Selected Works of Nan Huaijin, Volume 10

Author: Nan Huaijin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-07-01
Features: Nan Huaijin, a renowned scholar with a high reputation both in China and abroad, was born in 1918 into a scholarly family in Leqing County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. At the age of 85, he was nurtured by his parents in his early years and studied the classics and the Hundred Schools of Thought during his youth. When the War of Resistance against Japan broke out, the young Nan Huaijin took up arms and served on the southwestern frontier. Later, he returned to Sichuan and taught at the Central Military Academy and Jinling University. With exceptional talent and detachment, he spent his leisure holidays traveling through famous mountains and rivers, seeking out eminent monks and scholars. He once retreated to the Pingping Temple on Mount Emei for three years of seclusion, reading the vast Buddhist canon. He then traveled to Tibet, studying with masters of Vajrayana Buddhism and gaining profound knowledge of the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism. After leaving Tibet, he went to Kunming, initially teaching at Yunnan University and later at Sichuan University. After the war, he returned to his hometown. Soon after, he retired to Mount Tianzhu in Hangzhou and Mount Lu in Jiangxi, dedicating himself to scholarly pursuits. After moving to Taiwan, he was appointed to teach at Cultural University, Fu Jen University, and other universities and research institutions, spreading his knowledge to Japan, the United States, and Central and South America. In recent years, he has resided in Hong Kong, contributing significantly to cultural exchange between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Nan Huaijin is well-versed in classics, history, and philosophy, with a deep understanding of both Eastern and Western cultures. His erudition is vast, and his works are numerous. Especially notable is his use of the "integration of classics and history" method to explain the classics of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. His explanations are rich in references, linking the past and present, profound in meaning, and vivid and humorous, achieving remarkable success in popularizing traditional Chinese culture and winning the of readers across all levels on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Fudan University Press is the earliest publisher of Nan Huaijin's works in China and the publisher with the most extensive and varied collection of his writings. The total number of his works published by the press is twenty-four, most of which are his representative works. With the authorization of the author and the original publisher, these works have been compiled into ten volumes, bound in hardcover, to meet the needs of readers for reading and collecting. The following is the list of works included in each volume:
Volume 1: The Analects Decoded
Volume 2: The Way of Lao Tzu and Mencius Unbound
Volume 3: The I Ching Unbound and The I Ching Systematic Lectures
Volume 4: Zen and Taoism and Taoism, Vajrayana Buddhism, and Eastern Mysticism and Meditation for Self-Cultivation and Longevity
Volume 5: Exploring the Zen Sea and Zen Talks and An Outline of the Development of Buddhism in China and An Outline of the Development of Taoism in China
Volume 6: Experiences from History and A New Generation of Tradition and General Remarks on Chinese Culture
Volume 7: How to Practice and Attain Enlightenment and The Perspective of the Lotus Sutra and Basic Beliefs of Buddhist Practitioners
Volume 8: What the Diamond Sutra Means and The Contemporary Interpretation of the Lingyin Sutra
Volume 9: A Brief Explanation of the Great Awakening Sutra and Initial Practices of Meditation and Wisdom and The Contemporary Interpretation of the Lengye Sutra
Volume 10: The Original Meaning of the Great Learning.
The Great Learning is one of the representative works of Confucianism and is traditionally attributed to Zengzi (Zeng Can), a student of Confucius. Together with The Doctrine of the Mean, The Analects, and Mencius, it is known as the "Four Books," which were mandatory reading for scholars and students after the Song Dynasty. It is organized around the principles of "illuminating virtue," "renewing the people," and "perfection," and outlines the relationship between moral cultivation and social and political governance through the concepts of "investigating things," "gaining knowledge," "sincerity of heart," "rectifying the mind," "self-cultivation," "regulating the family," "governing the state," and "peacefully ruling the world." It has had a profound impact on ancient Chinese thought and culture. This book is a lecture record by the renowned scholar Nan Huaijin on The Great Learning. The title "Original Great Learning" refers to the ancient text The Great Learning from the Xiao Dai Liji. With his profound knowledge, Nan Huaijin synthesizes a wealth of historical and literary allusions to reveal the profound meanings of The Great Learning, offering readers both intellectual enjoyment and life lessons. With the authorization of the author and the original publisher, Taiwan Lao Gu Cultural Enterprises Company, this book has been published in its latest revised edition (January 2003) for research purposes.