"Jinzhi (Volume 1 and 2)"

Author: (English) Frazer, translated by Xu Yuxin, Zhang Zeshi, Wang Peiji
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-09-01
Features: To be precise, The Golden Bough is a foundational work of modern anthropology. Since its publication, it has faced skepticism from various quarters, yet it has excellently withstood the test of time. To this day, it remains an authoritative work on the origins of magic and religion. The Golden Bough originated from an ancient local custom: a temple priest was known as the "King of the Forest" but could also be held by an escaped slave. However, any other escaped slave who could break a branch from the tree he guarded day and night was qualified to duel with him and could kill him to take his place. The origins and existence of this ancient custom are shrouded in doubts. To address this, the author cast his gaze across the world, collected abundant materials on the primal beliefs of various ethnic groups, systematically organized them using the comparative method of history, and deduced a rigorous system, providing convincing explanations and prospects for the origins and development of magic. Unlike other specialized works, The Golden Bough is written in elegant prose, with clear and lucid arguments. It narrates customs from around the world with the familiarity of a family heirloom, interspersed with numerous thought-provoking insights and comments. The entire book sparkles with wisdom, rarely dull or stale, making it engaging and hard to put down.