Nan Huaijin Selected Works (Volume 2)

Author: Nan Huaijin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Nan Huaijin, a renowned scholar with international acclaim, was born in 1918 to a scholarly family in Leqing County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang. At 85 years old, he received early education at home and later studied the classics. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, the young Nan Huaijin joined the army and served on the southwestern frontier. After the war, he returned to Sichuan and taught at the Central Military Academy and Jinling University. With exceptional talent and freedom from worldly constraints, he often traveled to famous mountains and rivers, seeking enlightenment from eminent monks and scholars. He once secluded himself in Emei Mountain’s Shaping Temple for three years, studying the vast Buddhist canon. Later, he traveled to Tibet, studying with masters of Vajrayana Buddhism and gaining deep knowledge of its various schools. After leaving Tibet, he moved to Kunming, initially teaching at Yunnan University and later at Sichuan University. After the war, he returned to his hometown and later retired to Tianzhu Mountain in Hangzhou and Lushan in Jiangxi, dedicating himself to scholarship. After moving to Taiwan, he was appointed to teach at Cultural University, Fu Jen University, and other universities and research institutions, spreading his knowledge to Japan, the United States, and Central and South America. In recent years, he has resided in Hong Kong, contributing significantly to cultural exchange between the mainland and Taiwan. Nan Huaijin is well-versed in classics, history, and philosophy, bridging Eastern and Western cultures with profound knowledge and numerous works. Especially notable is his use of the "integration of classics and history" method to explain the classics of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. His explanations are thorough, engaging, and humorous, making traditional Chinese culture accessible to readers across all levels. Fudan University Press is the earliest domestic publisher of Nan Huaijin’s works and the one that has published the most extensive and varied collection of his writings. They have published a total of 24 works, most of which are his representative works. With the author’s and original publisher’s authorization, these works have been compiled into ten volumes, bound in hardcover, to meet the needs of readers for reading and collecting. The contents of each volume are as follows:
Volume 1: The Analects Decoded
Volume 2: The Way and Its Power (Laozi Says), Mencius in Perspective
Volume 3: The I Ching Unbound, The I Ching: Line by Line
Volume 4: Zen and the Way of the Tao, Taoism, Vajrayana Buddhism, and Eastern Mysticism, Meditation for Self-Cultivation and Longevity
Volume 5: Exploring the Zen Sea, Zen Talks, An Outline of the Development of Buddhism in China, An Outline of the Development of Taoism in China
Volume 6: Experiences from History, A New Generation Between Tradition and Modernity, General Remarks on Chinese Culture
Volume 7: How to Practice and Realize Buddhism, The Compassion of the Lotus Sutra, Basic Beliefs of Buddhist Practitioners
Volume 8: What the Diamond Sutra Means, The Meaning of the Lengyan Sutra
Volume 9: A Brief Explanation of the Awakening of Wisdom Sutra, Initial Practices of Meditation and Wisdom, The Meaning of the Lengya Sutra
Volume 10: The Original Meaning of the Great Learning
The Laozi, also known as The Classic of the Way and Virtue, is one of the most famous classics of the Taoist school and Taoism in China. It comprehensively covers the wisdom of generations, profound and vast, with its core concept of the "Way." In just five thousand characters, it constructs a philosophical system encompassing the governance of emperors, the self-cultivation of hermits, and an abundance of profound wisdom. This book is a lecture record by the renowned Taiwanese scholar Nan Huaijin on The Laozi. With his deep knowledge of history and literature and keen social insight, the author provides a thorough explanation, clarification, and elaboration on the essence of The Laozi. The book is characterized by its clarity and accessibility, making classical Chinese culture more approachable and specialized knowledge more widely understood. It also includes a bibliography of historical studies on The Laozi. Originally published by the Taiwan Lao Gu Cultural Enterprise Company, this book has been revised multiple times by the author based on his insights since its publication in 1980. With the author’s and original publisher’s authorization, this 1994 sixth edition is now published to serve researchers.
Mencius is a classic of Confucianism and an important source for studying the life and teachings of Mencius. Many timeless and inspiring maxims originate from it. This book is a lecture record by the renowned scholar Nan Huaijin on Mencius. The author employs the "integration of classics and history" method, using the original text of Mencius as the "classic" and the social background and activities of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods as the "history," supplemented by various historical stories and social phenomena. This approach provides an in-depth understanding of Mencius’s character and the influence of his thoughts. It allows readers to engage with traditional Chinese culture in a lively and profound manner, enriching their knowledge of history and literature while gaining wisdom for life. The book also includes a bibliography of historical studies on Mencius. Originally published by the Taiwan Lao Gu Cultural Enterprise Company, this book has been revised multiple times by the author based on his insights since its publication in 1980. With the author’s and original publisher’s authorization, this 1994 sixth edition is now published to serve researchers.