When John C. H. Wu’s spiritual autobiography Beyond East and West was published in 1951, it became an instant Catholic best seller and was compared to Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain, which had appeared four years earlier. It was also hailed as the new Confession of St. Augustine for its moving description of Wu’s conversion in 1937 and early years as a Catholic. This new edition, including a foreward written by Wu’s son John Wu, Jr., makes this profoundly beaut...

This substantial collection of Tang Dynasty poetry includes extensive commentary and notes-offering insight into this rich literary heritage."Stretching out my hand I feel the pulse of the stars," wrote Li Po, one of the most famous of the T'ang dynasty poets. This superlative study of the Golden Age of Chinese poetry, based on nearly 50,000 poems written by more than 2,000 poets, captures not only the pulse of that period but also the spirit and soul.Of th...

A classic, examining the history of the great Chinese Zen masters of the 7th through 10th century. This book gives a fascinating survey of the early years of Chinese Zen (Chan) Buddhism, staying focused on the movement of Buddhism to the land where Taoism and Confucianism flourished. Wu's survey, combined with interesting translations from these earliest Zen masters, reveals a time of spiritual vibrancy and powerful personalities that help explain the later developments of Zen with which w...

The 8-in-1 CHINESE CLASSICS brings together in one volume some of the greatest Chinese clazzical writings of all time. Here, in full, are:THE ART OF WAR (the full 13 chapters)THE ANALECTS OF CONFUCIUS (the full 20 chapters)THE SAYINGS OF MENCIUS (the full 28 chapters)THE SHI CHING (aka: Shi King or The Book of Songs - the full 4 Parts, 29 'Books')THE TRAVELS OF FA HIEN (40 chapters)THE SORROWS OF HAN (4 Acts)

In "The Sayings of Confucius," also known as the "Analects," the philosopher presents a collection of aphorisms and dialogues that encapsulate the essence of his ethical teachings and views on governance, morality, and personal conduct. Written in a succinct and often playful style, these sayings reflect the Confucian emphasis on virtue ethics and the importance of propriety (li) and humaneness (ren), serving both as practical guidance for individual conduct and a foundational text for soc...

The Dream of the Red Chamber is believed to be semi-autobiographical, mirroring the rise and decline of author Cao Xueqin's own family and, by extension, of the Qing dynasty. As the author details in the first chapter, it is intended to be a memorial to the women he knew in his youth: friends, relatives and servants. The novel is remarkable not only for its huge cast of characters and psychological scope, but also for its precise and detailed observation of the life and social structures t...

Hundreds of sage observations from China's most revered scholarTeacher, politician, philosopher, and student, Confucius offered wisdom and aphorisms on a variety of topics that transcend borders and time. Whether considering his own life, human nature, or a society's responsibilities, Confucius's teachings emphasize personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity. He aimed to effect social and political reform, and le...

IntroductionSince the Middle Ages the Chinese have been almost unanimous in regarding Li Po as their greatest poet, and the few who have given the first place to his contemporary Tu Fu have usually accorded the second to Li.One is reluctant to disregard the verdict of a people upon its own poets. We are sometimes told by Frenchmen or Russians that Oscar Wilde is greater than Shakespeare. We are tempted to reply that no foreigner can be qualified to decide such a point....

Long considered a masterpiece of the eerie and fantastic, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio is a collection of supernatural-themed tales compiled from ancient Chinese folk stories by Songling Pu in the eighteenth century.These tales of ghosts, magic, vampirism, and other things bizarre and fantastic are an excellent Chinese companion to Lafcadio Hearn's well-known collections of Japanese ghost stories Kwaidan and In Ghostly Japan.

Li Po (701-762) is considered one of the greatest poets to live during the Tang dynasty—what was considered to be the golden age for Chinese poetry. He was also the first Chinese poet to become well known in the West, and he greatly influenced many American poets during the twentieth century.Calling himself the "God of Wine" and known to his patrons as a "fallen immortal," Li Po wrote with eloquence, vividness, and often playfulness, as he extols the joys of nature, wine, and the l...

In "Chuang Tzu: Mystic, Moralist, and Social Reformer," Zhuangzi weaves a profound tapestry of philosophical thought through rich, allegorical narratives and paradoxical anecdotes. His text deftly balances humor and profundity, challenging the rigid structures of Confucian and Legalist traditions of its time. As a cornerstone of Daoist philosophy, this work invites readers to transcend societal norms and embrace the fluidity of existence, encouraging an appreciation for spontaneity and har...