Classics of the Ages -- Stop Watching the Ancients

Author: Wu Chucai, Wu Diao Hou, Ran Wanli
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-12-01
Features:
No one among us is not averse to death and fond of life, remembering our parents, caring for our wives and children. Those who are deeply moved by righteousness are an exception, for they are driven by necessity. Now, I am, having lost my parents early and having no brothers, I stand alone, isolated. How do you, Xiaoqing, view me in comparison to my wife and children? Moreover, the brave do not necessarily die for their principles, and the timid, if they admire righteousness, can strive in any place! Although I am timid and wish to live on, I have a fair understanding of the distinction between right and wrong. How could I sink into the humiliation of prison? Moreover, even the lowly, like slaves and maids, can still take their own lives. How much more so am I, driven by necessity? The reason I endure and live in filth without complaint is that I regret not fulfilling my private ambitions, and that my humble nature will meet its end without my literary talents being celebrated by future generations.
In ancient times, the rich and noble often faded into oblivion, their names forgotten, countless in number, but only the extraordinary and remarkable are remembered. The Western King was imprisoned and composed the Book of Changes; Confucius was in dire straits and wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals; Qu Yuan was exiled and wrote the Li Sao; Zuo Qiuming lost his sight and authored the Records of the States; Sun Tzu lost his foot and compiled the Art of War; Li Buwei was exiled to Shu and the Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals were passed down; Han Feizi was imprisoned in Qin and wrote the Sayings of Difficulties and the Solitary Anguish. The Three Hundred Poems were largely composed by sages and scholars in their moments of frustration. These individuals all had grievances that could not be expressed, unable to realize their ideals, so they recounted the past and reflected on the future. As for Zuo Qiuming, blind, and Sun Tzu, maimed, they could no longer serve their country, so they retired to compose books and articles to vent their frustrations, hoping to leave behind enduring literary works for posterity.
The Essentials of Classical Chinese primarily selects prose, with occasional parallel prose and odes, all of which are renowned masterpieces passed down through the ages, possessing "eternal artistic charm." The compilers named it "Essentials of Classical Chinese," perhaps truly reflecting the heartfelt admiration that Wu Ji, the younger brother of Wu the Great, expressed when he witnessed dance and music. From this perspective, the Essentials of Classical Chinese is a vivid panorama of classical Chinese prose throughout Chinese history, as well as a living record of its development.
On the other hand, although the Essentials of Classical Chinese was compiled for young learners and general enthusiasts of classical Chinese, it has no trace of pandering to the masses. These immortal classics contain abundant historical knowledge, mature life experiences, profound literary aesthetics, and even vast cosmological wisdom. In the vast ocean of Chinese prose, there are indeed countless outstanding works, and the selections in the Essentials of Classical Chinese truly strike a balance—accessible to beginners yet challenging to scholars, much like the widely beloved Three Hundred Poems of Tang. These two anthologies are considered twin pillars of popular classical Chinese literature.
The Essentials of Classical Chinese is an outstanding collection of classical Chinese selected and compiled by Wu Chucai and Wu Diao Hou during the Qing Dynasty. The selections span from the Zhou Dynasty to the late Ming Dynasty, divided into 12 volumes with a total of 222 pieces. The works vary in length, rich in content, and every word shines like pearls, suitable for both recitation and contemplation. They are the finest examples of Chinese prose over five thousand years, and indeed, "Essentials of Classical Chinese" is no exaggeration!