Ninety Years of Hunan Academic Style (Including "Comprehensive Records of Confucian Classics") (Including "Comprehensive Records of Confucian Classics")

Author: Qian Jibo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Hunan, as a province, is surrounded by the Yangtze River to the north, the Five Ranges to the south, and borders Guizhou and Sichuan to the west, where the Miao people gather. It is a land enclosed by mountains. The region has few rivers but abundant mountains, with rugged, layered peaks and turbulent rapids, making transportation by boat and carriage difficult. The hard, red soil and resilient geology contribute to a stubborn and resilient character among the people. As a result, the customs are often closed off, rarely influenced by the cultural traditions of the Central Plains. Yet, it also creates its own unique cultural identity, distinct from the Central Plains. The land is blessed with outstanding talent, and great scholars have emerged one after another. They possess profound knowledge and solitary aspirations, embracing both the present and the past with independent and free thinking, and unwavering resolve. They delve deeply into ancient studies while forging their own paths, the constraints of tradition. They promote the well-being of the community through righteousness and demand strict self-discipline, pioneering a new era of cultural trends—this is all due to the influence of geography. — Qian Jibo
This book is a work on the development and transformation of Hunan's academic and intellectual thought before the Xinhai Revolution. It adopts a biographical form, grouping and profiling individuals by category, aiming to highlight the independent and free thinking, as well as the unwavering resolve of Hunan scholars. The thirteen figures discussed in the book, though native to Hunan, have had broader influences, with many (such as Zeng Guofan) continuing to impact the world even today. This book is a work on the development and transformation of Hunan's academic and intellectual thought before the Xinhai Revolution. It adopts a biographical form, grouping and profiling individuals by category, aiming to highlight the independent and free thinking and unwavering resolve of Hunan scholars. The thirteen figures discussed in the book, though native to Hunan, have had broader influences, with many (such as Zeng Guofan) continuing to impact the world even today.