A Glimpse into the Lives of Scholars Throughout Chinese History

Author: Bi Baoquan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-06-01
Features: "Scholar" is the modern term for "shi." The "shi" were a special class that emerged at a certain stage of Chinese historical development, and as history evolved, the connotations of "shi" also changed. The "shi" class appeared only when productive forces had developed to a certain level. The book consists of forty-one chapters and approximately 200,000 words. The illustrations in this book are mainly sourced from works such as A General History of China and Jing Qimin's Paintings. The book is written in chronological order of historical development, with more detailed descriptions of the rich and varied periods of the "shi" mindset and lifestyle, while simpler treatments are given to other periods. It considers both the spiritual demeanor and the life styles of the "shi," combining a macro perspective with micro-level details, integrating the overall characteristics of a certain era with the specific forms of individual "shi." This approach ensures that both the "trees" and the "forest" are visible. Additionally, the book takes into account readers' interests, using vivid and humorous language to wrap rigorous academic research in engaging explanations and narratives. The goal is to achieve: accurate and reliable knowledge, making the book suitable for academic reading and citation; lively and concise language with strong appeal, allowing readers to gain precise and rich cultural knowledge in a relaxed reading experience. The material in this book is primarily based on official histories, supplemented by unofficial records, anecdotes, notes, novels, poetry, and prose.