Shuo Yuan ***20 volumes, including: Jun Dao, Chen Shu, Jian Ben, Li Jie, Guide, Fu En, Zheng Li, Zunxian, Jian Zheng, Jing Shen, Shan Shuo, Shi Feng, Machiavelli, Zhi Gong, Wu Zhi, Tan Cong, Zayan, Distinguishing Things, Writing and Counterquality.
This book was compiled by Liu Xiang during his tenure as school secretary, based on the remaining materials of Shuoyuan Miscellaneous Works and Xin Xu, and recorded some historical events, anecdotes, legends and fables from the pre-Qin to the Western Han Dynasty in different categories, including many precious historical materials.
Some historical events recorded in the book can be mutually confirmed with the existing classics; Some annotations are different from Historical Records, Zuo Zhuan, Warring States Policy, Liezi, Xunzi, Hanfeizi, Guanzi, Yanzi Chunqiu, Shilu Chunqiu and Huainanzi, which provide rich reference value for people who explore history.
The genre of Shuoyuan is very special, mainly historical stories, but also a small number of aphorisms and comments. Most of these stories have plot, situation, background, suspense, dialogue and other elements. With vivid images, clear events and vivid characters, it has the embryonic form of later novels and high literary appreciation value, which has a great influence on Wei, Jin and even Ming and Qing note novels.
In particular, the use of dialogue style created the narrative expression style of later generations. Liu Xiang emphasized composition, distinct levels, flexible language use, attached importance to rhetoric, commonly used metaphors and analogies, and attached importance to rhyming and antithesis. Influenced by Han Fu, Liu Xiang had a great influence on later parallel prose.
In addition, Shuo Yuan mainly describes the words and deeds of various philosophers, and there are many philosophical aphorisms and fables, which fully embodies and expounds Confucian philosophical thoughts, political ideals and ethical concepts. It can be said that Shuo Yuan is the spokesman and promoter of hundred schools of thought.
There are many works related to Shuo Yuan, and it is of great benefit to read them in comparison.
Appendix 1: Related Works of Shuo Yuan
1, fully translated by Wang E's Shuo Yuan.
2. Qian Zongwu's vernacular story.
3. Xiang Zonglu's "Shuoyuan Correction"
4. Zhao Shuo Yuan Shu Zheng
5. Xie Mingren's Study of Liu Xiang.
6. On the study of Liu's Preface to the Garden.
7. The Story of the Garden by Chen Ruheng
8. Kai Nuo's Talk about imperial academy
9. Research on Xu Construction Committee: Focusing on the literature accumulation and academic history during the Warring States Period, Qin and Han Dynasties.
Appendix II: Introduction of Liu Xiang
Liu Xiang: the fourth grandson of Emperor Gaozu's younger brother Wang, a writer and scholar in the Western Han Dynasty. He has always advocated the theory of "harmony between man and nature". Together with his son Liu Xin, he has made great contributions to the cataloguing of ancient books. His works include Hong Fan's Biography of Five Elements, Seven Clues, New Preface, Shuoyuan and Biography of Women.