This article takes the inauguration of the Hsu-Tang Library of Classical Chinese Literature as an... more This article takes the inauguration of the Hsu-Tang Library of Classical Chinese Literature as an opportunity to reflect on today's role of classical literatures and their importance to the transformation of the humanities. Edited by Wiebke Denecke and Lucas Klein and published by Oxford University Press, the library was established by a gift from Oscar L. Tang and Hsin-Mei Agnes Hsu-Tang—a descendant of Ji Yun, chief compiler of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku quanshu), and of Xu Guangqi, China's “first convert.” After detailing how the Library carries on the legacies of both the Complete Library and the Jesuit project of cross-cultural dialogue and translation, the essay showcases how the Loeb Classical Library of Greek and Roman literatures, established a century ago, is both a model and radically different enterprise from recently endowed bilingual classical libraries, including the Murty Classical Library of India. The article then outlines the vision and hopes for the Hsu-Tang Library, namely, to publish translations of Chinese literature that are both intelligently scholarly and eminently readable and thus deepen and broaden the possibilities of what Chinese literature can mean—also in and for the English language. Responses to the essay will be considered for publication in a future forum.
“Masters Literature” constitutes China’s most influential and productive repository of philosophi... more “Masters Literature” constitutes China’s most influential and productive repository of philosophical thought, featuring debates about fundamental questions of social order, the good life, governance, heavenly justice, human character, and the cosmos. The chapter first discusses how people have defined the Masters corpus from antiquity to the present and how divergent definitions affect our understanding of this textual genre. It then surveys the most important intellectual camps and approaches within Masters Literature, namely Confucians, Mohists, Persuaders, Lao-Zhuang and Huang-Lao Daoism, statecraft specialists, encyclopedic compendia, and Han masters and scholar-officials, asking in each case what central intellectual concerns were at stake and what major rhetorical formats and strategies were used to make convincing arguments. Lastly, it touches on how Masters Literature is significant today and what kind of debates it has catalyzed for the present.
A completely new editorial team, dozens of new selections and translations, all-new introductions... more A completely new editorial team, dozens of new selections and translations, all-new introductions and headnotes, hundreds of illustrations, redesigned maps and timelines, and a completely revamped media program all add up to the most exciting, accessible, and teachable version of "the Norton" ever published.
This article takes the inauguration of the Hsu-Tang Library of Classical Chinese Literature as an... more This article takes the inauguration of the Hsu-Tang Library of Classical Chinese Literature as an opportunity to reflect on today's role of classical literatures and their importance to the transformation of the humanities. Edited by Wiebke Denecke and Lucas Klein and published by Oxford University Press, the library was established by a gift from Oscar L. Tang and Hsin-Mei Agnes Hsu-Tang—a descendant of Ji Yun, chief compiler of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries (Siku quanshu), and of Xu Guangqi, China's “first convert.” After detailing how the Library carries on the legacies of both the Complete Library and the Jesuit project of cross-cultural dialogue and translation, the essay showcases how the Loeb Classical Library of Greek and Roman literatures, established a century ago, is both a model and radically different enterprise from recently endowed bilingual classical libraries, including the Murty Classical Library of India. The article then outlines the vision and hopes for the Hsu-Tang Library, namely, to publish translations of Chinese literature that are both intelligently scholarly and eminently readable and thus deepen and broaden the possibilities of what Chinese literature can mean—also in and for the English language. Responses to the essay will be considered for publication in a future forum.
“Masters Literature” constitutes China’s most influential and productive repository of philosophi... more “Masters Literature” constitutes China’s most influential and productive repository of philosophical thought, featuring debates about fundamental questions of social order, the good life, governance, heavenly justice, human character, and the cosmos. The chapter first discusses how people have defined the Masters corpus from antiquity to the present and how divergent definitions affect our understanding of this textual genre. It then surveys the most important intellectual camps and approaches within Masters Literature, namely Confucians, Mohists, Persuaders, Lao-Zhuang and Huang-Lao Daoism, statecraft specialists, encyclopedic compendia, and Han masters and scholar-officials, asking in each case what central intellectual concerns were at stake and what major rhetorical formats and strategies were used to make convincing arguments. Lastly, it touches on how Masters Literature is significant today and what kind of debates it has catalyzed for the present.
A completely new editorial team, dozens of new selections and translations, all-new introductions... more A completely new editorial team, dozens of new selections and translations, all-new introductions and headnotes, hundreds of illustrations, redesigned maps and timelines, and a completely revamped media program all add up to the most exciting, accessible, and teachable version of "the Norton" ever published.
under the general editorship of Martin Puchner
Publication Link: https://wwnorton.com/search/RGV... more under the general editorship of Martin Puchner
Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series no. 74
Publication link: https://www.hup.harvard.ed... more Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series no. 74
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