The Most Venerable Book

by Confucius, Martin Palmer (Translator)

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BC to have all copies of the book destroyed because of its subversive implication that 'the Mandate of Heaven' could be withdrawn from rulers who failed their people.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.

Genres: History, Philosophy, China, Classics, Nonfiction, Asia, Religion

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

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

Reviews

[Barack Liu]

366- Book of Documents-Fusheng-History-2095BC

Barack
2021/10/04

"Shangshu", "Shangshu", the earliest book titled "Shu", is a compilation of works that trace ancient deeds. Divided into "Yu book" ( BC 2095 Nian ~ BC 2067 Nian ), "Summer Book", "business book", "Book Week." Because it is one of the Five Classics of Confucianism, it is also called the "Book of Books".

"Shangshu" is listed as one of the important core Confucian classics and the basic book for the study of Confucianism in the past dynasties. "Shang" means "Shang", and "Shang Shu" is an ancient book. It is the earliest compilation of historical documents in my country. The traditional "Shangshu" (also known as "Modern Shangshu") was passed down by Fusheng. The legend is the legacy of the ancient culture "Three Tombs and Five Classics".

Fu Sheng, the character is cheap, the Han Chinese, he was 100 years old. A native of Jinan (now Sujia Village, Handian Town, Zouping City, Binzhou City, Shandong Province), he was once Dr. Qin. Qin Shi burned the book and stored "Shangshu" in the wall. At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, only twenty-eight articles were left in order to teach Qilu. At the time of Emperor Wen, those who wanted to be able to govern the "Shangshu" were unable to do so when they were more than ninety years old, which caused Chao Cuo to suffer. Scholars of Jinwen "Shangshu" are all out of the door. The new text "Shangshu" passed down from generation to generation comes from him.

Table of Contents
1. Yushu·Yaodian No. 1
2. Yu Shu·Shun Code Second
3. Yushu·Dayumo third
4. Yu Shu·Gao Tao Mo Fourth
5. Yushu·Yiji Fifth
6. Xia Shu·Yugong No. 1
7. Xia Shu·Volunteer Second
8. Summer Book · Song of Five Sons Third
9. Xia Shu·Yinzheng Fourth
10. Book of Commerce·Tang Oath No. 1

"Ri Ruo Ji, the ancient emperor Yao, said Fang Xun, Qin, Ming, Wen, Si, An An, allow the court to conquer, light bedding, four tables, the top, and bottom. He Ming June, to kiss the nine ethnic groups. The nine ethnic groups are harmonious, and the people are flat. The people are clear, and the people are in harmony with all nations. Li and the people are in harmony when they change."

Chinese philosophical thinking pays attention from the inside to the outside. The inside must cultivate one's own virtues before being able to deal with the outside. After the outside world has dealt with it well, it will be able to stabilize the people, and finally achieve the ultimate goal of peace and stability of the country.

"The emperor said: "Consultation! There are two people in your twenties, Qin Zai! Only time brightens the sky. "Three years of performance appraisal, three tests, Xiaozhi Youming, general performance Xianxi. Divide into the north three seedlings."

The most important thing for people in high positions is to distinguish rewards and punishments, to be good at using people, and to use people well to achieve results. Try to overcome the prejudices of human nature, promote the outstanding and devalue the mediocre. The principles are clear, but how to do it is the most difficult part.

"In thirty days, the Miao people rebelled against their fate. Yi Zan Yu Yu said: "Only virtue moves the sky, and there is no distance. Time is the way of heaven. The emperor started in Lishan, went to Yutian, wept at Mintian in the sun, and cried out at his parents. Just see Feng Sou, Kui Kui Zhai Li, Feng Yi Yunruo. To feel the spirit, there are seedlings. ""

From today's point of view, moral cultivation is not to impress anyone, but because the so-called virtue is a set of long-term effective ways of doing things that people have summed up. The world is not benevolent, they will neither be moved nor angry, maybe some are just rules?

"Broad and shudder, soft and standing, willing and respectful, chaotic and respectful, disturbing and persevering, straight and warm, simple and incorrupt, strong and congested, strong and righteous. Zhang Jue has permanence, good luck! Rixon three virtues, Su Ye Jun There is a family in the Ming Dynasty; the six virtues are strictly respected by the day, and the brilliance has the state.

Chinese traditional culture places great emphasis on order and emphasizes that only with order can things run smoothly. The result of society is like a machine that runs for too long, and if there is too much dust, it will easily collapse, and then re-establish a new order after it collapses.

"Stubbornly said, if you are not there, Hou Yiming, tasting to remember, the book is knowledgeable, and the desire is born! The work is satisfied with the language, sometimes furious, and the pattern is to inherit the mediocrity, otherwise, it will be prestigious."

People in high positions need to understand the situation of the people below and fully mobilize the talents of the people below. Without a broad mind, there is no way to make good use of the abilities of others. How can this be successful?

"Yu farewell to Kyushu, and dredge the river along with the mountains, and let the earth make a tribute. Yu lays the earth, publishes the wood along with the mountains, and lays the mountains and rivers."

The day had outstanding achievements in flood control before he had the chance to be selected as a candidate for the throne. When we see others in high positions, we must be aware of the remarkable achievements that have been achieved behind them.

"Hey! People of six things, I swear to you: Hu's prestige insults the five elements, neglect the three elements, the heavens use to destroy their lives, and now they are the punishments of the heavens. If you don't attack the left, you don't respect your life. If you don’t attack from the right, you don’t respect your life; if you don’t defend your horse, you don’t respect your life. Use your life to reward your ancestors;

Before the group movement, there will be a mobilization meeting. By arousing everyone's emotions, emphasizing rewards and punishments, making everyone craving and fearing, can we unite the masses as much as possible?

"The emperor's ancestors have instructions, the people can be approached but not down, the people are the roots of the country, and the country is solid. I see the world as fools and women as one can win and one person loses three times. , Stunned as if you are a man who controls the six horses, how disrespectful you are?"

Regardless of the country or the team, people are at the core. The core of the team must be the person who thinks the most, and only in this way can he be the helmsman.

"Only Shixi and the subversion of Jude, sinking in the wine, the official resignation, disturbing the Tianji, abandoning Jussi, it is the season of autumn and the moon, Chenfu gathers in the room, playing the drum, swaying the husband, and the common people. , Xi and the corpse officials did not know about it, and fell into a coma in the sky, in order to punish the ancestors. The "Zhengdian" said:'The first time kills without mercy, the untimely kills without mercy.'"

Negligence of duty is a great sin, and the punishment for it is also serious. A person's social status and benefits are all derived from his work. How can you not treat your current work wholeheartedly?

[James Violand]

The wisdom of an ancient race is displayed in this simple book, one of the Five Classics of ancient Chinese literature. What seems simple is truly profound: an honorable ruler will raise a base people to a great people. Then, a virtuous people will sustain a good leader. Imitating the sages of the past can sustain a good ruler in the present. Reverence for tradition leads to security for the future. Those who practice evil, must be eliminated to prevent infection. We should take such sage advice to heart.

[Maurits]

The Shang Shu books on their own can be a bit abstract and dry to read, but this edition gives a very insightful and interesting introduction of 50 pages explaining the place of the Shang Shu in Chinese and world history. The introduction makes that I would definetly recommend this book, if you would like to learn more of Chinese society and government, although the writing is highly applicable on western moral as well.

[Jared Tobin]

This was an interesting read. I found it to be quite similar in spirit to the Old Testament from Exodus through to Kings 2; the focus throughout is on the Mandate of Heaven, and examples of rulers in history who had earned or forfeited it. The Old Testament is far more rich and satisfying in a literary sense, but, barring perhaps some fairly minor metaphysical differences here or there, the Chinese concepts of Heaven, its Mandate, and its Ruler are clearly equivalent to the analogous concepts that can be found in Judaism (at least as they are presented in the Old Testament).

This book also gives one a sense for how staggeringly *old* Chinese civilization is, as well -- one is reaching back into the era of King David, Ancient Egypt, Minoan Greece, etc. The introduction is wonderful, in particular, and really helps bring much of the detail included later in the book to life.

[Erik Champenois]

Shang Shu, most well known as the Book of Documents (and not as "The Most Venerable Book" per the Penguin title), is one of the five Confucian classics - whose compilation was traditionally ascribed to Confucius, though historically that certainly wasn't the case (annoyingly, the Penguin edition has Confucius' name on the cover along with a portrait of Confucius). The book consists of 58 short chapters covering the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, usually dialogue with, or instructions from, the Emperor (or, sometimes, the Duke).

The most prominent theme of the chapters is that of the "Mandate of Heaven." It's mentioned in almost every chapter, sometimes multiple times. The explanation is that the Xia, Shang, and eventually Zhou dynasties all obtained but later lost the Mandate of Heaven. The successful Zhou invasion of the Shang is seen as having been mandated by Heaven, as it would not otherwise have taken place. The Mandate, however, is not something one can expect to be permanent. Rather, the Emperor has to be constantly virtuous to ensure the prosperity of his empire and the continued favor of Heaven. The Mandate of Heaven is also not seen as disconnected from the people at large but as closely connected with the welfare of the people and the consideration that the Emperor pays to them. As a result, something akin to a popular right of revolt is at least partially embraced by the Mandate.

We also learn about some of the organizing principles of the Zhou, such as the nine sections, the five conducts, the eight regulations, the five astrological aspects, etc. Traditional ethics of filial piety are also prominent in the book - with the last Shang emperor portrayed as someone who focused on his own pleasures and neglected to honor the ancestors - whereas the King of Zhou, who defeated the Shang, is seen as the model of filial piety. Repetitive though the book becomes, the core teachings of the Mandate, and of virtue and ritual and filial piety as foundational to good governance, becomes enshrined in the reader through that very repetition.

[Matt]

Matt, why do you study the Documents? It isn't history. It isn't theory. It's a mirror.

The Book of Documents dates back to at least 500 BC. It deals with events that occurred between 2300 BC and 700 BC. It is, to all appearances, the relic of a long-forgotten time. It has nothing to do with our present life. Why, Matt, do you bother to study them? Why are you insisting on the thankless and painstaking task of reading them in the original wenyanwen 文言文—in a Classical language that no one today speaks, and that even Chinese people only study as an elective course?

Indeed, the Documents themselves seem to attest to their own uselessness and futility. The tale of Yao is a rather sorry one. A good ruler surrounded by incompetent people, whose various character flaws and petty squabbling lead to a preventable deluge which kills a large number of innocents, Yao eventually decides to adopt by marriage into his own family the kid of a completely worthless and despicable family—Shun. Shun’s only virtue is that he’s able to get along with all of the horrible people he’s related to. But as it turns out, he rules well… only to be confronted with the same problem at the end of his reign. Shun is left with no choice but to adopt as his son-in-law Yu—the son of the good-for-nothing official who caused the flood in the first place.

Yu comes up with a grand scheme for fixing China. He’s going to make China great again. He makes a plan to build the dikes that prevent more floods. He clears more wastelands further from the rivers into usable farmland. He takes a census of all the towns and villages. He reorganises the whole country into manageable districts. And he institutes a reform of the government that should last forever...

Read the entire review at my Substack, Skeireins.

[Christopher Byram]

I first discovered this book when it was referenced on Khan Academy, in the YouTube video '2,000 Years of Chinese History! The Mandate of Heaven and Confucius: World History #7' uploaded by the channel CrashCourse, in the article '‎WATCH: 2,000 Years of Chinese History! The Mandate of Heaven and Confucius', in Unit 3.7, in the course 'World History Project - Origins to the Present'. In the video, the narrator, John Green, states that the Chinese were among the first people to write history, and that this book is one of the Confucian classics. He also states that "this is great for us because we can now see the things that the Chinese recorded as they were happening, but it is also problematic because of the way the story is told".

[Maksym]

Quite a good 54k words of somewhat philosophical, but much more historical text about ancient China. You can learn a lot about culture (I definitely appreciated the legal system parts in the later quarter of the book), geography and historical figures, as long as you consider looking it up, since the text itself does little to differentiate people, the larger fault of it being that I read the text in English with Chinese for reference on some aspects. Also, the structure of the text became a bit repetitive by the middle of the book.

Can definitely recommend to history buffs or just anyone interested enough to invest a couple hours into going back in time to ancient China.

[Caomhghain]

An example of how the rating system doesn't always work. This book is largely rather dull and much of it is much better presented by Confucius in the Analects. It is a collection of ancient, sacred historic documents so this is no more than you would expect. The introduction and notes are excellent.

[Ross]

An interesting look into Chinese political history. Confucius tells a story of the struggle for power in a society that desires conscientious and virtuous rulers, Confucius explains the qualities of strong leadership in great detail.

[judy]

3.5 stars
"A state can be brought down by just one man.
It can also rise to glory, because of one man."

[معاذ Muaath]

قصص ما قبل النوم للأطفال

[James Carrigy]

Unable to review due to its fragmentary state.

[Alan]

The core Confucian canon consists of The 4 Books (discussed elsewhere on this GoodReads list, including the Analects) and The 5 Classics. These 5 ancient pre-Confucian Classics are alleged to have been collected and edited by Confucius himself. The most famous of the 5 Classics to Americans is undoubtedly the Book of Changes (I Ching or Yì Jīng, discussed earlier on this Goodreads list), but more important, or at least more oft cited by the Analects and other later Chinese texts, are the Book of Songs (Shih Ching or Shī Jīng, discussed earlier on this Goodreads list), and this book the Book of Documents (Shu Ching or Shū Jīng), also sometimes confusingly entitled the Shang Shu. The Shu Jing is an eclectic mix of prose and poetry, including short stories about kings and their prime ministers, speeches by kings and ministers, and conversations between kings and ministers. Much of the material is a repetitive recital of the values and methods of good governance, all of it conforming to Confucian thought. Presumably that is why Confucius selected these documents and later Confucians preserved them. Interspersed between the examples of good governance are rarer examples of bad governance. These coincide with the Chinese view of their history as a series of long-lasting dynasties that eventually falter and get overthrown by a new long-lasting dynasty. The alternation of good and bad governance then explains the infrequent and yet seeming ineluctable revolutions. The speech by a vassal prince justifying his decision to wage war on his bad king, the brief description of the war, and the new king's speech about how he will do things better, are perhaps the most interesting and revealing of this civilization's notions of government. Also interesting is the emphasis on continuity of values over time. Consistently, both within itself and also in relation to later texts like The 4 Books, Confucian values and good governance are attributed to earlier successful kings and ministers, who cite even earlier ones, all the way back to the founding fathers of the Chinese state. This evaluative method requires a particular view of history, a view that is continuous from the most ancient times to the time of writing of the Book, and a view of a distant golden age. That distant golden age of the early kingship is clearly mythic, with one minister inventing agriculture and another inventing irrigation and so on. This almost didactic mythology is strikingly less heroic and less fantastical than the origin stories I have encountered in the other Axial Age literatures, be they Greek or Hebrew or Sanskrit. Why there is such a difference, and what are the civilizational consequences if any, seems a good question to try to answer.

[Lulu]

most ancient of the Chinese classical books, and contains historical documents of various kinds, relating to the period from about B.C. 2357−627.


included in the Chinese comic I own (中国连环画优秀作品读本：中国古代神话故事) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
* 舜的故事 — The Story of Emperor Shun
* 大禹治水 — The Great Yu Controls the Floods

[Daniel]

Read parts of the text, provided to me by Prof. Sarah Allan.

[Rob_H99]

In terms of enjoyment alone, very boring

[Patty Chang]

Just a bad edition