Confucian Literature of the Tang and Song Dynasties

Zu-yan Chen is Professor of Chinese Literature at Binghamton University, State University of New York, where he holds the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor. He has authored eight books and many articles in the fields of literature, history, philosophy, translation, and language pedagogy.

‘This book addresses a critical gap in Chinese studies, offering a unique and significant cross-disciplinary perspective that integrates literature and Confucianism. The true influence of Confucianism on Chinese life is often better expressed through literature than through abstract theoretical discourse. In this context, works like this serve as an effective means of introducing Confucianism, particularly when read alongside Confucian classics. Additionally, I want to commend the quality of the English translation and the accompanying annotations. The author demonstrates exceptional proficiency in both Chinese and English, coupled with a deep understanding of the philosophical concepts embedded in the literary texts.’Peimin Ni, Grand Valley State University, USA‘The author’s goal of broadening perspectives, fostering open-mindedness, and presenting fresh, thought-provoking ideas in literary aesthetics, critical theory, philosophical interpretations of literature, and the literary treatment of Confucianism is highly commendable. This book represents a significant contribution to the teaching of Confucian literature and Chinese–English literary translation.’Hongjun Ma, University of Manchester, UK

• The Tang 唐朝 1 Chen Zi’ang 陳子昂 Preface to “The Tall Bamboo” Presented to Dongfang Qiu, the Left Scribe與東方左史虯修竹篇序 2 Li Bai 李白 Ancient Airs, No. 1 古風其一 3 Gao Shi 高適 Song of Yan 燕歌行 4 Du Fu 杜甫 Parting of the Newlyweds 新婚別 5 Du Fu 杜甫 The Prime Minister of Shu 蜀相 6 Du Fu 杜甫 Song of the Autumn Gale Ripping Up My Thatched Cottage 茅屋為秋風所破歌 7 Meng Jiao 孟郊 A Traveler’s Chant 遊子吟 8 Han Yu 韓愈 Discourse on Teachers 師說 9 Han Yu 韓愈 Demoted, I Arrived at Lan Pass Showing This Poem to My Grandnephew Han Xiang 左遷至藍關示侄孫湘 10 Bai Juyi 白居易 The Old Charcoal Seller 賣炭翁 11 Bai Juyi 白居易 A Letter to Yuan Ninth 與元九書 12 Liu Yuxi 劉禹錫 A Tribute to My Crude Cottage 陋室銘 13 Liu Zongyuan 柳宗元 Discourse on the Snake Catcher 捕蛇者說 14 Du Mu 杜牧 Rhapsody on the Epang Palace 阿房宮賦 The Song 宋朝 15 Wang Yucheng 王禹偁 An Account on the Water Clock Waiting Hall 待漏院記 16 Fan Zhongyan 范仲淹 An Account on the Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記 17 Mei Yaochen 梅堯臣 A Peasant’s Words 田家語 18 Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修 An Account on the Pavilion of the Tipsy Graybeard 醉翁亭記 19 Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修 Preface to the “Biography of Court Jesters” 伶官傳序 20 Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修 Preface to Mei Yaochen's Poetry Collection 讀梅聖俞詩集序 21 Shao Yong 邵雍 A Great Chant on Observing Weiqi 觀棋大吟 22 Zhou Dunyi 周敦頤 Discourse on the Love of Lotus 愛蓮說 23 Sima Guang 司馬光 Instructing Sima Kang in Frugality 訓儉示康 24 Wang Anshi 王安石 A Letter in Response to Sima Guang, the Grand Master of Remonstrance 答司馬諫議書 25 Su Shi 蘇軾 A Letter Presented to Mei Yaochen, the Lecturer 上梅直講書 26 Su Shi 蘇軾 To the Tune of “Calming the Wind and Waves” 定風波 27 Zhu Xi 朱熹 Reading Reflections, No. 1 觀書有感其一 28 Wen Tianxiang 文天祥 The Second Preface to the Records of Pointing South 指南錄後序