Classics of Chinese Tradition: 300 Masterpieces

Author: Pang Daoyue
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The Analects consists of twenty chapters with a total of 511 sections, covering approximately 15,000 characters. Each chapter title is derived from the first two characters of the respective chapter (excluding the phrase "Zi said"). The Analects features concise and elegant aphorisms and maxims, expressed in a graceful and profound tone, making abstract philosophy engaging and thought-provoking. In some chapters, vivid character portrayals are presented through simple dialogues and actions. The Analects is a model of the Chinese (recorded sayings) style and has had a profound influence on the development of Chinese prose.
The Mencius follows the same format as The Analects, with each chapter titled after the first two characters of the chapter. The Analects was compiled by Confucius's disciples and their successors, while The Mencius was written by Mencius himself. Mencius's writings are clear, fluent, and particularly powerful in their (spirit and vigor), creating a majestic and incisive aesthetic. Hao Jing remarked, "The words of the seven chapters are near yet far, shallow yet deep, flowing yet detailed, precise yet comprehensive. They do not delve into obscure depths but instead grasp the essence with effortless clarity." Zhao Chu said it "expresses meaning without urgency yet achieves profundity."
The Xunzi is a widely studied work with thirty-two chapters, vast and profound. As young Chinese, we have devoted ourselves to its study, internalizing its wisdom over time, enlightening our minds, inheriting tradition, absorbing its essence, and growing into pillars of society.
Learning to be a person
The Analects teaches us to be a gentleman for a lifetime, to discuss and observe others as teachers, to seek truth from facts, to ask questions in all matters, to learn from Yan Hui and Zai Yu, to express aspirations as teachers and students speak of their ideals, to discuss the present officials and their duties, to feel ashamed of their disgrace, to cherish the passing (flowing water), to not lose ambition, to understand that excess is as bad as deficiency, to teach according to aptitude, to lead by example, to learn and think, to acknowledge ignorance, to discuss Guan Zhong, to value friendship with Yan Yuan, to inspire writing, to avoid haste, to not worry about gain or loss, and to uphold integrity.
The Mencius
The Mencius teaches us not to laugh at those who retreat fifty steps when others retreat a hundred, not to feed beasts or act unjustly, to distinguish between inability and unwillingness, to kill and to execute, to observe the invasion of Yan by the Qi people, to help the people of Teng, to warn against helping grow seedlings too quickly, to emphasize virtue over force, to find support when following the right path, and to act like a great man.
The Xunzi teaches us that learning changes you, standing on the shoulders of giants, the tragedy of the little owl, the importance of accumulation, perseverance, and focus, to respect teachers and follow the path of the virtuous, to distinguish between the noble and the petty, to recognize that rites are the mark of civilization, that righteousness is weighty, the fable of the crippled turtle and the majestic horse, that sincerity is the essence of heaven and earth, that character, personality, and cultivation clash, that true courage lies in inner worth, and that honor comes from actions, not appearance.
The Zhuangzi
The Zhuangzi begins with "There is a fish in the northern sea," compares still water to floating boats, discusses the medicine for preventing scalding hands, the mountain of Miaoye, and the transformation of Zhuangzi into a butterfly. It explores the sounds of nature, the trick of "three mornings, four evenings," the shadow of the blind man, the limits of life and knowledge, the drinking of a marsh pheasant, the fable of the mantis blocking a chariot, the forgetfulness of form, the death of the ignorant, and the shepherds of Zang and Gu.
The Laozi
The Laozi discusses beauty and ugliness, the journey beginning with a single step, and the small state of few people. It states that truthful words are not beautiful, and beautiful words are not truthful.
The Han Feizi
The Han Feizi explores the ancient world, the fable of waiting for a rabbit at a stake, the invasion of Qi by Lu, the changes in times, the reforms faced, the rule of law, the fable of looking in a mirror, the invasion of Hu by Duke Wu of Zheng, the wealthy man of Song, the favor of Wei toward Mi Zi Xia, the fable of the spear and shield, the fable of Shi Kang playing the lute, the fable of seeing far but not near, the fable of the blind man consulting with whom, the fable of filling a bamboo tube with straw, the fable of three men making a tiger, the burning of the palace by the King of Yue, the search for a cane, the fable of the man buying shoes, the fable of the man arguing about age, the fable of buying a lamp, the fable of returning a jewel box, the fable of the drumbeat, the difficulty of painting dogs compared to ghosts, the fable of carving a monkey on a needle, the abundance of yoke, the fable of wearing purple clothes, the promise of parents, the flight of the woodpecker, the governance of Ximen Bao in Ye, the fable of a jade cup without a base, the fable of sour wine and bad dogs, the question of Guan Zhong by Duke Huan of Qi, the meeting of Bian Que with the Duke of Cai, the refusal of Gongsun You to accept fish, the fable of the old horse recognizing the way, the fable of the local man, the fable of the displaced man, the escape of Wenzi, the contrast between white and black robes, the three lice, and the fable of the man moving homes.
The Zuo Zhuan
The Zuo Zhuan features the meeting in the tunnel, the teaching of Shi Ji, the greed of the Duke of Yu, the alliance under the city walls, the battle of Changshao, the retreat of the feudal lords, the fable of the lips and teeth, the betrayal of gratitude, the discussion of war by Zi Yu, the retreat three times, the clever retreat from Qin, the lament of Shan Shu over Qin, the reward of Xian Gao for Qin, and the importance of less selfishness and more public spirit.
The Guoyu
The Guoyu discusses the cruelty of King Li of Zhou, the teaching of elders, the meaning of glory, the recommendation of Bao Shuya for friends, the driving of Jia Zhang by Xie Zhang, the assassination, the wisdom of Ning Yin persuading Zhong Er, the governance of Duke Wen of Jin and Tou Su, the unity of gentlemen without factions, the "tying" and "supporting" of Dong Shu, the governance of Duke Wen of Jin, the lament of Shu Xiang over poverty, the national treasure of Chu, the story of the ferry, the military might of Wu, the suicide of Wu Zixu, the advice of Fan Zhi, and the escape of Fan Zi to the lake.
The Zhan Guo Ce
The Zhan Guo Ce discusses the transport of the nine ding, the battle for water, the use of nets and personnel, the failure of the archer Youyu, the encounter on the river, the fight between two tigers, the weaving of Zeng Mu, the meeting of Bian Que with the King of Qin, the business of Lü Buwei, the fable of the snake adding feet, the clay figure and the peach log, the hunting dog chasing the rabbit, the Fengxuan, Fengxuan buying virtue, the three questions of Queen Wei, the meeting of the Qi people with Tian Bian, the fifteen-year-old Wang Sun Jia, the jade rings, the meeting of the horse with Bo Le, the beauty covering her nose, the fox borrowing the tiger's, the alliance of vertical and horizontal states, Su Qin's journey to Chu, the elixir of immortality, the two great trees, the assassination of Yue Rang, the meeting of Su Dai with the King of Qi, the song of the Yi River, the dagger hidden in the scroll, the eating of a child by Yue Yang, and the fable of the scorpion and the turtle.
The Shijing
The Shijing includes "Guanju," "Moju," "Xiaoxing," "Zouyu," "Shiwei," "Beifeng," "Mugua," "Shuo Ren" (excerpt), "He Guang," "Shuli" (excerpt), "Ji Zi," "Shi Ji," "Shi Yuan," "Shi Tan," "Shi Chu," "Jian," "Huangniu" (excerpt), "Wuyi," "Wei Yang," "Yuanqiu," "Shiyuan," "Shiyuan," "Futan," "Shi Ren," "Shi Ji," "Shi Yuan," "Jian," "Huangniu" (excerpt), "Wuyi," "Wei Yang," "Yuanqiu," "Dongmen," "Yue," "July" (excerpt), and "Luming" (excerpt).
The Chu Ci
The Chu Ci includes "Donghuang Taiyi," "Guoshang," "Shejiang" (excerpt), "Jiesong," "Lishao" (excerpt), and "Lisao" (excerpt).