The Chinese Classics Volume 2: With Translation, Critical and Exegetical Notes, Prolegomena, and Copious Indexes. Paperback – July 18, 2023

The Mencius is the 4th book in the classic pillar of Chinese classical philosophical and ethical education. For nearly 2000 years students would memorize these books and be able to commentate on them for a chance to work in the imperial bureaucracy. The books authority stems from them being so fundamental to the social, moral, and political life of classical China. Adherence to the principles within was attributed to the success of thriving dynasties. Understanding them is pivotal to comprehend the patterns of behavior for Chinese civilization.This book is a faithful reproduction of the 1894 edition of James Legge translations of the Works of Mencius. Written near the height of the Chinese Golden Age the perspective Legge gained from his interaction with the Confucian establishment is valuable in our own understanding. As in the original, it includes the full text in English classical Chinese along with a dictionary index for language reference. Edited commentaries from the Chinese originals were also included by Legge and are fully reproduced here. The introduction to the subject of Chinese classics is also preserved in full for the reader. This edition is seeking to rectify the lack of easily available copies of Legge’s work that include the full commentaries, correct Chinese, and the introduction in the original formatting. Read more