Great Books of China invites readers to discover--or rediscover--some
of the major achievements of Chinese culture and civilization. The
literature of China remains largely unknown in the West, yet it offers
much insight into Chinese life. The long continuity of Chinese culture
means that texts created more than two thousand years ago are still part
of the education and background of today's China. Great Books of China
introduces outstanding works of various genres, from fiction, drama, and
poetry to history, science, and travel; they were written by
philosophers and artists, government officials and scholars, by men and
women across many centuries and from every part of China. These great
books are presented in their historic, cultural, and social context,
with a focused summary of content and author.
Beginning with some of the Confucian and Daoist classics and ending with
modern fiction, Great Books of China features famous novels including
The Water Margin (Shuihu zhuan), Journey to the West (Xiyou ji),
and Dream of the Red Chamber (Hongloumeng); celebrated dramas such
as The Story of the Lute (Pipa ji) and The Peach Blossom Fan
(Taohua shan); poetry from ancient times and the "golden age" of the
Tang to the last years of imperial China; renowned historic manuals on
Chinese painting, on the construction of Chinese gardens, and on a
carpenter's varied tasks; major texts describing Chinese history, the
military exploits of ancient generals, and the legendary journeys of
Buddhist monks; and works by a number of modern writers including Lu
Xun, Ding Ling, and Lao She.
Concise, provocative, and illuminating, Great Books of China
introduces the literature of one of the world's most significant
cultures and helps us understand the China of the present and the
past.
