A History of Chinese Popular Literature (Volume 1 and 2) (Illustrated Treasure Edition)

Author: Zheng Zhenduo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2009-06-01
Features: Preface to the Compilation of "Commercial Press Collection"
Since its establishment in 1897, our Press has been dedicated to introducing Western learning and compiling textbooks with the aim of promoting education and enlightening the masses. With the rise of the May Fourth New Culture Movement, the academic community urgently needed higher-level books. Mr. Zhang Yuanji and Mr. Gao Mengdan of our Press, together with other distinguished scholars such as Mr. Cai Yuanpei and Mr. Liang Qichao, planned grand strategies and compiled new works in various disciplines to meet the demands of the time. This marked the beginning of our Press's publication of academic works. Over the following decades, thanks to the efforts of scholars at home and abroad, our Press has achieved remarkable accomplishments. In fields such as literature, linguistics, history, philosophy, political science, economics, psychology, sociology, and other scientific disciplines, there are many pioneering works and seminal contributions in the history of modern Chinese academia. The publication of academic works has further enabled our Press to serve the cultivation of modern Chinese education and the construction of a new national culture, sharing in the historical glory of Chinese academia.
After the 1950s, while our Press prioritized translating world-class works and compiling bilingual dictionaries, the publication of academic works never ceased. In recent years, we have published a variety of academic works, and in the future, we plan to expand our efforts and widely seek outstanding contributions to build a stronger foundation for Chinese culture. In the blink of an eye, a century has passed. Reflecting on our Press's long-standing tradition of compiling various series, we have decided to select and compile works that reflect academic trends of a certain period, perspectives of specific academic schools, new achievements in disciplines, innovative approaches to problems, and other works worthy of long-term reference into "Commercial Press Collection" for preservation. This is to contribute to cultural accumulation and to facilitate academic research. However, this endeavor is vast, and we may not be able to accomplish it alone. We sincerely hope that readers from all walks of life and distinguished scholars will join us in this endeavor.