100 must-read books for college students

Chapter 5 The Ancestor of History Books
Chapter 4 The ancestor of history books: "Shangshu"

After "Shangshu" became a Confucian classic, it was also called "Book of Books".It was later included in the so-called "Tianjing" of Confucianism.due to this

The book records the historical events of ancient times, so it is called "Shangshu", and "Shang" is connected with "Shang". The content of "Shangshu" is the two days of Shang and Zhou
The record of the ruler's remarks, part of which is the history of Yu and Xia compiled by people in the Spring and Autumn Period based on ancient materials. "Book of History"

The book was written around the late Warring States period.

"Shangshu" is the earliest history book in China. It records the history of the end of China's primitive society and the history of Xia, Shang and Western Zhou.
The political system, important events, astronomy and geography of this period are extremely precious historical materials for the study of ancient Chinese history.Book
The original democracy, the interaction between heaven and man, the appointment of people with virtue, the great unification, and the five elements embodied in the book have far-reaching implications for future generations.

Impact.

History of Political Affairs in Ancient and Modern "Shangshu"

"Shangshu" is the earliest collection of political and historical materials in my country, and it is also the earliest collection of historical prose.

According to legend, it was deleted by Confucius.The original book was lost in the early Western Han Dynasty.Confucius may be one of those who "made up the next thing", but not necessarily the most
Later editors.This book was widely circulated in many forms in the pre-Qin period, not just one, and its characters were not consistent.Since the Han Dynasty

, "Shangshu" has the so-called modern text and ancient text.This article "Shangshu" was written by Qin Shihuang after the burning of the book by Qin Shihuang, who was taught by Dr. Qin in the early Han Dynasty.

There are 28 pieces preserved and taught by Nan Fusheng, written in the official script prevailing at that time.The ancient text "Shangshu" was published successively during Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.
Now, it is written in pre-Qin "ancient prose", hence the name.The ancient "Shangshu" has 16 more articles than the modern "Shangshu", but it died later.this
The 58 chapters contained in this "Commentary to the Thirteen Classics" were contributed by Mei Yi, an internal historian of Yuzhang in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.This book divides Fu Sheng's 28 chapters into 33 chapters

, incorporated into it.It has added 25 articles. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, it has been verified by generations of scholars, and the academic circles have recognized it as a fake.

Tang Kong Yingda wrote "Shangshu Zhengyi", which was published as the official final version.People in the later Song Dynasty compiled it into the "Thirteen Classics Commentary" and circulated it.
Handed down to this day.

There are 58 chapters in "Shangshu", which are respectively called "Yushu", "Xiashu", "Shangshu" and "Zhoushu" according to the compilation of the dynasty.

". There are five chapters in "Yu Shu", four chapters in "Xia Shu", seventeen chapters in "Shang Shu", and 32 chapters in "Zhou Shu".Up from Yao and Shun, down to
The Eastern Zhou Dynasty collected very precious and rich historical materials. The "Preface to Shangshu" is divided into six styles: "Dian, Mo, Xun, Gao, Oath, and Ming".
In the Tang Dynasty, Kong Yingda was divided into ten types: Dian, Mo, Gong, Song, Oath, Patent, Xun, Ming, Zheng, Fan.Choose the ones who need it: the main ones

Record the ancient codes; Xungao is an admonition decree; oaths are mainly the oaths of the kings and princes; orders are the appointment of officials by the king or the rewards of the princes.
Hou's order.

"Shangshu" is an extremely important historical document. It contains events in Yu, Xia, Shang, and Zhou, involving politics, philosophy, religion, and law.

, geography, calendar, writing, archaeology, military and other fields are really treasures.Since the Han Dynasty, "Shangshu" has been revered as

The first of the Five Classics of Confucianism has become an important classic for thousands of years.

"Shangshu" has been respected by all ages as the beginning of ancient prose. Its records and narratives are well organized, rigorous in structure and clear in order.

, and the grammar is vivid, the language is vivid, and natural and appropriate. "Shangshu" upholds "Book of Changes" and "Zuo Zhuan" below, and later articles
To get "clear as promised", we must think about the merit of "source of flowing water".

The current version of "Shangshu" is the "Thirteen Classics Annotated Edition", the main annotated editions include Tang Kong Yingda's "Shangshu Zhengyi", Cai Chen's "Book of Songs" in the Southern Song Dynasty
"Ji Zhuan", Qing Sun Xingyan's "Shang Shu Jin Gu Wen Zhu Shu", among which Sun's edition is relatively complete.

The Jinwen "Shangshu" includes 2 Yu and Xiashu, 5 Shangshu and 19 Zhoushu.It is generally believed that although Shangshu and Zhoushu are also unavoidable
The gains and losses of later generations are relatively reliable; the so-called books of Yu and Xia are quite suspicious, and they may be written by people in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. "Shangshu"
The notes involve the history of the end of primitive society and the slave society of Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The time span is quite large and the content is quite rich.

The ideological core of "Shangshu" is the theocracy political concept in the Shang and Zhou dynasties.From the records of "Shangshu", it is not difficult to see that this policy

The evolution of the concept of governance from emphasizing "mandate of heaven" to advocating "respecting virtue and protecting the people".In the Yin and Shang Dynasties, the main emphasis was on the God of Destiny
teach.In the Zhou Dynasty, due to the overthrow of the Yin Dynasty, the actual struggle taught the rulers of the early Zhou Dynasty a profound lesson, making them gradually understand
To the power of the people, and thus revised the traditional religious theology.Its important symbol is to put forward "morality", attach importance to and emphasize

"Respect morality and protect the people".From "mandate of heaven" to "respect morality and protect the people", it reflects the development and evolution of the theocracy.

Another ideological characteristic of "Shangshu" is that it attaches great importance to summarizing and drawing lessons from history.This is most prominently reflected in the "Book of Zhou"

.The rulers of the Zhou Dynasty learned lessons from the turmoil in the late Yin and early Zhou Dynasties, increased their knowledge, and seriously thought about the rise and fall of the previous dynasties.

reason.Drawing on the experience and lessons of the previous dynasties, the rulers of the Zhou Dynasty not only developed the political outlook of "respecting morality and protecting the people" and "clearing morality and prudent punishment".

concept, and put forward the principles and methods of employing people and governing, as well as the proposition of governing the country diligently and avoiding comfort and pleasure.This is undoubtedly the

The summary of historical experience has certain progressive significance and has a great influence on future generations.

Collection of Prose Collections and Historical Materials

Here are three articles, "Tang Oath", "Hong Fan" and "Wu Yi", for readers to enjoy.

"Tang Oath" is contained in "Shangshu·Shangshu".It is an oath speech made by Tang, the leader of the Shang tribe, before he went out to crusade against Xia Jie.
The people hang on to the principle of cutting down and punishing the people.

"Tang Oath" is a call to arms.In the chapter, Shang Tang told about the licentiousness and tyranny of King Jie of Xia in the attitude of acting on behalf of the heavens, and repeatedly explained

The principle of "If there are too many crimes in Xia, the destiny will kill them", and it also dispelled the people's arrogance about "not sympathizing with our people, giving up my work and cutting off Zhengxia".

blame.Emphasizing that it is the destiny to kill Jie, Shang Tang fears the destiny, and is guilty of the Xia family, "must be correct".At the same time expressed "Shadrouze

, Today I will go" determination. And use the method of both kindness and power to strengthen the hearts of the people: "Those who follow me will be rewarded, and those who do not follow will be killed", "

You believe everything, and I will not break my promise."

This proclamation established Shangtang's prestige and won the hearts of the people, so he sent troops to attack Xia.Tang and Jie fought in Mingtiao, Jie was defeated, and Tang
Destroy Kunwu, the last vassal state of Xia, and Jie Jie at the same time, and establish the Shang Dynasty.

This call-to-action is magnificent, the reasoning is orderly, and the writing is fluent and simple. It is different from other chapters in "Shangshu".
difficult to read.

"Hong Fan" is an important chapter of "Shangshu", an important document for the study of ancient politics, philosophy and culture.philosophically contained

Some naive materialist concepts.

The first item in the nine domains of "Hong Fan" is "Five Elements". "The first is water, the second is fire, the third is wood, the fourth is metal, and the fifth is earth. Water is called moistening.
Down, Fire is called Flame Up, Wood is called Straight, Metal is Congge, and Earth is called Harvest.Moisten the bottom to make salty, burn to make it bitter, straight to make sour, and make it from leather

Xin, harvesting for sweetness. "In these arguments there are the germs of primitive materialism. Because they regard objective existence as real

, and realize that people's sense of taste is obtained through contact with five different substances from the outside world.It shows that during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, people from
A simple materialist view began to form in daily life and production practice.The Five Elements Theory played an important role in the later ancient materialist philosophy.

had a very profound impact.

"Wuyi" can be found in "Shangshu Zhoushu".The old biography was written by Duke Jidan of Zhou, but most people today regard it as the record of official historians.King Wu of Zhou died

, whose son was still young, was regented by Duke Zhou.This article is the earnest admonition to King Cheng when the Duke of Zhou took control of the world and returned to the government.

The article "Wuyi" is exquisite from content to form.If you omit each paragraph of words and start the phrase "Zhou Gong said", you can taste

An excellent political essay of antiquity.

Judging from the ideological content, although the words "fate is self-sufficient", "Yin fears the destiny" and "Hui Rou is courteous, cherishing the small people, benefiting the

Such words as "few widows and widows" and "it's not God's fate" show the view of destiny, but the center of the whole speech clearly puts "conceived
"Protecting the common people, benefiting the widows and widows of Xian" and so on mentioned important positions, and regarded it as a national policy for the long-term stability of a generation of dynasties.

The benevolent man loves others" and Mencius' benevolent government thought of "people first" obviously have a great influence.

At the same time, the argumentation method of "taking history as a mirror" expressed in the article is also worthy of attention.The selection of materials is precise and the context is clear, so the argument

Informative and decent, so as to better highlight the argument.

In addition, the methodical and well-thought-out layout structure of the article, as well as the earnest, prudent, and earnest language style also reflect the above-mentioned
Ancient prose is maturing.

"Shangshu", as the first prose collection with both narrative and discussion in our country, initially embodies artistic skills and has a profound impact on later generations of literature.

Development is instructive."Although it was not designed for composition, thousands of articles have come from it."Its literary value is not

negligible.

The articles in "Shangshu" have various expressions such as narration, description, and discussion. Although they are "recorded words", they are not simplistic
Tune.Its narration is concise and to the point, the description is not many but quite vivid, and the discussion is not annoying but pertinent.Some chapters can also be appropriate

Using some rhetorical means, using metaphors and metaphors, it is popular and vivid, full of life.

The text of "Shangshu" is ancient and difficult, and the sentences are difficult to read.Han Yu's so-called "Zhou Gao Yin Pan, Ji Qu Po's Teeth" ("Jin Xue Jie")
, pointing out the outstanding features of the language of "Shangshu".The outdated vocabulary, the difficulty of sentences and the use of function words and related

Couplings are the main sign of this feature.

The style of "Shangshu" is straight and simple. "The book of Yu Xia is muddy, the book of Shang is Hao Hao, and the book of Zhou is terrible." (Yang Xiong "

"Fayan·Ask the God"), most of its texts are "recorded words", "If the ruler and his ministers are facing each other, and the purpose of the words can be called, then the words for a while will be exhausted and salty" (
Liu Zhiji's "Stone·Six Schools").

The style of "Shangshu" is self-contained. "It contains all the texts of Dian, Mo, Xun, Gao, Oath, and Ming." In fact, this is my

The early form of ancient Chinese prose style.

The Chinese civilization lasted 5000 years, and there are so many ancient books formed by written records that they have become an important part of the splendid culture of the Chinese nation.
part.Among the vast sea of ​​classics, "Shangshu" is the oldest classic that has been handed down to this day.

"Shangshu" had a huge impact on ancient China, and historical rulers respected it as the supreme classic.

The records of geography in "Shangshu" have become the basis for the study of the formation of the Chinese nation today.

Historical evidence is of special importance.

(End of this chapter)