Classical Masterpieces Popular Library: The Classic of Mountains and Seas. The Legend of the Yellow Emperor

Author: Zhang Yun (ed.)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-11-01
Features: The Classic of Mountains and Seas and The Journey of the Son of Heaven Mu are two of the most controversial and problem-ridden ancient Chinese texts. The Biography of Dayan in the Records of the Grand Historian states: "As for the monsters mentioned in The Annals of Yu and The Classic of Mountains and Seas, I dare not speak of them." This shows that as early as the time of Sima Qian, The Classic of Mountains and Seas was already suspected of containing questionable accounts. However, its content primarily consists of geographical knowledge from folk legends, preserving many ancient myths and legends. It holds significant reference value for the study of ancient history, geography, folklore, mythology, and Sino-foreign exchanges. The narrative in The Journey of the Son of Heaven Mu largely corresponds to that of The Classic of Mountains and Seas. It recounts the story of King Mu of Zhou riding eight magnificent horses westward, preserving several historical records of ancient transportation that are highly valued by scholars. The two books have been republished with original text and annotations, included in the Classical Masterpieces Popular Library series by Yue Lu Publishing House.