Research on Ancient Chinese Vehicles and Famous Objects

Author: Wang Shaohua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-14
Features: This series is a collection of recent research achievements on Sun Yirang. It consists of four volumes, excluding the Chronicle, and covers topics related to The Great Commentary on the Rites of Zhou. The Great Commentary on the Rites of Zhou is one of Sun’s most outstanding works. His scholarship encompassed all aspects of knowledge from the agricultural era, and thus, to explore its profound depths, one must possess corresponding academic cultivation—as the saying goes, "one must know the beauty of the palace before understanding its gates." Modern scholars, however, lack the foundational training of their youth; as they grow older, they are required to study everything from ancient and modern Chinese to mathematics, physics, and literature. As for ancient studies, most specialize in a single field, leaving little time for broader exploration. Consequently, discussing Zhongrong’s work can only offer a partial glimpse of his scholarship. For nearly forty years, I have been nurtured by Mr. Yingming of Cixi and Mr. Zhonggui of Santai. During their instruction, both elders often spoke of Zhongrong’s scholarship. When I sought further guidance, the Yingming Master would say, "Why not consult The Great Commentary on the Rites of Zhou?" He also relayed the words of the esteemed Huichun Huang Master: "Zhongrong’s Great Commentary is meticulous in every detail. Reading it, you need not seek other books on institutional regulations." He then ordered me to read it aloud.
In 1961, I accompanied Master Xiao on the task of compiling the unified textbook Classical Chinese, and I carried this book with me. Master Xiao knew its value and said that reading it could give a basic understanding of the Rites of Zhou. If supplemented with The Records of Rites—beginning with Sun Xidan’s Collected Explanations of the Records of Rites—and The Rites of Rites—starting with Zhang Erqi’s Annotations and Sentence Readings of the Rites of Rites and followed by Hu Peiyun’s Great Commentary on the Rites of Rites—one could clearly grasp the evolution of institutions from the pre-Qin era to later dynasties. Even when consulting works like Comprehensive Examinations, one would not merely know the facts but also understand their context. Following Master Xiao’s advice, I diligently sought out these three books and often studied them late into the night. However, I never aspired to specialize in rites studies, for the more I glimpsed its depths, the more I realized its difficulty and my own inadequacy. Moreover, with frequent political movements, I had little time for such pursuits.
By 1990, a fellow scholar proposed translating the Thirteen Classics and the Comprehensive Collection of the Masters, entrusting me with the task. It was agreed that each book would be overseen by renowned experts, but no suitable candidates were found for The Rites of Zhou and The Rites of Rites. At the time, the esteemed Confucian scholar Huang Shouqi (a disciple of Wu Jianzhai) had passed away, and others were reluctant to take on the task. With the deadline approaching, I reluctantly accepted the responsibility—truly a case of knowing I could not do it but doing it anyway. I searched extensively for references but could only find Lin Yin’s Contemporary Annotations and Translations of the Rites of Zhou, which were too brief for my needs. Thus, after exhausting myself during the day, I would study late into the night, with Sun’s Great Commentary on the left and my draft paper on the right, translating line by line and word by word. The annotations I had made in the past had long gathered dust, and every time I opened the book, I encountered the questions I had marked. Though this was a comprehensive translation, I adhered to Zheng and Sun’s principles, yet it remained a source of frustration in my heart.
As for my own understanding, it took five days to complete this work, and I must await the judgment of future scholars. In the 21st century, Wang Shaohua, Zhu Xiaojian, and Zhu Ruiping successively studied under me. Shaohua devoted himself to The Examination of Work, achieving significant results; Xiaojian and Ruiping also showed interest in Sun’s scholarship. Shaohua excels in textual research, Xiaojian in analysis, and Ruiping in systematic organization—all qualities suited for deep studies of The Great Commentary on the Rites of Zhou. Soon after, all three students completed their theses, and the academic community praised their diligence, while I rejoiced in their intellectual progress, as if relieving a long-standing burden.
As the great Han Yu once said, "Students need not surpass their teachers," and as Zhuangzi noted, "When fire is passed from wood, it continues to burn without end." This is precisely the case. Shaohua meticulously examines the names and realities of artifacts in The Examination of Work, which not only verifies the correctness of archaeological naming conventions at the time but also connects two fields of study in a way few contemporary scholars have deeply explored. Xiaojian provides a general overview of the strengths and weaknesses of Sun’s annotations in The Great Commentary, a topic rarely addressed by predecessors. Since Sun’s work is considered the culmination of Qing Dynasty scholarship, his annotations should be its primary focus, making Xiaojian’s work valuable to academia. Ruiping offers a comprehensive assessment of Zhongrong’s academic achievements, touching on phonology, textual studies, Mohism, and contemporary politics. As for The Chronicle, Ruiping’s paper serves as a supplementary piece, reflecting his initial research focus—since one must understand a person’s deeds before comprehending their character.
While their work primarily focuses on The Great Commentary on the Rites of Zhou, it is not confined to that alone. Yet Sun’s scholarship is too vast for three students to fully grasp, and whether their conclusions are justified remains to be seen by the wise. My hope is that their works may inspire further research. I also wish for them to advance step by step, always guarding against arrogance. If they do so, even if I myself fail to achieve greatness, I will have no regrets.