Peking University Centennial Collection of Chinese Classics -- Language and Literature Volume

Author: Research Center for Chinese Traditional Culture, Peking University
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-04-01
Features: Open this book, and readers can see the trajectory of the development of Chinese studies over the past century from one perspective. It is not difficult to find that compared to the past, today's Chinese studies have undergone tremendous changes in both the scope and concepts, methods, and approaches of research. When Zhang Taiyan wrote "A Brief Introduction to Chinese Studies," it was divided into five parts: "A Brief Introduction to Philology," "A Brief Introduction to Confucian Classics," "A Brief Introduction to History," "A Brief Introduction to the Hundred Schools of Thought," and "A Brief Introduction to Literature," all of which covered the traditional academic heritage of China over thousands of years. Compared to that time, the scope has now far exceeded what was then, the concepts have been renewed several times, and the methods have become more scientific and systematic. Taking philology as an example, the original goal of studying it was to understand Confucian classics, but later it evolved into a discipline focused on describing the developmental patterns of language and characters. Especially with the discovery of oracle bone script, this field underwent significant changes. Over this century, some emerging disciplines (such as Dunhuang studies) have entered the realm of Chinese studies, and new archaeological findings have brought about tremendous changes in historiography. All of these have given Chinese studies a brand-new appearance. These changes that have occurred while inheriting tradition are sufficient to allow us to call today's Chinese studies "New Chinese Studies" and distinguish them from the traditional Chinese studies.