Shih-shuo Hsin-yü: A New Account of Tales of the World (Volume 95)

by Richard Mather, Liu I-Ch'ing

Shih-shuo hsin-yü : A New Account of Tales of the World , compiled by Liu I-ch’ing (403–444), is a collection of anecdotes, short conversations, and pithy observations on personalities who lived in China between about 150 and 420 A.D. In its own time, the text was considered to be an aid to conversation, and one of its aims was to provide enjoyable reading. For this reason, it has been loosely linked with the later “novels” ( hsiao-shuo ) such as “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” ( San-kuo yen-i ).

Shih-shuo hsin- yü is organized thematically, with sections devoted to civic and moral virtues, cultivated and intellectual accomplishments, recluses, women, technology, art, and human frailty. Yet the view onto these subjects remains center stage is occupied by emperors and princes, courtiers, officials, generals, genteel hermits, and urbane monks. These figures are depicted in a rarified atmosphere of great refinement and sensitivity, yet they are usually caught up in a very earthly, often bloody, world of war and factional intrigue. It is a dark world against which the occasional flashes of wit and insight shine the more brightly.

Mather's classic translation was the first English translation of the work when it appeared in 1971. Mather incorporates the commentary of Liu Chun (461–521), which provides invaluable contextualizing information from works of the third and fourth centuries that are now lost. The second edition has been comprehensively revised, introducing numerous collaborative corrections and improvements.

776 pages, Hardcover

First published July 24, 2002

Reviews

[Karen Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken over a year to work through the entire work in the original Chinese while also following Prof. Mather's translation, and it was certainly worth it. Prof. Mather published his translation a few years after I was his student at the University of Minnesota. I'd always had it in the back of my mind that I should read this work, in order to "finish" the work I started with him in the three quarters of Classical Chinese I took with him – and now I've done that.

There were a few places where his translation differed from the modern Chinese translation in the Sanmin edition I used; these were interesting to note.

I recommend this translation highly, mainly for people with a deep interest is early Chinese literature, particulary that of the Wei-Jin period.

[Barack Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

255-A New Account of the Tales of the World-Yiqing Liu-History-444
Barack
2020/01/29
2020/06/30


- " foot Gauge Unexamined chi degree of balance, the reciprocating inch tube can be measured gas why large, but ask how to identify the ear.. "

"Shi Shuo Xin Yu", created in the Southern Dynasty. It mainly records the words, deeds and anecdotes of some celebrities from the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the Wei and Jin Dynasties. It is a representative work of "notebook novels" in China's Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, and it is the earliest collection of novels by people in classical Chinese. It originally had eight volumes, but only three after it was lost.

Liu Yiqing was born in Pengcheng County (now Tongshan, Jiangsu) in 403 and died in 444. He was the nephew of Emperor Wu of Song Liu Yu and the son of King Liu Daolian of Changsha . Representative works: "Shi Shuo Xin Yu", "You Ming Lu", etc.

Part of the catalog
1. Virtue
2. Speech
3. Political affairs
4. Literature
5. Founder
6. Elegant
7. Knowledge
8. Recognition
9. Product algae
10.Regulations

" Chen Zhongju said that he was a scholar, acted as a world model , boarded a car, and had the ambition to clarify the world. As Yuzhang prefect, when he arrived, he asked Xu Ruzi where he was, and wanted to see it first. . shrine, "Chen said:" King Wu of style quotient Yung Lu, I Xibuxianuan. of Rhenish, why not '? "

There are indeed some tasks in this world that can be done independently , such as writing and sketching . But most of humanity still needs to rely on many people to complete it together. And the bigger the business, the more manpower is needed. As long as it involves multi-person cooperation, there is a question of how to get along with others. Why should a man let other people willing to be for him the direction and pointed it forward? In addition to the need for adequate financial incentive outside , he also had to do courteous, willing to let others be on his newspaper have gratitude. The so-called " who was friends to die, a woman makes herself. " Can do courteous, before there can be able to unite the people ah .

" Passengers have asked Chen Ji Fang:" a journey home Jun too mound, there He Gongde, and world bearing the same name? "Chi-fang said:" Wu Jia Jun such as Mount Tai Ah Gui Shusheng, climbed high on there, under the ominous It’s deep; the upper part is touched by the nectar, and the lower part is moistened by the Yuanquan. At the time, Osmanthus knew the height of Mount Tai and the depth of the Yuanquan? I don’t know whether there is merit or nothing. "

Chen Jifang 's evaluation of his father can be said to be very high and very cautious . Sometimes there is something wrong with young people. That is to look down on others. There is often a tendency to devalue others. But doing so would be beneath moral. If you receive a favor , it doesn't matter if the favor comes from a country , company or individual. Now that you have accepted the favor of others, you should do things for them and speak for them. If you are unwilling to accept, then refuse the favor and leave here . If the subjective on unable to leave or can not refuse or objectively favor, then do not talk about criticizing other people . For this country , company and individual 's weaknesses , remains mollified. Neither whitewash the peace, nor lash out.

" Guan Ning, Hua Xin, a total of garden hoe vegetables, insightful pieces of gold, pipe hoe and Washi no different, catch and throw to the Chinese. You Chang reading with seats, a boarding Xuan crown married person, rather read as before, Xin Scrap books out to read. I would rather sit in separate seats and say: "You are not my friends! "

I don't think that Guan Ning and Hua Xin's approach must be high or low . Two different inclination, the pursuit of life is also not the same. Since the Tao is different, then there is no need to go together. If you have someone who is in line with your own path, then go forward together, if you haven't found it yet, then stick to it alone. There is no need to do something because everyone else does something. There is also no need to do it because others do not do it. "The Analects of Confucius" says that if you are not alone, you must have neighbors . Although I have not been able to fully verify this sentence, I am willing to believe it is correct.

" Wang Xiang after the mother of his wife, Zhu even would like. Home has a plum, wind and rain suddenly to knot special good mother constant so keep it when, Xiang hold the tree and weeping . Xiang taste from to dark in another bed to sleep, the mother chop the value of Xiang private from the air chop have been. both also, altogether endless regret it, because kneeling before your death. so the mother sentiment, love son as yourself. "

Personally, I dislike this so-called filial piety. I don't think there should be unilateral emotions in this world. If parents do not love and affection to their children, and that children do not necessarily have respect for their parents feelings. Is it just because these two people gave their own bodies, should they be regarded as more important than their own lives ? They give themselves flesh, it is their own decision , not we ask them to give us flesh. Is n’t it the same that the son is the father and the minister is the same? Monarch ignorance , then resign away. Parents are ignorant , then do their own things .

"The king of the Jin Dynasty called Ruan Sizong the most cautious, and every time he spoke with him, his words were mysterious and he did not seem to be a character. "

"The Analects" said, " Zigong Fangren. Zi said: "The gift is also wise! Husband I am not busy. " We are not judges, so what qualifications do we have to judge the pros and cons of others? Once we judge others, we often have emotional inclinations. Then our evaluation must be not objective enough. This will cause others to resent and reject them. And these words will eventually reach other people's ears. So if you can't judge others, don't judge others. If this person has something to do, then just talk about his merits. If it's really lackluster, then keep silent .

" Wang Rongyun: "I have lived with Ji Kang for 20 years, and I haven't seen his joy and sorrow ." "

In ancient, joy, anger, not form or color is excellent . I think this is not good enough. The realm I pursue is to be able to keep my mind free from changes in emotions and anger . But in terms of expression, it can show happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy according to actual needs. Always a cold , solemn dignity of people , make others feel fear. So alienated. The vast majority of people in this world judge a person based on their feelings. What are the practical benefits of modeling yourself as a rigid and solemn person? It's just to isolate yourself. I don't want to be independent and lonely , I want to raise my arms and echo those who are like clouds.

" Father Wang Rong has an order, and the official goes to Liangzhou to stab the official. Hunk , the prefectures where he has lived, and his virtues and virtues , the reciprocity has caused millions of dollars, and Rong Xi is not. "

Life about 90% of the problems can be used wealth power to resolve. Therefore, the necessity of wealth power is beyond doubt. But this does not mean any benefit , we all have to get it. If you think it is unjust . It must be able to resist the temptation of benefits . "The Analects of Confucius," Lane said, "rich but rectifiable also; though Zhibian scholar, Wu Yi whom such not make, from Wusuo good.. " Eat Drink Man Woman , a large life desire . And wealth status is one of the most efficient means to satisfy these desires. If you can't even shake your own minds with your wealth status. Such a person, it is hard not achieve their goal strike ?

[Theodore228]

I think this book is a window for you to learn the customs and lifestyles of the scholars & courtiers at mediaeval times. "Shi Shuo Xin Yu", is an encyclopedia of the given society, also a pioneer of Chinese fictional novel. Mather's translation is straightforword and faithful. It's worth reading.

I recently do a little research on the book. I eanestly wish all the friendly readers to offer some help for me, your comments about the book and your applications of the book in your research.

[Lulu]

Compilation 420 about personalities from 150-420

Traditional Chinese bibliographers did not classify Shishuo Xinyu as history but as a novel / "minor talk" (小说 xiao shuo), a term that was later used to refer to fiction.