Four Books with Explanations and Annotations: New Series of the Canon of the Masters

Author: Song Xi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: This book compiles the Confucian classics "The Great Learning," "The Doctrine of the Mean," "The Analects," and "Mencius" into one volume, emphasizing the explanation and elaboration of their principles while also paying close attention to textual exegesis, with meticulous word selection. The current collation is based on the edition of the Wu family of Wu County during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, with collation using the large-character edition of the Kangxi imperial workshop imitating the Song Chunyaer edition. The entire book is divided into two series; the first series includes the same classic texts as the old "Compendium of the Masters," which are frequently read or consulted by general researchers. Each text selects the best-annotated edition available to date. For a few texts without existing annotations, separate annotations are provided. Some books include multiple annotated editions, each with its own strengths. To maintain consistency in style, annotations written in classical or simple classical Chinese are generally included, except for a few exceptions. The second series collects other classic texts outside the first series. Most of these texts lack existing annotated editions, and where necessary, annotations should be added. For those without annotations, better versions are selected for collation.