me to be candid: none of these are. They are all the work of professors and scholars with extensive research and teaching experience, compiling the collective achievements of past research while adding their unique insights. As one of the chief editors, I have read them all and found them enriching.
We present to you a string of pearls of thought and art that illuminate the ages and shine brilliantly. We hope you will accept and enjoy them, and let them accompany you through beautiful times.
Peng Ding’an
June 25, 1999