Selected Readings in Ancient Chinese Literature (II)

Author: Wang Yan (Editor)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-06-01
Features: Ancient China once created a splendid and brilliant civilization, with numerous renowned literary masterpieces shining like pearls in this long river of civilization. The simplicity of the Classic of Poetry, the magnificence of the Songs of Chu, the depth of the Yuefu, the grandeur of the Rhapsodies, the grand scale of Tang poetry, the subtlety of Song lyrics, the accessibility of Yuan qu, and the vividness of Ming and Qing fiction—how many readers have been captivated by them. Among them, there are many household names, such as Qu Yuan, deeply attached to his homeland; Cao Cao, a visionary leader; Tao Yuanming, natural and authentic; Li Bai, free and unrestrained; Du Fu, profound and melancholic; Su Shi, clear and expansive; Li Qingzhao, elegant and graceful; Gao Jianzhi, facing life head-on; Cao Xueqin, who witnessed the vicissitudes of life—among others. They collectively built a glorious history of literary development. Reading ancient literary works allows us to deeply understand the rich emotional world of the ancients, the customs and social dynamics of each era, and the evolution of social structures and political systems. Appreciating the aesthetic realms presented in the works, savoring the beauty of their wording and the ingenuity of their composition, refining one's character—thus, we can grasp the historical footsteps of civilization. The development of literary history and the achievements of writers are all reflected in these masterpieces. This selected reading aims to present the essence of ancient literature to a broad audience, to showcase the diverse styles and transformations of ancient literary works, to introduce readers to different genres of ancient literature, and to weave together the (context/m) of literary development. The selected works prioritize excellence over excessive annotations, align with the needs of online education by providing learning prompts, and include thought-provoking questions to support learning.
Selected Readings (I) includes works from the pre-Qin to the Five Dynasties, edited by Zhuge Yibing; Selected Readings (II) includes works from the Song, Yuan, and modern periods, edited by Wang Yan. While each volume is independently structured, they maintain a relatively unified editorial style. These two volumes can serve as self-study guides for lovers of classical Chinese literature. If possible, they can be paired with teaching CDs from the Renmin University of China Online College for this course, complementing each other. Through this combination, readers can gain a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of ancient Chinese literature.