Summary
*Sources of Chinese Tradition* is a chronologically arranged anthology of primary readings that traces Chinese civilization from the Oracle-Bone inscriptions of the late Shang dynasty (1571–1045 B.C.E.) through the end of the Ming dynasty (1644 C.E.). Compiled by Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom, the volume presents seminal texts from Confucius’s *Analects*, Mencius, Laozi, and the Legalist school, alongside Han dynasty works like the *Classic of Changes (I Jing)* and the *Classic of Filiality*. It covers the development of Buddhism from early Sanskrit translations to Chan school texts, as well as Daoist religion and the teachings of Wang Bi. The final section details the Confucian Revival and Neo-Confucianism in the Tang, Song, and Ming periods, linking philosophical thought to political, social, and educational developments. Updated to reflect recent scholarship, this edition includes new material on popular thought and religion, social roles, and women’s education, with more than half the works newly translated. Each chapter provides historical context and interpretive strategies, making the book a standard resource for scholars and an introduction for general readers.
Key concepts
- Oracle-Bone inscriptions — The earliest form of literate Chinese civilization, from the late Shang dynasty, used for divination.
- Classic of Changes (I Jing) — A Han dynasty text central to Chinese cosmology and philosophy, included as a key reading.
- Classic of Filiality — A Han dynasty work emphasizing filial piety as a foundational social and ethical virtue.
- Chan school — A Chinese Buddhist tradition (known as Zen in Japan) whose central texts are covered in the anthology.
- Neo-Confucianism — A revival of Confucian thought during the Tang, Song, and Ming periods, linking philosophy to political and educational reforms.
- Wang Bi — A Daoist thinker whose teachings are included in the section on Later Daoism and Mahayana Buddhism.
From the book
Title: Sources of Chinese Tradition (Records of Civilization, Sources and Studies and Introduction to Oriental Classics Series) by William Theodore De Bary, Wing-tsit Chan, Burton Watson
Description: A collection of seminal primary readings on the social, intellectual, and religious traditions of China, *Sources of Chinese Tradition, Volume 1* has been widely used and praised for almost forty years as an authoritative resource for scholars and students and as a thorough and engaging introduction for general readers. Here at last is a completely revised and expanded edition of this classic sourcebook, compiled by noted China scholars Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom. Updated to reflect recent scholarly developments, with extensive material on popular thought and religion, social roles, and women's education, this edition features new translations of more than half the works from the first edition, as well as many new selections.
Arranged chronologically, this anthology is divided into four parts, beginning at the dawn of literate Chinese civilization with the Oracle-Bone inscriptions of the late Shang dynasty (1571–1045 B.C.E.) and continuing through the end of the Ming dynasty (C.E. 1644). Each chapter has an introduction that provides useful historical context and offers interpretive strategies for understanding the readings.