Official Review: Dragon Bones and Dao by Shan-yuan Hsieh
Posted: 20 Feb 2020, 20:34
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Dragon Bones and Dao" by Shan-yuan Hsieh.]
As its subtitle suggests, Dragon Bones and Dao by Shan-yuan Hsieh delineates "the origins of Chinese culture, language, and philosophy." It begins by tracing the evolution of the Chinese language and then shows how seven philosophers used that language to create theories of social morality.
Part I describes how archaeologists discovered the original "dragon bones" (really the shoulder bones of oxen), deciphered the symbols engraved on them, and then interpreted the meaning of each pictograph.
Part II examines the lives and works of seven ancient philosophers representing four distinct philosophical schools: Confucianism, Moism, Daoism, and Legalism.
Although the above may sound dry and dusty, the creative way in which the author presents information makes all the difference. He describes his technique as a "virtual journey of discovery," a dialogue method that turns an academic tome into an intriguing adventure. During this journey, Dr. Hsieh travels to China with two college students of Chinese descent, David and Mary. They visit historic sites dedicated to each of the seven philosophers and engage in a lively discussion of each sage's life and ideas.
How realistic is this expedition? Well, the book opens with Dr. Hsieh saying, "We'll first fly from San Francisco to Shanghai and then take a domestic flight from there to Zhengzhou." Whenever the three travelers go from one place to another, they talk about their destination and their transportation options. Similarly, they share opinions of the various historic sites so that the reader can see them too. The entire experience is much like reading a play. You don't actually see the actors onstage, but you know where they are and what they are saying.
The conversations evaluate each philosopher's interpretation of "Dao"(the way), "rÊn"(compassion), "Yi"(justice), and other important concepts. Occasional comparisons to the ideas of Western thinkers, such as Socrates, Machiavelli, and John Stuart Mill, add even greater interest to an already absorbing presentation. The writing is light and informal, as though three friends were casually brainstorming a topic. And since Mary and David want to improve their ability to read and speak Chinese, all quotations are provided in both Chinese and English.
Dragon Bones and Dao has earned 4 out of 4 points for its fascinating tour of ancient China and its innovative method of sharing knowledge. It is delightfully easy and enjoyable to read; best of all, the information sticks. It is impossible to forget Mozi's objections to offensive warfare or Han Fei's radical (for that time) theory that people should live by laws, not by the whim of a king. Professionally edited, this book would appeal to anyone who wants to know more about China. It would be particularly useful to those planning a trip to China. Students of the Chinese language would also find the parallel English/Chinese sections helpful.
******
Dragon Bones and Dao
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
As its subtitle suggests, Dragon Bones and Dao by Shan-yuan Hsieh delineates "the origins of Chinese culture, language, and philosophy." It begins by tracing the evolution of the Chinese language and then shows how seven philosophers used that language to create theories of social morality.
Part I describes how archaeologists discovered the original "dragon bones" (really the shoulder bones of oxen), deciphered the symbols engraved on them, and then interpreted the meaning of each pictograph.
Part II examines the lives and works of seven ancient philosophers representing four distinct philosophical schools: Confucianism, Moism, Daoism, and Legalism.
Although the above may sound dry and dusty, the creative way in which the author presents information makes all the difference. He describes his technique as a "virtual journey of discovery," a dialogue method that turns an academic tome into an intriguing adventure. During this journey, Dr. Hsieh travels to China with two college students of Chinese descent, David and Mary. They visit historic sites dedicated to each of the seven philosophers and engage in a lively discussion of each sage's life and ideas.
How realistic is this expedition? Well, the book opens with Dr. Hsieh saying, "We'll first fly from San Francisco to Shanghai and then take a domestic flight from there to Zhengzhou." Whenever the three travelers go from one place to another, they talk about their destination and their transportation options. Similarly, they share opinions of the various historic sites so that the reader can see them too. The entire experience is much like reading a play. You don't actually see the actors onstage, but you know where they are and what they are saying.
The conversations evaluate each philosopher's interpretation of "Dao"(the way), "rÊn"(compassion), "Yi"(justice), and other important concepts. Occasional comparisons to the ideas of Western thinkers, such as Socrates, Machiavelli, and John Stuart Mill, add even greater interest to an already absorbing presentation. The writing is light and informal, as though three friends were casually brainstorming a topic. And since Mary and David want to improve their ability to read and speak Chinese, all quotations are provided in both Chinese and English.
Dragon Bones and Dao has earned 4 out of 4 points for its fascinating tour of ancient China and its innovative method of sharing knowledge. It is delightfully easy and enjoyable to read; best of all, the information sticks. It is impossible to forget Mozi's objections to offensive warfare or Han Fei's radical (for that time) theory that people should live by laws, not by the whim of a king. Professionally edited, this book would appeal to anyone who wants to know more about China. It would be particularly useful to those planning a trip to China. Students of the Chinese language would also find the parallel English/Chinese sections helpful.
******
Dragon Bones and Dao
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
