Using an Ancient Theme to Reveal the Author's Mind: A Study of Wang Anshi's On Reading the Biography of Lord Mengchang
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/4apbhh90Keywords:
Wang Anshi, On Reading the Biography of Lord Mengchang, Men of Talent, Erroneous-essay Thesis, Historical CriticismAbstract
Wang Anshi's essay, On Reading the Biography of Lord Mengchang, has long been considered a succinct and subtle masterpiece of argumentation with brilliant use of language. But some critics of modern scholarship have condemned its less than rigorous logic, the “sophistry,” or even its being a false essay. From the perspective of content, history, and ideas, this study believes that it is a well done prose and it is a text that contains Wang's political vision. It also outlines the evolution of criticism on the essay and the influences that had a bearing on the way it was accepted from one age to the next.
Downloads
References
[1] Jin, S. (Kangxi reign, Qing dynasty). Essential readings by the world's men of talent (Vol. 15) [Woodblock print, Zhuoguantang edition]. p. 21.
[2] Wu, R. (n.d.). Models of classical prose (Part II, Vol. 2).
[3] Shen, D. (Ed.), & Rai, S. (Additional commentary). (2010). An expanded critical reader of prose by the eight great masters of the Tang and Song (M. Zeping, Coll.). Chongwen Publishing House. p. 686.
[4] Wang, A. (n.d.). Collected works of Mr. Linchuan (Vol. 73) [Sibu congkan facsimile of Ming era Hanfenlou Library edition].
[5] Xu, B. (Ed.). (1993). Guwen guanzhi in modern translation. Qilu Press. p. 685.
[6] Li, G. (2003). A query concerning Wang Anshi's On reading the biography of Lord Mengchang. Journal of Sichuan College of Education, (1), 55 57.
[7] Wang, Z. (1982). A famous essay is not necessarily error free: Also on On reading the biography of Lord Mengchang. Masterpieces Review, (2), 112.
[8] Nie, G. (1985). Reading On reading the biography of Lord Mengchang. Journal of University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, (2), 61.
[9] Guo, X. (1997). A masterpiece in which theory diverges from practice: An analysis of Wang Anshi's On reading the biography of Lord Mengchang. Appreciation and Discussion, (3), 101 103.
[10] You, J. (Ed.). (Jiajing 35, Ming dynasty). Prose of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan (Han Yu section, Vol. 22) [Woodblock print, Mo Rushi edition]. p. 1.
[11] Dong, L. (Comp.). (2011). A new compilation of bronze inscriptions. Writers Publishing House. p. 55.
[12] Guan, S. (2010). On the misreading of Wang Anshi's On reading the biography of Lord Mengchang. Social Sciences Review, 25(11), 109 111.
[13] Wang, Z., & Huang, C. (Eds.). (2014). Selected works of Wang Anshi. Phoenix Publishing House. p. 208.
[14] Cheng, Q., & Wu, X. (1991). A literary history of the northern and southern Song. Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House. p. 77.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Education and Humanities
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
