Human Words, Human Words Annotations and Comments

Author: Chen Hongxiang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-07-01
Features: The theoretical core of Words on Human Life is "artistic conception," and the aesthetic standard is "authenticity." From form to content, it is entirely sinicized. Its enduring relevance and far-reaching influence in the face of changing times and shifting ideologies lie not only in its adeptness at "inheriting" but also in its excellence at "creating." Words on Human Life has two editions: the "hand-edited" and the "manuscript" versions, totaling 126 entries, with one added by the author during the hand-editing process, making the actual manuscript entries 125. The "hand-edited" version contains 64 entries, revised and published during Wang Guowei's lifetime in November 1908 in Shanghai's Journal of National Essence (serialized in three parts). In 1926, it was re-examined and approved by the author with the addition of a "completed" date, and published as a standalone book by Beijing's Pushe. The following year, Wang Guowei passed away, and his student and assistant, Zhao Wanli, compiled the unpublished manuscripts, along with entries from Elementary Studies in Classical Chinese and marginal notes, comments, etc., published in March 1928 in Shanghai's Monthly Novel Magazine under the title Unpublished Manuscripts and Other Works of Words on Human Life. In the Collected Works, the 64 hand-edited entries by Wang are arranged as the first volume, while the 53 entries compiled by Zhao form the second volume, creating the two-volume edition of Words on Human Life. Subsequent annotated editions and standalone publications all followed the two-volume version in the Collected Works. The currently circulated Words on Human Life (combined with Words on Gentle Breeze—hereafter referred to as the "circulated edition") is annotated by Xu Diaofu and edited by Wang You'an, included in the Selected Works of Chinese Classical Literary Theory and Criticism (first published by the People's Literature Publishing House in early 1960). This edition is based on the two-volume version, with rearrangement, supplementary excerpts, and detailed annotations, no longer divided into volumes. The 64 entries hand-edited by Wang during his lifetime form the core of Words on Human Life; the 49 entries compiled by Zhao from "unpublished manuscripts" and additional manuscripts supplemented by Wang's second son, Wang Zhongwen (You'an), are titled Deleted Entries of Words on Human Life"; and the 29 entries compiled by Zhao Wanli, Chen Naiquan, and Xu Diaofu, including Wang's marginal notes, prefaces, and the preface to the Jia and Yi Drafts of Words on Human Life, are gathered into Appendix of Words on Human Life. In 1982, Qian Xingzhen and Liu Xuan revised Words on Human Life (Journal of Henan Normal University, 5th issue, 1982), maintaining the 64 entries of the circulated edition as the core, with the "deleted entries" as the foundation, supplemented by unpublished and deleted entries, completing the 125 manuscript entries of Words on Human Life and appending Wang's self-selected Words on Human Life during his exile in Japan after the 1911 Revolution (23 entries, hereafter referred to as the "self-selected edition"). To meet the needs of contemporary readers, we have annotated and commented on both Words on Human Life and Words on Human Life, along with certain new attempts. In terms of arrangement, the Words on Human Life follows the order of the circulated edition, with supplementary adjustments, divided into: the hand-edited version (64 entries), unpublished manuscripts (50 entries), deleted entries (12 entries), Wangtang's Lyrics on Human Life (26 entries), and supplementary excerpts (4 entries), totaling 156 entries. The Words on Human Life is arranged according to Wang's lifetime categorization of Jia and Yi drafts, divided into: Jia Draft of Words on Human Life (61 poems), Yi Draft of Words on Human Life (43 poems), Postscript (8 poems), Appendix (3 poems), totaling 115 poems. The theoretical core of Words on Human Life is "artistic conception," and the aesthetic standard is "authenticity." From form to content, it is entirely sinicized. Its enduring relevance and far-reaching influence in the face of changing times and shifting ideologies lie not only in its adeptness at "inheriting" but also in its excellence at "creating." Words on Human Life has two editions: the "hand-edited" and the "manuscript" versions, totaling 126 entries, with one added by the author during the hand-editing process, making the actual manuscript entries 125. The "hand-edited" version contains 64 entries, revised and published during Wang Guowei's lifetime in November 1908 in Shanghai's Journal of National Essence (serialized in three parts). In 1926, it was re-examined and approved by the author with the addition of a "completed" date, and published as a standalone book by Beijing's Pushe. The following year, Wang Guowei passed away, and his student and assistant, Zhao Wanli, compiled the unpublished manuscripts, along with entries from Elementary Studies in Classical Chinese and marginal notes, comments, etc., published in March 1928 in Shanghai's Monthly Novel Magazine under the title Unpublished Manuscripts and Other Works of Words on Human Life. In the Collected Works, the 64 hand-edited entries by Wang are arranged as the first volume, while the 53 entries compiled by Zhao form the second volume, creating the two-volume edition of Words on Human Life. Subsequent annotated editions and standalone publications all followed the two-volume version in the Collected Works. The currently circulated Words on Human Life (combined with Words on Gentle Breeze—hereafter referred to as the "circulated edition") is annotated by Xu Diaofu and edited by Wang You'an, included in the Selected Works of Chinese Classical Literary Theory and Criticism (first published by the People's Literature Publishing House in early 1960). This edition is based on the two-volume version, with rearrangement, supplementary excerpts, and detailed annotations, no longer divided into volumes. The 64 entries hand-edited by Wang during his lifetime form the core of Words on Human Life; the 49 entries compiled by Zhao from "unpublished manuscripts" and additional manuscripts supplemented by Wang's second son, Wang Zhongwen (You'an), are titled Deleted Entries of Words on Human Life"; and the 29 entries compiled by Zhao Wanli, Chen Naiquan, and Xu Diaofu, including Wang's marginal notes, prefaces, and the preface to the Jia and Yi Drafts of Words on Human Life, are gathered into Appendix of Words on Human Life. In 1982, Qian Xingzhen and Liu Xuan revised Words on Human Life (Journal of Henan Normal University, 5th issue, 1982), maintaining the 64 entries of the circulated edition as the core, with the "deleted entries" as the foundation, supplemented by unpublished and deleted entries, completing the 125 manuscript entries of Words on Human Life and appending Wang's self-selected Words on Human Life during his exile in Japan after the 1911 Revolution (23 entries, hereafter referred to as the "self-selected edition"). To meet the needs of contemporary readers, we have annotated and commented on both Words on Human Life and Words on Human Life, along with certain new attempts. In terms of arrangement, the Words on Human Life follows the order of the circulated edition, with supplementary adjustments, divided into: the hand-edited version (64 entries), unpublished manuscripts (50 entries), deleted entries (12 entries), Wangtang's Lyrics on Human Life (26 entries), and supplementary excerpts (4 entries), totaling 156 entries. The Words on Human Life is arranged according to Wang's lifetime categorization of Jia and Yi drafts, divided into: Jia Draft of Words on Human Life (61 poems), Yi Draft of Words on Human Life (43 poems), Postscript (8 poems), Appendix (3 poems), totaling 115 poems.