Tai Xuan Ji Notes

Author: Yang Xiong (Han Dynasty) compiled, Sima Guang (Song Dynasty) annotated, Liu Shaojun edited
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-09-01
Features: The "Zishu" (Philosophical Works) are an important part of China's ancient classics. The earliest handwritten copies emerged during the Hundred Schools of Thought in the late Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, many of which are precious crystallizations of ancient Chinese thought and culture. Throughout the feudal society after the Qin and Han dynasties, numerous thinkers and scholars wrote similar works, including many outstanding ones. In the 1950s, Zhonghua Book Company revised and reprinted the "Collected Works of the Masters" published by the original World Book Company before the founding of the People's Republic of China. This series of books compiled the results of Qing Dynasty scholars' collation and annotation of "Zishu," making it relatively suitable for academic research needs. However, it did not include the new achievements of scholars in recent decades, especially after the founding of the People's Republic of China, in organizing "Zishu." The collection of works was not extensive enough, and there were still many errors in punctuation and typesetting. Therefore, it was decided to re-edit and publish a new "Collected Works of the Masters." The new "Collected Works of the Masters" includes "Zishu" from the pre-Qin period to the Tang Dynasty, with a focus on selecting works closely related to the study of philosophy and intellectual history. Some books that do not belong to the "Zibu" category, such as Ban Gu's "White Tiger Commentaries," are also planned to be included because they are closely related to the study of philosophy and intellectual history (using the collation and annotations by Chen Li of the Qing Dynasty). The entire series will be published in two volumes. The first volume includes "Zishu" similar to the old "Collected Works of the Masters," which are frequently read or referenced by general researchers. Each work selects the best available annotated edition to date. For a very few works that still lack annotations, new annotations will be provided. Some books include multiple annotated editions, each with its own strengths. To maintain consistency in style, except for a few exceptions, only annotated editions written in classical or simple classical Chinese are included. The main text and annotations of each book are uniformly punctuated with modern-style punctuation, and errors in printing or typesetting are corrected. The second volume collects other "Zishu" outside the first volume. Most of these works lack existing annotated editions. For those that require annotations, they will be provided; the rest will be selected based on better versions for editing. Many of the works in this volume are incomplete or fragmented. During the editing process, different situations will be distinguished: some will select existing annotated editions, while others will require supplementary or re-edited annotations. Some "Zishu" are forgeries or suspected forgeries. However, those with earlier origins, historical influence, and certain reference value for studying specific issues will be selectively included. Both the first and second volumes of this book plan to first publish paperback editions, each priced individually and released, with a hardcover combined edition to be published after all volumes are completed. Each paperback edition will include a proposed list of works for this volume at the end of each book to help readers understand the overall scope of the series.