The Huainanzi

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.

Auteur

Edited and translated by John S. Major, Sarah A. Queen, Andrew Seth Meyer, and Harold D. Roth. With additional contributions by Michael Puett and Judson Murray

Contenu

Acknowledgments
Introduction

1. Originating in the Way
2. Activating the Genuine
3. Celestial Patterns
4. Terrestrial Forms
5. Seasonal Rules
6. Surveying Obscurities
7. Quintessential Spirit
8. The Basic Warp
9. The Ruler's Techniques
10. Profound Precepts
11. Integrating Customs
12. Responses of the Way
13. Boundless Discourses
14. Sayings Explained
15. An Overview of the Military
16. and 17. A Mountain of Persuasions and A Forest of Persuasions
17. Among Others
18. Cultivating Effort
19. The Exalted Lineage
20. An Overview of the Essentials
    Appendix A. Key Chinese Terms and Their Translations
    Appendix B. Categorical Terms
    Appendix C. A Concise Textual History of the Huainanzi and a Bibliography of Huainanzi Studies
    Index