Huainan Honglie Jie (Complete in Two Volumes)

Author: Liu Wendi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1989-05-01
Features: Liu An (?, 122 BC), the grandson of Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang), was a first-class scholar with a talented retinue. His father, Liu Chang, was imprisoned and exiled to Sichuan for plotting rebellion against Emperor Wen (Liu Chang's Rebellion), where he starved himself to death en route. Liu An harbored resentment and attempted to plot rebellion, but his scheme was leaked during the reign of Emperor Wu, leading him to commit suicide before being captured. Liu An was a distinguished intellectual with a team of capable advisors. At the time, the imperial court was gradually leaning toward unifying the nation's thoughts through Confucianism, while Liu An's entourage was predominantly composed of Taoist scholars. With the help of these scholars, Liu An sought to unify the doctrines of various schools, aiming to grasp the consistent principles of the natural order and the complexities of human affairs. It was under this motivation that the Huainanzi was compiled. The Huainanzi Jijie (Volume 1 & 2) reflects the political conflict between the central and local authorities during the Han Dynasty, as well as the ideological clash between Confucianism and Taoism. Its value remains to be assessed in the future. Currently, the Huainanzi Jijie is not highly regarded in terms of its ideological significance. However, since its content revolves around myths and legends, the folkloric materials within have been valued by later scholars. The book is also known as the Huainanzi Honglie. "Honglie" means "great and bright," which is often translated as "manifesting the great way." According to the Taoist concept of "wuwei" (non-action) and naturalness, the Huainanzi provides a concise explanation of natural phenomena such as astronomy and geography, as well as worldly matters like politics and military affairs. However, it also incorporates elements of Confucianism, Legalism, and Yin-Yang theory, offering little originality in thought. Nevertheless, the book cites numerous legends, myths, and fables, making it rich in variety and engaging in its style. It also preserves many fragments of myths and witty, humorous folk sayings.