Chinese Proverb Dictionary

Author: Wang Wen
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-03-01
Features: We often encounter situations where we need to quote a line or two of classical Chinese wisdom: during foreign visits, at celebrations, in casual conversations, at parting words, in job speeches, or when writing articles. Appropriately using such quotes can reflect one's education and enliven the atmosphere. However, unfortunately, due to differences in students' and professionals' backgrounds, few can speak them fluently or deliver them with eloquence. Sometimes, they may recall only fragments of the phrases but fail to recall the entire sentence or the original wording, let alone the source.
In today's fast-paced society, most young people are busy struggling for survival. Although they have a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture and the wisdom of past generations, they often feel overwhelmed by the vastness of historical texts and the richness of the culture, leaving them at a loss on how to approach it.
To meet this growing social demand, the publishing industry has recently introduced a series of books on classical Chinese quotes and wisdom, which have been well-received by, especially the youth. The purpose of compiling this book is precisely to address this need, targeting readers with at least a middle school education. It selects over 10,000 quotes from the Qin Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty.
In selecting the quotes, the book adheres to the principles of balancing ideological depth and artistic value, avoiding mediocrity in favor of excellence, and applying ancient wisdom to modern life. The arrangement follows the progression of life, aligning with the key stages and lessons of life. The selected quotes are intended to be profound in meaning, insightful, philosophical, enlightening, and emotionally moving, with elegant and memorable wording.
To facilitate reading and reference, the book categorizes the quotes into twelve sections: Life, Family, Emotion, Learning, Morality, Ambition, Social Conduct, Politics, Economy, Military Affairs, Art, and Philosophy. Within each section, the quotes are generally arranged chronologically by the authors' lifespans, providing readers with a clear sense of intellectual lineage. Each quote is annotated with its source for easy citation. For particularly obscure passages, brief notes and phonetic transcriptions are provided.