This classic introduction to the Chinese literature is a fundamental step towards the West's understanding of the rich literary legacy of China.

Readable, condensed, entertaining, the selections contained in this book belong to enduring world literature; the "Great Society" envisioned by Confucius; the "Fireside Chats" of K'ang Hei; the supercilious letter of the Emperor Ch'ien Lung to King George of England; the "Memorial: on the Bone of Buddha”; the imaginative lines of the poets.

The wit and wisdom of China dispel time and distance and bring East and West together as the heart and soul of a great people is revealed in their stories, anecdotes, essays, and poems. Here is a close-up view of the educational system, home life, and government of old China as found in their own writings, with personal glimpses of some of the great—the emperors bathing in their crystal pools, of Lao Tzu in his library, and Confucius in his fur-lined underwear.