Personal Library -- The Five Classics

Author: Zhu Xi (Southern Song Dynasty), compiled and annotated by Sheng Guangzhi et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The Book of Songs was originally called Po or Three Hundred Poems and was revered as a "classic" starting from the Han Dynasty, after which it was known as The Book of Songs. The Book of Songs was compiled during the Spring and Autumn Period, consisting of 305 poems. These works were created roughly from the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty to the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period, spanning about 600 years. The Book of Songs is divided into three parts: Feng, Ya, and Song. Feng refers to folk songs, including the 15 Feng (e.g., Zhou Nan, Zhao Nan, Bei Feng, Yong Feng, Wei Feng, Wang Feng, Zheng Feng, Qi Feng, Wei Feng, Tang Feng, Qin Feng, Chen Feng, Huai Feng, Cao Feng, and Bin Feng).
The Book of Documents is China's first historical work, the earliest historical documents, and also important official records of the time, preserved by various dynasties before the Spring and Autumn Period. On the other hand, The Book of Documents is closely tied to Confucianism and is a part of the ruling academic tradition—Confucian classics—that had a significant impact on later generations. This indicates that The Book of Documents is an indispensable source for studying ancient Chinese society. Therefore, it is necessary to understand and study The Book of Documents. In The Book of Documents, the political thought of the Shang Dynasty regarding divine authority is relatively simple: they believed in the unchangeable mandate of heaven, paying little attention to the importance of the people's will. However, the downfall of the Shang Dynasty demonstrated that the mandate of heaven could not be relied upon and that the people's will was also formidable. The compilation of The Book of Documents is inseparable from Confucianism, and its widespread and profound influence is largely due to Confucian efforts. The Book of Documents became one of the classics of Confucianism around the late Warring States Period.
The Zuo Zhuan narrates historical events in detail and with precision, vivid and thorough. For example, the story of "Zheng Bo Ke Duan Yu Yan" unfolds in layers yet remains clearly structured. Descriptions of wars are particularly strong in The Zuo Zhuan, with many famous battles depicted vividly and completely. It not only focuses on the depiction of war but also pays attention to the political and diplomatic activities related to it, revealing the background and reasons for the conflicts. For instance, the Battle of Yanling between Jin and Chu is meticulously organized, explaining the origins and developments of the events in a way that captivates readers. It laid the foundation for later novels like Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In summary, the Five Classics are a precious cultural heritage for China and even the world. Their treasures still await further exploration and excavation, so that they may shine even brighter.