The vernacular prose of Zhang Taiyan

Author: Zhang Binglin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-03-01
Features: This book is utterly captivating, leaving readers reluctant to put it down. Zhang Taiyan, originally a staunch advocate for literary revival, humbled himself for the revolutionary cause by agreeing to have his vernacular writings published in the organ of the Restoration Society. However, he was ultimately excluded from his own collected works. The style may differ, but the essence remains. The renowned publisher Zhang Jinglu, though a newcomer at the time, displayed exceptional ingenuity in compiling this book. Below is an excerpt from the editor's preface, with only brief annotations added:
"Mr. Taiyan is a towering figure in Chinese literature, a fact universally acknowledged and gladly admitted. However, his works are often too profound in their reasoning and written in the 'stuffy' classical Chinese (Annotation: The term 'stuffy' originally describes a powerful and imposing style of writing, but here it is quoted and used to describe the classical Chinese language form. This reflects Zhang Jinglu's stance as a new literature publisher, who viewed classical Chinese as outdated, embodying the austerity of autumn. Imagine 1921, when the new literature movement was in full swing. The result is that beginners often find his works unpleasant to read (Annotation: Notice that Zhang Jinglu uses 'unpleasant' rather than other expressions, such as 'my own inadequacy'—how I felt when I saw the title of his Qishu and had no idea how to pronounce it, leaving me utterly ashamed. Thus, in the face of his profound knowledge, I humbly bowed my head). Consequently, a natural demand arose: how can one directly hear his teachings? Here it is! Your sole textbook is this book. The highlights of this book: , vernacular writings by Mr. Zhang himself, a rare occurrence. The compiler, with meticulous effort, has gathered and organized them, ensuring their preservation. This book contains seven vernacular lecture transcripts, including The Purpose and Methods of Study Abroad, The Roots of Chinese Culture and the Development of Modern Scholarship, Common Sense and Education, The Essence of Classics, and The Foundation of Education Must Begin with One's Own Nation and Heart.