Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

by William Theodore De Bary (Editor), Irene Bloom (Editor), Joseph Adler (Author) "Traditional accounts of early China present the Shang as the second historical dynasty (ca. 1554-1045/1040 B.C.E.), succeeding to the Xia and succeeded by the Zhou..." (more)
Key Phrases: madly ardent, enfeoffment system, reverent seriousness, Zhu Xi, Great Learning, Classic of Changes (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
This masterful compilation is the most comprehensive sourcebook of chinese civilization ever published in a Western language. -- PLA, Appearing in University Press Books Selected for Public and Secondary School Libraries

This masterful compilation is the most comprehensive sourcebook of chinese civilization ever published in a Western language. -- Review

Product Description
A collection of seminal primary readings on the social, intellectual, and religious traditions of China, has been widely used and praised for almost forty years as an authoritative resource for scholars and students and as a thorough and engaging introduction for general readers. Here at last is a completely revised and expanded edition of this classic sourcebook, compiled by noted China scholars Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom. Updated to reflect recent scholarly developments, with extensive material on popular thought and religion, social roles, and women´s education, this edition features new translations of more than half the works from the first edition, as well as many new selections. Arranged chronologically, this anthology is divided into four parts, beginning at the dawn of literate Chinese civilization with the Oracle-Bone inscriptions of the late Shang dynasty (1571­1045 B.C.E.) and continuing through the end of the Ming dynasty (C.E. 1644). Each chapter has an introduction that provides useful historical context and offers interpretive strategies for understanding the readings. The first part, The Chinese Tradition in Antiquity, considers the early development of Chinese civilization and includes selections from Confucius´s the texts of Mencius and Laozi, as well as other key texts from the Confucian, Daoist, and Legalist schools. Part 2, The Making of a Classical Culture, focuses on Han China with readings from the (), the major Han syntheses, and the great historians of the Han dynasty. The development of Buddhism, from the earliest translations from Sanskrit to the central texts of the Chan school (which became Zen in Japan), is the subject of the third section of the book. Titled Later Daoism and Mahayana Buddhism in China, this part also covers the teachings of Wang Bi, Daoist religion, and texts of the major schools of Buddhist doctrine and practice. The final part, The Confucian Revival and Neo-Confucianism, details the revival of Confucian thought in the Tang, Song, and Ming periods, with historical documents that link philosophical thought to political, social, and educational developments in late imperial China. With annotations, a detailed chronology, glossary, and a new introduction by the editors, will continue to be a standard resource, guidebook, and introduction to Chinese civilization well into the twenty-first century.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 944 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press; 2nd edition (March 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231109393
• ISBN-13: 978-0231109390
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #220,622 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource!, April 8, 2005

By	Tracy L. Scharbach "Mr. T" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book gets the majority of its bulk from direct translations of actual Chinese texts, and as such it is an indespensible tool for any student interested in Chinese religions and philosohpies. There is very little input on the part of the editors and I, personally, was very thankful this. It can be dreadfully difficult trying to find sources that aren't mired in thousands of pages of theory and speculation, and sometimes a person just needs the root text! An awesome book.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely essential, July 3, 2003

By	H. Huggins (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'll make this short...For anyone interested in Chinese history, literature, or culture, this volume is an absolutely essential collection of primary sources, and includes prefaces and explanations by China scholars. There is no one better than de Bary, and this new edition includes everything from the 1960 edition up through the Jiang Zemin era.