History of Chinese Classics -- Specialized History Series

Author: Li Zhizhong et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This book is a specialized work on the style of annals. The term "zhi" means to record. The Rites of Zhou·Spring describes the duty of the small historian as "to oversee the annals of the state." Zheng Xuan of the Eastern Han Dynasty noted: "Zhi refers to recording." Thus, books of annals are called "books of recorded events." This book attempts to follow the Chinese cultural and academic tradition in recording the rise of classic literature, based on the material composition of Chinese classics in recording the materials, methods of production, and binding art of classic literature, based on the storage of Chinese classics in recording the organization, classification, and cataloging of classic literature, and based on the misfortunes of Chinese classics in recording the calamities and dispersal of classic literature. However, "books of annals" are still a type of historical book. This book is a specialized work on the emergence, initial rise, and historical development of Chinese classics. The book is divided into eight chapters: the second chapter discusses the era in which classics emerged, the third chapter narrates the relationship between academic traditions and academic evolution and the development of classic literature creation, the fourth and fifth chapters describe the evolution of the forms of classic literature throughout the dynasties, and the sixth to eighth chapters record the collection, organization, cataloging, calamities, and dispersal of classic literature. The book uses abundant materials as the warp, tracing the journey of the emergence, development, and prosperity of Chinese classics, and as the weft, the interrelationship between classic literature and politics, economy, culture, and academia in various historical periods. It systematically and comprehensively outlines the development trajectory of Chinese classics, making it an academic work with distinctive features in both style, composition, and writing.