Presented in the form of a collection of quotations, this book systematically compiles core passages on the worldview, beliefs, and outlook on life found in the Four Books and Five Classics (The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, The Analects, The Mencius, The Book of Songs, The Book of Documents, The Book of Rites, The Book of Changes, The Spring and Autumn Annals, and the Three Commentaries), along with other foundational works of Chinese civilization. These passages are translated into modern vernacular Chinese and accompanied by concise commentary. The book is titled Four Books and Five Classics: Quotations, also known as The Way of Heaven and China and An Introduction to Chinese Beliefs.
Arranged according to the progression “the Way of Heaven → the Way of Governance → the Way of the Self,” the book is divided into forty-seven sections. Together, they form a complete system of Chinese civilization’s beliefs and spiritual practice, descending from the cosmos above to the heart within. The compiler aims to strip away lengthy annotations and present the essence of the classics directly, offering modern Chinese readers a portable guide to Chinese wisdom that rewards repeated reading.
