Research on the I Ching and Zhuangzi

Author: Wen Yiduo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Preface After the May Fourth New Culture Movement, due to the turbulent historical environment and the collision of Eastern and Western cultures, traditional scholarship underwent significant changes, giving rise to a group of master scholars. Through their relentless efforts, they left behind classic works that serve as models for future generations. Even today, the pioneering achievements of these masters remain the starting point for research in multiple disciplines. In recent years, some forward-thinking publishers have reprinted numerous classics, providing young scholars with the opportunity to study the works of these masters, benefiting in many ways. Sichuan Book Society, which has always taken cultural accumulation as its responsibility, has prioritized the reprinting of academic masterpieces, placing Wen Yiduo's scholarly works at the forefront, thusing the publication of 《Wen Yiduo's Academic Writings》.
Wen Yiduo (1899–1946) was a renowned Chinese poet, democratic fighter, and distinguished scholar. He conducted extensive pioneering research in fields such as the Book of Changes, the Classic of Poetry, the Chuci, the Zhuangzi, Tang poetry, mythology, ancient characters, and more, achieving fruitful results that had a profound and far-reaching impact on academia. In the preface to the Complete Works of Wen Yiduo (Openings Edition), Mr. Guo Moruo praised Wen's research work, saying: "The sharpness of his insight, the comprehensiveness of his investigation, and the novelty and rigor of his arguments were not only unmatched by his predecessors but may also remain unmatched by future generations." Regarding Wen's academic achievements, this evaluation is far from exaggerated and provides an accurate summary of his scholarly approach.
During his lifetime, Wen published very few collected works, with most of his writings scattered across various periodicals. After his passing, under the leadership of Mr. Zhu Ziqing, the Complete Works of Wen Yiduo was compiled and published by Openings Publishing House in 1948. In 1994, Hubei People's Publishing House published the Complete Works of Wen Yiduo. Additionally, there are numerous unpublished manuscripts of Mr. Wen's works donated by his family to the Beijing Library. Due to the vast volume and wide range of Wen's writings, readers who could not afford the Complete Works but wished to read and collect works in specific areas found themselves in a dilemma.
Considering these factors, Sichuan Book Society proposed an editorial approach that reflects the essence of Wen Yiduo's academic achievements, organizes works by category, keeps the volume concise, and ensures ease of purchase and reading. With this clear editorial purpose, the compilers selected the most essential works in the first installment, avoiding a comprehensive overview and focusing on reflecting Wen's unique scholarly methods and approaches. The first installment includes five categories: the Book of Changes, the Classic of Poetry, the Chuci, mythology, and Tang poetry, each in its own volume. The remaining works will be published in subsequent installments.
The content of each selected volume is based on the Openings edition, with reference to the original publications and other versions. Where the author's writing contains suspected errors or omissions, the original text is retained, and authorial symbols and other conventions are generally unchanged to preserve the original form. Additionally, modern scholars often omit or reduce citations in their works, a practice also found in Wen's writings. Due to the editorial style and purpose of this book, no special corrections have been made, and readers are requested to understand this.
May this small collection make Wen Yiduo's academic achievements accessible to a broader audience.
Li Dingkai
September 19, 2002
Content of 《: Wen Yiduo's Academic Writings》:
- Annotations and Compilations on the Book of Changes: Including social and economic categories.
- The Zhuangzi
- Annotations on the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi
- The Spirit of Taoism