Classics stop

Author: (Qing) Wu Di Hou / Wu Chu Cai (editors) / Shi Li Xin et al. (annotations)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-07-01
Features: The Ancient Chinese Reader (Guwen Guanzhi) spans from the pre-Qin period to the late Ming Dynasty, collecting 222 pieces of writing divided into 12 volumes. This anthology of classical Chinese prose was compiled by Wu Chu Cai and Wu Di Hou of the Qing Dynasty and reviewed by Wu Xingzuo. It was published in 1695 (the 34th year of the Kangxi reign). The purpose of compiling this book was to "correct the foundation of education and benefit future scholars." Wu Xingzuo, styled Baicheng and styled Liucun, was originally from Shanyin, Zhejiang, and later joined the Zhenghongqi register. He served as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi and authored numerous works in his lifetime. Chu Cai was his adopted nephew, and Di Hou was his adopted grandnephew. Modern scholars like Wang Wenru and others compiled The Continued Ancient Chinese Reader (Xuguwen Guanzhi) following the style of The Ancient Chinese Reader, selecting renowned classical Chinese prose from the Qing Dynasty, thereby expanding The Ancient Chinese Reader to encompass over two thousand years of Chinese classical literary masterpieces from the pre-Qin period to the early Republic. The pieces included in The Ancient Chinese Reader are mostly selected excerpts from famous works of each era and the works of renowned authors, many of which are widely celebrated masterpieces. Due to its selection of "concise yet comprehensive" content and detailed yet not overly verbose annotations, it stands out among similar anthologies and has become one of the most widely circulated classical Chinese prose collections in China. The book primarily features prose, supplemented by parallel prose. Compared to the classical Chinese anthologies since the Wenxuan, it covers a longer period, has fewer volumes, and includes a diverse range of literary forms with fewer biases toward specific schools of thought. It can be said to be both comprehensive and selective, with a balanced level of detail. In terms of organization, the book is divided into seven periods chronologically, each with key authors and works. This allows readers to trace the development of classical Chinese prose and analyze the distinct styles of different authors. Each piece is accompanied by concise annotations to aid readers in understanding the meaning and mastering the structure of the writing.