The Craft of a Chinese Commentator: Wang Bi

The Laozi has been translated hundreds of times into Western languages during the last two hundred years. It has become the book of Chinese philosophy most widely appreciated for its philosophical depth and lyrical form. Nevertheless, very little attention has been paid to the way in which this book was read in China. This book introduces the reader to a highly sophisticated Chinese way of reading this Taoist classic, a way that differs greatly from the many translations of the Laozi available in the West.

The most famous among the Chinese commentators of the Laozi -- a man appreciated even by his opponents for the sheer brilliance of his analysis -- is Wang Bi (226-249). Born into a short period of intellectual ferment and freedom after the collapse of the Han dynasty, this self-assured genius, in the short 23 years of his life, dashed off two of the most enduring works of Chinese philosophy, a commentary on the Laozi and another on the Book of Changes.

By carefully reconstructing Wang Bi's Laozi text as well as his commentary, this book explores Wang Bi's

Preface

vii

Introduction

1

(8)

Wang BI: A Biographical Sketch

9

(18)

Wang Bi's Life

9

(11)

Wang Bi's Afterlife

20

(7)

The System of the Classics

27

(26)

A Sketch of Commentary Strategies during the Han Dynasty

31

(22)

Technique and the Philosophy of Structure: Interlocking Parallel Style in Laozi and Wang Bi

53

(62)

Introduction

53

(2)

The Discovery of Parallel Style in Western Scholarship

55

(2)

The Problem: Molecular Coherence

57

(5)

Open Interlocking Parallel Style in the Laozi

62

(14)

Closed Interlocking Parallel Style in the Laozi

76

(20)

Interlocking Parallel Style in Early Texts Outside the Laozi

96

(9)

Interlocking Parallel Style in Wang Bi's Time

105

(5)

Conclusion

110

(5)

Demonstructing and Constructing Meaning

115

(142)

The Hidden Meaning

115

(5)

The Implied Author and His Authority: Kongzi and Laozi

120

(19)

The Status of the Laozi and the Texts Ascribed to Confucius

139

(3)

The Implied Reader and His Education

142

(8)

The Countertexts

150

(20)

The Homogeneity Hypothesis

170

(6)

The Potentiality of the Text: Comparing Different Commentary Constructions of the Laozi

176

(1)

Laozi 17.1

177

(32)

Laozi 6

209

(22)

Laozi 11

231

(18)

Conclusions

249

(8)

The Craft of Wang Bi's Commentary

257

(44)

Introduction

257

(1)

Integration of Commentary and Text

258

(6)

Emphatic Rejection of Other Readings

264

(2)

Explaining Metaphors, Similes, Comparisons, and Symbols

266

(4)

Insertion of Subject

270

(5)

Defining Terms through Equivalence

275

(1)

Translating the Text

276

(5)

Merging Terms and Structures

281

(17)

Conclusions

298

(3)

Notes

301

(36)

Bibliography

337

(14)

Subject Index

351

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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The Craft of a Chinese Commentator: Wang Bi on the Laozi

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

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The Craft of a Chinese Commentator: Wang Bi on the Laozi

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

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