Huang Kan, Liu Shipei Volume

Author: Liu Mengxi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-08-01
Features: Huang Kan, a disciple of Zhang Taiyan, made significant contributions in Chinese literature, phonology, textual criticism, and etymology. Famous scholars such as Fan Wenlan, Lu Zongda, Cheng Qianfan, Yin Menglun, and Pan Chonggui were his followers. This book includes his classic works such as Notes on the Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, Brief Explanation of the Shuowen Jiezi, Brief Explanation of Phonology, and Phonology. Liu Shipei was a renowned scholar with diverse achievements, writing extensively in the fields of Confucian classics, classical studies, and literature. He was a bridge between traditional academic traditions of the Qing Dynasty and later developments. This book features his representative work History of Medieval Chinese Literature and fifteen essays.
Huang Kan (1886–1935), styled Jigang, originally named Qiao Xin, styled Meijun, later changed his name to Kan, styled Jizi, and styled Liangshou Jushi, was a native of Qichun, Hubei, and a modern Chinese linguist and philologist. Born on April 3, 1886, in Chengdu and passing away on October 8, 1935, in Nanjing at the age of 49, Huang Kan was a diligent scholar who considered himself foolish and advocated for "pursuing learning with precision" and "broad yet rigorous scholarship." He valued mentorship but did not blindly follow his teachers' doctrines, often reminding himself to "be diligent in life and enthusiastic in teaching." Despite his fame and frail health, he remained dedicated to scholarship without rest, saying, "Only when I have read all the books in the world can I dare to speak," and vowed not to write until he was 50. His work in textual criticism, phonology, and etymology traced back to the Han and Tang dynasties while inheriting the traditions of the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns, with many original insights and a unique style. In phonology, he classified ancient sounds in ways that accurately reflected the spoken language of his time. In his later years, he focused primarily on etymology. Huang Kan was prolific in writing, with important works including Brief Explanation of Phonology, Brief Explanation of the Shuowen Jiezi, Brief Explanation of the Erya, Table of Sound Classes in the Jiyun, Notes on the Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, Collected Notes on the Rizhi Lu, and Miscellaneous Works on Learning by Huang Kan, among dozens of others.
Liu Shipei (1884–1919), styled Shenshu, styled Zuogang, was a native of Yizheng, Jiangsu, and a modern master of Confucian classics in China. In 1904, he met Zhang Binglin in Shanghai and leaned toward revolution, writing The Essence of the Chinese Social Contract to oppose autocracy. Later, he had a falling out with Zhang Binglin, left the revolutionary faction, joined the Preparation Committee for the Restoration of the Empire, and served Yuan Shikai's plot to usurp the throne. In 1917, Cai Yuanpei appointed him as a professor at Peking University. On January 19, 1919, he co-founded the Guogu Monthly Society with Huang Kan, Zhu Xizhu, Ma Xulun, and Liang Shuming, becoming a member of the National Essence Faction. He passed away in Beijing on November 20, 1919, at the age of 36, due to tuberculosis. His works, collected and compiled by Nan Guixin and Qian Xuantong, total 74 volumes, titled The Remains of Mr. Liu Shenshu. He inherited the family tradition of the Zuo Zhuan school while skillfully integrating modern Western social science research methods and achievements into the study of traditional Chinese culture. His contributions to opening new horizons in traditional culture research were immense, and his achievements were also substantial.