Description
Classical Chinese is the most comprehensive and authoritative textbook on the language, literature, philosophy, history, and religion of premodern China. Rigorously and extensively field-tested and fine-tuned for years in classroom settings, it sets a new standard for the field. Originally published in three volumes, Classical Chinese appears here in one convenient and easy-to-use volume.
Classical Chinese contains forty selections from texts written between the fifth century BC and the first century AD, during which the classical Chinese language was fully developed and standardized. These passages, which express key themes in Chinese humor, wit, wisdom, moral conviction, and political ideals, are arranged in the order of complexity of the grammatical patterns they exemplify. Uniquely, each text is translated into both modern Chinese and English. A detailed glossary defines unfamiliar terms and names found in the first part of the textbook, and the last section features in-depth grammatical analyses, in which every sentence in the main selections is fully diagrammed to show the grammatical relations between their various parts. Corresponding exercises review and reinforce the materials. Four supplementary volumes—an introduction to grammar, readings in poetry and prose, selected historical texts, and selected philosophical texts—are separately available for use in conjunction with this basic reader.
Classical Chinese pr
Chapter
The Teeth Have Gone, Yet the Tongue Remains
Yànzĭ and the King of Chŭ Discuss Robbing
King Zhuāng of Chŭ Does Not Put to Death the One with Broken Capstring
Zigāo Administers the Government of the State of Wèi
Zōu Jì Subtly Admonishes the King of Qí to Accept Criticism
The Upright Wet Nurse of Wèi
Zĭchăn Would not Destroy the Local School
3. Source of Text Selections
4. A Short List of Grammatical References
The Prime Minister of Zhèng Refuses a Gift of Fish
There Was a Wealthy Man of Sòng
Waiting for a Hare at the Tree Stump
The Righteous Ways of Ancient Kings Triumph
The Owl Meets the Ringdove
The Innkeeper's Two Concubines
A Man of Zhèng Buys Shoes
Benevolence and Righteousness
Sū Dài Admonishes the King of Zhào
The Letter from Yĭng Explained in Yān
The Fox Borrows the Tiger's Prestige
A Person of High Moral Character Is Exceedingly Circumspect in Selecting His Living Conditions
Carving the Boat and Seeking the Sword
The Pierced Jade Disk of a Man Surnamed Hé
Eastern Zhōu Wants to Plant Rice
Knotting Grass to Repay a Kindness
A Sheep is Lost at the Forked Road
Drawing a Snake and Adding Feet
A Stroll on the Bridge Over the Háo River
Duke Huán of Qí Orders Guăn Zhòng to Administer the Affairs of State
Zēngzĭ Refuses a Grant of Land
Confucius Is Like a River, Like a Sea
Oppressive Government Is More Fearsome Than a Tiger
Dragging Its Tail Through the Mud
The Old Man at the Frontier Loses a Horse
The Teeth Have Gone, Yet the Tongue Remians
Yànzĭ and the King of Chŭ Discuss Robbing
King Zhuāng of Chŭ Does Not Put to Death the One with Broken Capstring
Zigāo Administers the Government of the State of Wèi
Zōu Jì Subtly Admonishes the King of Qí to Accept Criticism
The Upright Wet Nurse of Wèi
Zichăn Would not Destroy the Local School
The Prime Minister of Zhèng Refuses a Gift of Fish
There Was a Wealthy Man of Sòng
Waiting for a Hare at the Tree Stump
The Righteous Ways of Ancient Kings Triumph
The Owl Meets the Ringdove
The Innkeeper's Two Concubines
A Man of Zhèng Buys Shoes
Benevolence and Righteousness
Sū Dài Admonishes the King of Zhào
The Letter from Yĭng Explained in Yān
The Fox Borrows the Tiger's Prestige
A Person of High Moral Character Is Exceedingly Circumspect in Selecting His Living Conditions
Carving the Boat and Seeking the Sword
The Pierced Jade Disk of a Man Surnamed Hé
Eastern Zhōu Wants to Plant Rice
Knotting Grass to Repay a Kindness
A Sheep is Lost at the Forked Road
Drawing a Snake and Adding Feet
A Stroll on the Bridge Over the Háo River
Duke Huán of Qí Orders Guăn Zhòng to Administer the Affairs of State
Zēngzĭ Refuses a Grant of Land
Confucius Is Like a River, Like a Sea
Oppressive Government Is More Fearsome Than a Tiger
Dragging Its Tail Through the Mud
The Old Man at the Frontier Loses a Horse
The Teeth Have Gone, Yet the Tongue Remians
Yànzĭ and the King of Chŭ Discuss Robbing
King Zhuāng of Chŭ Does Not Put to Death the One with Broken Capstring
Zigāo Administers the Government of the State of Wèi
Zōu Jì Subtly Admonishes the King of Qí to Accept Criticism
The Upright Wet Nurse of Wèi
Zĭchăn Would not Destroy the Local School
Appendix: Grammatical Terminology
Classical Chinese
：A Basic Reader
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