Water Margin and Chinese Society: (Small Books for Everyone. Issue 4)

Author: Sa Mengwu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: "The Great and the Small," a playful name. This term "The Great" encompasses two meanings: 1. The author is a renowned figure; 2. The book is written for everyone, serving as a read for the masses. The term "The Small" refers only to its length, as it is relatively brief. However, in terms of academic rigor, it is not light but rather quite substantial. In reality, the size of a book is also relative. A 100,000-word book may seem small in today's printing conditions, but in the era of Laozi and Confucius, it would hardly be considered small.
One of the purposes of compiling this series is to save readers' time, allowing them to gain more knowledge in a shorter period. In the age of information overload, there is too much to learn. Supplementary reading has thus become a frequent necessity. If one is not skilled at supplementary reading, grabbing a little here and a little there, patching up this today and that tomorrow, the results may not be very effective. If reading is treated like taking medicine, one may also lose the (cóng róng - ease and joy) and pleasure that should come with reading. Each book in this series is concise, so even if readers read it carefully and savor it slowly, it won’t take much time, allowing them to fully enjoy the joy of reading. If they choose to treat it as medicine, it is small in dosage, easy to take, and easy to digest.
We also have another purpose: to contribute to cultural accumulation. We gather works that have stood the test of time and are recognized by readers, publishing them to prevent them from being forgotten. Some books were once bestsellers but are now hard to find; others may not have garnered much attention at the time but have proven to be of great value over time. Both types of books need to be unearthed and brought back into the light.
Books on science and technology tend to focus on practicality, and once outdated, they attract few readers, except for those studying the history of science and technology. In contrast, the humanities are different—many books remain fresh and relevant no matter how often they are read. However, this series is not limited to reprints of old books. We also want to invite renowned scholars to write new small books that combine academic rigor with accessibility to meet the growing needs of readers.
The format of "The Great and the Small" is compact, allowing readers to tuck it into their pockets and read a few pages anytime, anywhere. Waiting by the roadside, queuing for theater tickets, on a bus, or in a park—anywhere is a good place to read. With more readers engaging in this way, society will be enriched with cultural vibrancy and a learning atmosphere. Isn’t that a good thing?