Compiled by scholars at the court of Liu An, king of Huainan, in the second century B.C.E, The Huainanzi is a tightly organized, sophisticated articulation of Western Han philosophy and statecraft. Outlining "all that a modern monarch needs to know," the text emphasizes rigorous self-cultivation and mental discipline, brilliantly synthesizing for readers past and present the full spectrum of early Chinese thought.
The Huainanzi locates the key to successful rule in a balance of broad knowledge, diligent application, and the penetrating wisdom of a sage. It is a unique and creative synthesis of Daoist classics, such as the Laozi and the Zhuangzi; works associated with the Confucian tradition, such as the Changes, the Odes, and the Documents; and a wide range of other foundational philosophical and literary texts from the Mozi to the Hanfeizi.
The product of twelve years of scholarship, this remarkable translation preserves The Huainanzi's special rhetorical features, such as parallel prose and verse, and showcases a compositional technique that conveys the work's powerful philosophical appeal. This path-breaking volume will have a transformative impact on the field of early Chinese intellectual history and will be of great interest to scholars and students alike.
- Contents
- Acknowledgments ix
- Introduction 1
- 1. Originating in the Way 41
- 2. Activating the Genuine 77
- 3. Celestial Patterns 109
- 4. Terrestrial Forms 149
- 5. Seasonal Rules 173
- 6. Surveying Obscurities 207
- 7. Quintessential Spirit 233
- 8. The Basic Warp 261
- 9. The Ruler’s Techniques 289
- 10. Profound Precepts 341
- 11. Integrating Customs 391
- 12. Responses of the Way 429
- 13. Boundless Discourses 483
- 14. Sayings Explained 527
- 15. An Overview of the Military 573
- 16. and 17. A Mountain of Persuasions and A Forest of Persuasions 617
- 18. Among Others 713
- 19. Cultivating Effort 757
- 20. The Exalted Lineage 789
- 21. An Overview of the Essentials 841
- Appendix A. Key Chinese Terms and Their Translations 869
- Appendix B. Categorical Terms 921
- Appendix C. A Concise Textual History of the Huainanzi and a Bibliography of Huainanzi Studies 935
- Index 953
Text
Audio
Adobe DRM
Login to your account