Katia N’s Reviews > Great Books of China: From Ancient Times to the Present > Status Update
Katia N
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she discovered her new husband had falsified his qualifications in order to obtain an official post. she revealed this fact to the authorities. Since traditional Confucian ethics held that a wife should always be subservient to her husband, Li Qingzhao was sentenced to 2 years in prison for violating this code. Fortunately, she was released after 9 days through the intervention of one of her 1sr husband's relatives
— Aug 04, 2026 06:23AM
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Katia N
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Zhuangzi and Huizi were walking on the bank beside the Hao river. Zhuangzi said, "Look at the little fish swimming as they please. That is what fish enjoy!" Huizi said, "You are not a fish.How do you know what they enjoy?" Zhuangzi said, "You are not i, how do you know I don't know what fish enjoy?" (Cont in the comment)
— Aug 03, 2026 11:44AM
Katia N
is on page 22 of 272
The Book of Songs, as the only work of literature mentioned by Confucius, was to become one of the "Five Classics, adopted during the carly Han period as the basis, for education for a millennium.
The Five Classics (Wu jing) are:
Book of Songs,
Book of Changes (Ti jing),
Book of Documents (or History) (Shu jing),
Book of Rites (or Ritual) (Li ji),
Spring and Autumn Annals (Chun giu)
— Aug 03, 2026 08:39AM
The Five Classics (Wu jing) are:
Book of Songs,
Book of Changes (Ti jing),
Book of Documents (or History) (Shu jing),
Book of Rites (or Ritual) (Li ji),
Spring and Autumn Annals (Chun giu)
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Aug 04, 2026 02:32PM
Love this, Katia : ) . & love Li Qingzhao too . But that peak Confucianism patriarchal absurdism made me laugh . 'I'm literally trying to help you make the country better' vs 'Oh no way we don't want that, just go home and keep your mediocre man mediocre' . Also I'm pretty sure she 'divorced' him afterwards or something haha . Li Qingzhao was a wild one .
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emily wrote: "Love this, Katia : ) . & love Li Qingzhao too . But that peak Confucianism patriarchal absurdism made me laugh . 'I'm literally trying to help you make the country better' vs 'Oh no way we don't wa..."Thank you, Emily. Yes, I've found this story pretty absurd. There was a very limited sample of her poetry which is quite good and unusual in terms of the topicality. Some of it are written from a perspective of a man getting drunk!:-) I think you are right and she has managed to dispose of this second husband anyway.
Overall this book I am reading is for people like me who knows nothing about Chinese literature. But as a starter it is really good. I can see now for example that to write about food in a literary fiction (Taiwan travelogue) seems to have a very long tradition! :-)
Katia wrote: "emily wrote: "Love this, Katia : ) . & love Li Qingzhao too . But that peak Confucianism patriarchal absurdism made me laugh . 'I'm literally trying to help you make the country better' vs 'Oh no w..."Ah, 'glad' that's 'true', Katia, and that I wasn't just rambling misinformation : ) .
Your enthusiasm/interest is (gladly) infectious, Katia. Thank you, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the text . To be frank/fair, I think I'm also pretty ignorant about Chinese literature/history, so hopefully I'd also find the text 'useful' : ) .
emily wrote: "Katia wrote: "emily wrote: "Love this, Katia : ) . & love Li Qingzhao too . But that peak Confucianism patriarchal absurdism made me laugh . 'I'm literally trying to help you make the country bette..."Thank you, Emily. I think my 'ignorant' is of a very diffent degrees to yours:-) But in any case, may be you would find the book useful as the summary of chronology of the dynasties and the main texts. She is little hazy on modern lit. And her last reference is in the 70s I believe. But for me it was not important as I think this is easy to pick up elsewhere. She also provided an appendix with the list of translations.