Introduction to Pre-Qin Scholarship -- Reprint of Key Academic Works of the 20th Century

Author: Lü Simian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: This book discusses the academic thoughts of the pre-Qin philosophers and has three distinctive characteristics: , it comprehensively analyzes the origins of pre-Qin schools, including not only the six major schools such as Taoism, Confucianism, Legalism, Mohism, and Yin-Yangism but also others like the Diplomacy School, Military School, Agricultural School, Numerology School, Medical School, Fiction School, and Miscellaneous School. Second, it focuses on analyzing the origins and interrelationships of each school. Third, it not only examines the content of important works by each school but also discusses their authenticity. In reviewing the works of various schools, the author offers many unique insights. For example, the author opposes Hu Shi's theory of "The Pre-Qin Philosophers Were Not Officials." Moreover, while many modern scholars consider the current Wu Liezi and Lü Tao as spurious works, the author argues, "This book is profound in meaning and ancient in style, and it could not have been forged by later generations." Recently, (fragments) of both books were unearthed from the Han (tomb) at Yinque Mountain in Linyi, Shandong, which fully support the author's accurate judgment.