Flowers of Literature Series - Ancient Part: Selected Prose of Han Fei

Author: Han Fei (Warring States Period)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Ancient Chinese prose has a long and profound history, with deep roots and lush branches. Like poetry, it is one of the most important and distinctive forms of ancient Chinese literature, as well as a splendid and magnificent cultural treasure in the history of human civilization. To promote the excellent culture of the Chinese nation, inherit the fine traditions of ancient prose, and foster the prosperity and improvement of contemporary prose creation, as well as provide readers with reference and appreciation, this series of "Ancient Chinese Prose" is compiled as a part of the "Hua Bai Prose Series." The scope of prose has evolved over time, differing between ancient and modern periods. The selected works in this series primarily focus on lyrical and narrative prose, which are more literary in nature. The selected authors range from the pre-Qin period to the Qing Dynasty, with each author's works compiled in separate volumes. The arrangement of essays in each book follows the chronological order of their composition, allowing readers to understand the development and evolution of prose creation.
Each book in the series consists of two parts: one is an essay, which includes brief introductions to the author's life and literary activities, with a focus on analyzing and reviewing their prose creation philosophy, particularly artistic characteristics, the development of prose creation, and its influence. The other part is the prose itself, with each piece accompanied by a title explanation and annotations. The essay section is designed to complement and enhance the prose section, helping readers achieve a rational understanding of the selected prose through the essays, while the selected prose deepens readers' intuitive understanding of the essays. This mutual reinforcement makes the series not only a collection of selected prose for reading but also, to some extent, a study of the author's works and even a history of ancient prose, distinct from general prose anthologies and traditional histories of ancient prose.
The selected prose in each book includes representative masterpieces of the authors, as well as works from different periods, themes, and styles to reflect the development of the author's prose creation. The title explanations not only clarify relevant terms, specialized names, and provide information on the writing time and sources but also offer concise reviews of the background, ideological value, artistic characteristics, and artistic techniques of the works. The annotations primarily focus on explaining difficult characters, words, allusions, official titles, artifacts, names, and places. For important or uniquely used terms, references or examples are cited to help readers understand not only the "what" but also the "why."
Han Fei was a renowned prose master of the pre-Qin period, and his achievements marked the maturation of pre-Qin prose. Han Fei's prose is sharp, incisive, and unrelenting, exposing the hidden depths of the human soul and laying them bare under the light. His prose excels in using metaphors and analogies, drawing readers into an alluring artistic realm through vivid and lively short stories rich in profound philosophy, allowing them to appreciate the diverse and colorful scenery. Han Fei dared to break new ground, pioneering various forms of prose and mastering them skillfully, exerting a significant influence on later prose creation. This book selects the most literary works of Han Fei, providing title explanations and annotations, and analyzes his artistic achievements and characteristics. These timeless and infinitely captivating artistic masterpieces will undoubtedly bring readers endless aesthetic enjoyment.