Selected Works of Nan Huaijin (Volume 2 of Teachings)-- Mencius Parallels. Laozi Speaks

Author: Nan Huaijin (transcribed by)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Nan Huaijin, a renowned scholar with international acclaim, was born in 1918 into a scholarly family in Leqing County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. At 85 years old, he received early education at home and studied the classics in his youth. When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, the young Nan Huaijin took up arms and served on the southwestern frontier. After returning to Sichuan, he taught at the Central Military Academy and Jinling University. With exceptional talent and detachment from worldly matters, he often traveled the famous mountains and rivers with straw sandals and bamboo staffs, seeking enlightenment from eminent monks and scholars. He once secluded himself for three years at the Emei Mountain’s Shaping Temple, thoroughly reading the vast Great Tang Tripitaka. Later, he traveled to Tibet, studying with masters of Vajrayana Buddhism and gaining profound knowledge of its various schools. After leaving Tibet, he moved to Kunming, initially teaching at Yunnan University and later at Sichuan University. After the war, he returned to his hometown and later retired to Tianzhu Mountain in Hangzhou and Lushan in Jiangxi, dedicating himself to scholarly pursuits. Upon moving to Taiwan, he was appointed to teach at Cultural University, Fu Ren University, and other universities and research institutions, spreading his knowledge to Japan, the United States, and Central and South America. In recent years, he has resided in Hong Kong, contributing significantly to cultural exchange between the Taiwan Strait regions. Nan Huaijin is deeply versed in the classics, bridges Eastern and Western cultures, and is a prolific author. Especially notable is his use of the "integration of classics and history" method to explain the core texts of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. His explanations are rich in references, insightful, and engaging, achieving remarkable success in popularizing traditional Chinese culture and earning widespread admiration from readers across all levels in both Taiwan and mainland China. Fudan University Press is the earliest domestic publisher of Nan Huaijin’s works and the one that has published the most extensive and varied collection of his writings. To date, they have published twenty-four of his works, most of which are his representative works. With the authorization of both the author and the original publisher, these works have been compiled into ten volumes, bound in hardcover, to meet the needs of readers for reading and collecting. The contents of each volume are as follows:
Volume 1: The Analects Decoded
Volume 2: The Way and Its Power (Laozi Says), Mencius in Perspective
Volume 3: The I Ching Unveiled, Commentary on the I Ching
Volume 4: Zen and Taoism, Taoism, Vajrayana Buddhism, and Eastern Mysticism, Meditation for Self-Cultivation and Longevity
Volume 5: Exploring the Zen Sea, Zen Talks, An Outline of the Development of Buddhism in China, An Outline of the Development of Taoism in China
Volume 6: Experiences from History, A New Generation Between Tradition and Modernity, General Remarks on Chinese Culture
Volume 7: How to Practice and Attain Enlightenment, The Worldly Perspective of the Sariputra Sutra, Fundamental Beliefs of a Buddhist
Volume 8: What the Diamond Sutra Means, A Contemporary Interpretation of the Lingyin Sutra
Volume 9: An Abridged Explanation of the Great Awakening Sutra, Initial Practices of Meditation and Wisdom, A Contemporary Interpretation of the Lengye Sutra
Volume 10: The Subtle Meaning of the Great Learning
The Laozi, also known as The Dao De Jing, is one of the most renowned classics of the Taoist school and the Daoist tradition. It is a comprehensive and profound work, summarizing the wisdom of centuries in just five thousand characters. With "the Dao" as its core, it constructs a philosophical system encompassing everything from the governance of emperors to the self-cultivation of recluses, embodying an extraordinary wealth of wisdom. This book is a lecture record by the renowned Taiwanese scholar Nan Huaijin on The Laozi. With his deep knowledge of history and literature and keen social insight, the author provides a thorough elucidation, correction, and discussion of the text, making it accessible and clear. It represents a valuable effort to popularize traditional Chinese culture, making ancient classics more understandable and specialized scholarship more accessible. The book also includes bibliographies of past studies on The Laozi. Originally published by the Taiwan Lao Gu Cultural Enterprise Company, this work has been revised multiple times by the author based on his insights since its debut in 1980. With the authorization of both the author and the original publisher, this 1994 sixth edition, revised and published by Lao Gu, is now made available for study.
Mencius is a classic of Confucianism and an essential resource for studying the life and teachings of Mencius. Many timeless and inspiring maxims have originated from it. This book is a lecture record by the renowned scholar Nan Huaijin on Mencius. The author employs the "integration of classics and history" method, using the original text of Mencius as the "classic" and the social background and activities of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods as the "history," supplemented by various historical stories and social phenomena. Through this approach, he provides an in-depth explanation of Mencius’s character and the impact of his thoughts. It allows readers to engage with traditional Chinese culture in a lively and relaxed manner, deepening their understanding of history and gaining wisdom for life. The book also includes bibliographies of past studies on Mencius. Originally published by the Taiwan Lao Gu Cultural Enterprise Company, this work has been revised multiple times by the author based on his insights since its debut in 1980. With the authorization of both the author and the original publisher, this 1994 sixth edition, revised and published by Lao Gu, is now made available for study.