A Complete Treatise on Rural Administration (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Xu Guangqi (Ming)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: The guiding philosophy of A Complete Treatise on Rural Administration is "prosperity must be based on agriculture," so Xu Guangqi placed the three volumes of Agriculture at the beginning of the entire work. Classics and Historical Allusions cites classical texts to elucidate the foundation of a nation built on agriculture; Discussions by Various Scholars quotes the sayings of the Hundred Schools of Thought to prove that agriculture has always been valued since ancient times. Additionally, it includes Feng Yingjing's Examination of Agriculture in the Current Dynasty, all with the aim of "valuing agriculture." Xu Guangqi's "agriculture-first" ideology not only aligns with the historical tradition of a vast agricultural nation but may also offer valuable insights for the present. Today, agricultural and peasant issues remain key concerns in national decision-making. From this perspective, Xu Guangqi's "agriculture-first" thought still holds reasonable merit for contemporary use. A Complete Treatise on Rural Administration is a highly valuable ancient agricultural text, akin to a gold-rich mine awaiting further development and utilization. Therefore, Yue Lu Book Society has decided to publish a new annotated edition of A Complete Treatise on Rural Administration in simplified characters to meet the needs of the times. This initiative aims to provide readers with a new version of a classical masterpiece that is both convenient for reading and research and suitable for collection, contributing to the promotion of outstanding traditional culture in a practical way. This is undoubtedly beneficial to society.