1950
First Published
3.71
Average Rating
318
Number of Pages
A wonderfully enjoyable storehouse of ancient Chinese history and legends, which also has an important role in understanding 21st century. China 'And remember: Heaven's blessing will cease forever if there's despair and poverty in your lands.' The Most Venerable Book (also known as The Book of History) is one of the Five Classics, a key work of Chinese literature which preserves some of the most ancient and dramatic chronicles of the history, both real and mythological, of the Chinese state. For many centuries it was a central work for anyone wishing to work for the Imperial administration, preserving as it does a fascinating mixture of key Confucian concepts as well as page after page of heroes, benevolent rulers, sagacious ministers, and struggles against flood, corruption and vicious, despotic rulers. The First Emperor tried in 213 BC to have all copies of the book destroyed because of its subversive implication that 'the Mandate of Heaven' could be withdrawn from rulers who failed their people. For similar reasons it was also banned by Chairman Mao. Extraordinarily, the values of The Most Venerable Book have been revived by the Chinese government of the 2010s.
Avg Rating
3.71
Number of Ratings
99
5 STARS
24%
4 STARS
35%
3 STARS
28%
2 STARS
11%
1 STARS
1%
goodreads
Author
Confucius
Author · 17 books
Chinese philosopher Confucius, originally Kong Fuzi and born circa 551 BC, promoted a system of social and political ethics, emphasizing order, moderation, and reciprocity between superiors and subordinates; after his death in 479 BC, disciples compiled the Analects , which contains a collection of his sayings and dialogues. Teachings of this social thinker deeply influenced Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese life. 孔子 - Kong Zi 孔夫子 - Kong Fuzi (Kung Fu-Tzu) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius
