The unveiling ceremony for the global release of the bilingual
mammoth edition of
Library of Chinese Classics was
held at the State Council Information Office's news release hall
today.
The ceremony, titled "Introduce China to the World - the
Unveiling Ceremony for the Global Publication of All-series
Library of Chinese Classics," was sponsored by the
series' working committee and organized by Beijing
Sihai Classical Culture Communication Center along with the China
Internet Information Center.
Altogether 92 volumes of classical literatures in 51 categories
displayed the cream of the 5,000-year culture of China in this
series, including such classics as Romance of the Three
Kingdoms, A Dream of Red Mansions, Sunzi: The Art of War and
Journey to the West among many others, running the gamut of
traditional Chinese literature.
The series was highly praised by Ren Jiyu, a prominent scholar
and honorary director of the National Library of China. He noted
that due to the editors' comprehensive preparation, authoritative
selection, accurate translation and excellent style, the series
showcased the level of China's academic, publishing and translating
ability, by abstracting 5,000 years of Chinese civilization and
thus introducing China to the world.
The Library of Chinese Classics is a key
state-sponsored publishing project. This series is both a major
cultural project that, for the first time, presents to the world a
systematic and complete set of selected and translated Chinese
classics, and a foundation project for showcasing the very best of
traditional Chinese culture.
The Library of Chinese Classics includes over 100 of
the most representative classic works, covering literature,
history, philosophy, politics, economy, military science, and
science and technology. Each selection and version was chosen after
careful reasoning, comparing, and proofing. Works in classical
prose were first translated into modern Chinese, and then into
English.
Yang Muzhi, chief editor of the series and president of the
China Publishing Group, said the most important thing when
preparing the Library of Chinese Classics was insuring its
quality -- all translations were polished by foreign experts; the
fourth examination work by the work committee reinforced this,
based on the third check by the publishing house. He said work has
begun on the French and Spanish versions as well as the series'
modern and contemporary sections -- with the project still needing
more funding.
The 92 volumes of the series include the texts of The Analects, Laozi,
Mencius, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, The
Scholars, The Peony Pavilion, Romance of the
Western Bower, The Complete Works of Tao Yuanming,
Songs of the South, Mozi, 300 Poems of the
Han, the Wei and the Six Dynasties, A Dream of Red
Mansions, Journey to the West, Outlaws of the
Marsh, Three Kingdoms, Sunzi: The Art of
War, Sun Bin: The Art of War, Anecdotes About
Spirits and Immortals, Admonitions for the Yan Clan,
The Palace of Eternal Youth, Selected Plays of Guan
Hanqing, Selected Tales of the Han, the Wei and the Six
Dynasties, A Dream Under the Southern Bough,
Creation of the Gods, The Tale of Heroic Sons and
Daughters, Tending the Roots of Wisdom,
Dragon-Carving and the Literary Mind, The Handan
Dream, Flowers in the Mirror, The Travels of Lao
Ts'an, Six Chapters of a Floating Life,
Guanzi, Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, The
Six Principles of War, Wuzi and Sima's Art of War,
Weiliaozi, Three Strategies of Master Huangshi and Li
Weigong Answering the Questions of Emperor Tang Taizong,
Yellow Emperor's Canon of Medicine-Plain Conversation,
Liezi, Gems of Classical Chinese Poetry,
Ruanji's Poems of Aspirations, Precious Mirror of the
Four Elements, The Book of Lord Shang, 300 Tang
Poems, 300 Song Poems, 300 Pieces of Yuan
Opera, Amazing Tales, Series One, and
Yellow Emperor's Four Canons of Medicine.
Related reading:
Brief Introduction of the Library of Chinese
Classics
Preface to the Library Of Chinese
Classics
Grand Library, Great Reciting, Bring Big
Joy
(China.org.cn January 12, 2007)
