Select Readings in Literature – The Garden of Literary Splendor

Author: Jian Zongwu (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The book you must read at least once in your lifetime, whether you are ten, thirty, or seventy years old! A minimalist reading list of Chinese culture. From the vast collection of ancient classics, sixty classics have been selected for the first time to be presented in an easy and enjoyable reading format, fully showcasing the style and appearance of Chinese culture over five thousand years. Renowned scholars from Taiwan review the classics with a 21st-century perspective, traversing time and space, guiding you into the "unfenced museum of Chinese culture."
To travel in the city is permanent, but without wisdom to aid the times. To stand by the river and long for fish is futile, waiting for the river to clear is uncertain. Inspired by Cai Zi's magnanimity, I follow Tang Sheng to resolve doubts. Understanding the subtlety of the heavens, I seek companionship with the fisherman. Transcending the dust of the world, I journey afar, forever parting from worldly affairs.
In terms of annotations, ancient pronunciations are explained briefly if they relate to the rhythm and rhyme of the text, while those unrelated to rhythm and rhyme are omitted. Explanations of words and phrases are kept concise and straightforward, using plain language. Unless absolutely necessary, we do not cite classical references, as Li Shan's annotations are already comprehensive in this regard. Regarding figures, we provide only simple introductions.
For the translation of articles, we refer to it as "narration" because of the differences in grammar and vocabulary, translating classical Chinese into plain language while balancing fidelity, elegance, and clarity is already challenging. The translation of poetic, rhyming, and parallel prose is even more difficult to convey its aesthetic beauty and essence. Therefore, translation is essentially a re-creation that alters the original form. While we strive for accuracy and fluency, we also aim for elegance, but we must make adjustments to the details and tone of the text without compromising the original spirit.
As for the appreciation section, it is written by the author and aims to be both profound and accessible. In addition to explaining the background, theme, and meaning of each passage, it further explores the implications, traces the context, analyzes the writing techniques, and sometimes delves into the author's life and experiences to examine their character, education, and creative process. This is done to help readers better understand these passages and grasp their essence.
Articles are like landscapes on the desk, and this book serves as a travelogue to guide literary exploration. However, the beauty of these desk landscapes still depends on readers immersing themselves in the text, allowing their spirits to wander among the words, connecting with the authors to transcend time and space, and becoming individuals with rich spiritual lives.