The Complete Works of Lü Simian on History and Chinese Classics

The complete collection of Lü Simian’s historical and classical studies consists of three books: A General History of China, A Grand History of China, and The Complete Guide to Chinese Classics. A General History of China was the work that established Lü Simian’s reputation as a historian. It was also the first general history of China ever written in vernacular Chinese. The book is divided into two volumes. The first covers the history of Chinese culture, drawing on the institutional format of ancient histories and organizing its content into eighteen topics, including marriage, clan systems, government, social classes, property, official institutions, and the selection of officials. Its scope is so broad that it fully accords with the modern meaning of “culture.” The second volume covers China’s political history, beginning with the origins of its peoples and recounting the events of successive dynasties up to the founding of the Republic of China. This single book condenses five thousand years of Chinese history. A General History of China reflects Lü Simian’s commitment to organizing the old cultural heritage through new methods and ideas. As the book puts it, “Writing a general history with abundant historical insight and flowing prose opens a new era in the writing of general histories.” A Grand History of China divides the changes in Chinese society and history into five periods: ancient, medieval, early modern, modern, and contemporary. It provides a detailed account of Chinese history from remote antiquity through the eleventh year of the Republic of China. The Complete Guide to Chinese Classics collects Lü Simian’s An Introduction to Chinese Classics, Guide to the Classics and Philosophers, An Introduction to Pre-Qin Scholarship, An Outline of Neo-Confucianism, A History of Chinese Culture, Methods of Historical Research, History and Historical Records, and How to Read Chinese Historical Records. To date, it is the most comprehensive guide to the fundamentals of Chinese classical studies.