East-Cai Yuanfeng Commented Edition

Author: Feng Menglong [Ming Dynasty], Cai Yuanfang [Qing Dynasty] (Commentary)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-08-01
Features: This book narrates the history of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods over more than five hundred years, with a total of 108 chapters, printed during the late Ming Dynasty. It is one of the most widely circulated and influential historical romance novels from the mid-Ming Dynasty in China, deeply cherished by people. Based on the collection of Tongshi Shanfang and supplemented by other versions, it has been meticulously compiled by experts from Yuelu Publishing House, ensuring a very low error rate, making it suitable for readers to read and collect. The names of books vary greatly, but in essence, they can be categorized into two types: classics and history. Classics carry the principles, while history records events. The "Six Classics" form the foundation, with later additions. Works that instruct, debate, and examine are part of classics, while those that record, chronicle, and narrate are part of history. However, the "Six Classics" are the writings of sages. Words must serve a purpose, and purposes must be served through words. The "Book of Changes," the "Book of Rites," and the "Book of Songs" are the classics within classics, yet they also record events. The "Book of Documents" and the "Spring and Autumn Annals" are the history within classics, yet they reveal the principles. Later generations, with limited understanding, had to categorize them differently, and such division inevitably led to inconsistencies. Thus, those who overly discuss theories are often outmatched by those with broad knowledge, while those who boast of comprehensive understanding may err in their judgments compared to the sages. However, principles remain consistent. Therefore, books that discuss principles, though numerous, only serve to expand their depths, providing mere auxiliary notes and commentaries. The inferior ones are nothing but dross and waste. If taken too far, they become forced interpretations, fragmented, and disjointed. As for events, they are different. They change daily, diverse in nature, far beyond what the sages could have recorded. Thus, classics cannot be supplemented, while history grows daily. History indeed records the rise and fall, success and failure, prosperity and decline. What has happened is the event, while what caused it is the principle. Principles are invisible, revealed through events, and nothing is more complete than history in recording events. The influence of heaven, the rewards of human actions, the distinctions between wisdom and folly, loyalty and treachery, virtue and wickedness—all can be found in history. Thus, history can serve as a complement to classics and even embody the principles of classics. Since the invention of imperial examinations, classical studies have declined. Yet, those who focus on exams still know the verses by heart. As for officials' studies, the texts are vast and the language obscure, with no relevance to examinations, so experts in the field are rare. Scholars often abandon them, reading occasionally but easily falling into drowsiness. As for beginners, forcing them to read history makes it seem like a torment. The Three Commentaries on the "Spring and Autumn Annals," especially the Zuo Zhuan, are exceptionally detailed, yet even specialists struggle to grasp them, let alone others! Few can read history, but no one avoids reading popular tales. These tales are indeed a branch of history, but they elaborate on the events. Those who read them well can progress to history, which is why the ancients did not abandon them. "The Eastern Zhou and the States" is the most authentic popular tale. From the Eastward migration of Zhou to the rise of Qin, spanning over five hundred years, with dozens of states and countless events, the complexities make it even harder to read than other histories. Yet, when transformed into a popular tale, even children can read it. If even children can read history, is this not a great joy? Yet, many read popular tales but fail to benefit from history. Why? Popular tales merely record events, listing the actions of wise and foolish, loyal and treacherous, virtuous and wicked, and the rise and fall of states, but they fail to reveal the reasons behind these events—whether the influence of heaven, human actions, the success or failure of wisdom and folly, loyalty and treachery, virtue and wickedness, or the causes of prosperity and decline. Readers remain ignorant of the origins and developments of events, and how can such books benefit their learning? If they offer no benefit, then reading them is futile—why bother with them? My friend Zhou, deeply concerned about this, has urged me repeatedly. During the years of Yin and Mao, with ample free time at home, I began to review and annotate them, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, uncovering their subtleties. Though not entirely aligned with contemporary interpretations, based on logical reasoning, my judgments are not far from the sages' wisdom, nor do they invite ridicule from the knowledgeable. This may help clarify readers' understanding and, perhaps, provide some assistance in the study of history. Therefore, I have not only annotated them but also written this preface.