Pre-Qin Classics Wisdom Quotes and Stories Series (Full 16 Volumes)

Author: Zhang Shuqie, Editor-in-Chief; Shen Bingzhi, Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The Book of Documents (Shangshu) is one of the earliest historical document compendia in ancient China and one of the major classics of Confucianism. Originally known only as Shujing (Book of Documents), it was later called Shujing starting from the Han Dynasty, though scholars commonly refer to it as Shangshu (Book of the Ancients). The name Shangshu is generally believed to mean "the records of ancient emperors." The compilation and transmission of this book are very complex. It is said that before the late Spring and Autumn period, there were over three thousand similar historical documents. By the late Spring and Autumn period, Confucius collected and organized them, selecting one hundred to compile the Shangshu that has been passed down to this day. The compilation of this small book adheres to the guidance of historical materialism, maintains the unity of history and logic, and upholds the principle of seeking truth from facts. It strives to integrate academic rigor, scientificity, practicality, and accessibility, aiming to serve the inheritance and promotion of outstanding traditional Chinese culture and the construction of socialist material and spiritual civilization.
The Records of the States (Guoyu) is a historical masterpiece primarily focused on recorded speeches, with each state documented separately. It narrates historical events by state, starting from the twelfth year of King Mu of the Western Zhou (491 BCE, when he launched a campaign against the Dong) and ending in the sixteenth year of King Ding of the Eastern Zhou (453 BCE, when the Marquis Zhi of Jin was defeated by the alliance of Han, Zhao, and Wei). The period covered spans five hundred thirty-eight years, divided into eight states: Zhou, Lu, Qi, Jin, Zheng, Chu, Wu, and Yue, totaling twenty-one chapters. The Guoyu is believed to have been compiled during the Warring States period. Its authorship is generally attributed to Zuo Qiuming. Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty wrote in Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): "When Zuo Qiuming lost his sight, he wrote the Guoyu." Wei Zhao of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period also believed in Zuo Qiuming's authorship in his preface to the Commentary on the Guoyu, considering it a companion piece to the Zuo Zhuan. The Guoyu is a brilliant and insightful national history of China. Through dialogues, it explores political, military, diplomatic, economic, and cultural matters, recording historical facts from the Spring and Autumn to the Warring States periods. It leaves many lessons for later generations in the process of narrating history.
The Canon of the State (Guanzi) is a richly comprehensive work covering politics, economy, military strategy, and law, often referred to as an encyclopedia. In the Guanzi, economic thought holds a particularly prominent position. Two-thirds of its chapters discuss economic matters, while one-third are dedicated solely to economic issues, and the insights it offers on economic problems are exceptionally profound. This is rare in traditional Chinese classics. Traditionally, agriculture was regarded as the foundation, while commerce was considered a secondary "inferior" industry, with a preference for prioritizing agriculture over commerce. However, the Guanzi argues that both agriculture and industry are sources of wealth and should be vigorously developed. The Guanzi is a profound and extensive work, making it highly valuable for study and research. Guided by the principle of "making the past serve the present," we have selected some profound and insightful quotes from the Guanzi to introduce to you, aiming to grasp its ideological essence and serve the construction of contemporary spiritual civilization.
This series also includes: Mozi, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Lüshi Chunqiu, Analects, I Ching, The Art of War, The Book of Songs, The Book of Rites, The Strategies of the Warring States, Zuo Zhuan, Han Feizi, Xunzi, and Mencius.