Victor Henry Mair est un sinologue américain et professeur de chinois. Son travail explore en profondeur la culture et la langue chinoises. Il s'efforce de rapprocher des lecteurs la richesse et la complexité de la pensée et de la littérature chinoises. Son approche repose sur une étude méticuleuse et une recherche interdisciplinaire.
Begins with the linguistic and intellectual foundations of Chinese literature and moves successively through verse, prose, fiction, drama, and commentary and criticism; it then closes with popular and peripheral manifestations. A special feature is the focus on such contextual subjects as the history of popular culture, the effect of religion upon literature, the role of women, and relationships with non-Sinitic languages and peoples.
Acclaimed for his authoritative translation of the Tao Te Ching, Victor Mair, one of the foremast translators of ancient Chinese, reclaims for the modern reader another of the great books of Eastern wisdom. Although less well known in the West than the Tao Te Ching, the work of Chuang Tzu is every bit its equal as a classic of Taoist thought. But this collection of tales, poems, and parables is also one of the most playful and witty books in world literature. In this vivid, contemporary translation, Victor Mair captures the quintessential life and spirit of Chuang Tzu while remaining faithful to the text. ... Complete with an authoritative introduction on Chuang Tzu and his place in Chinese thought and history, as well as a glossary of key terms and concepts, this translation by Victor Mair is destined to become the definitive edition of Chuang Tzu's work in our time. — from back cover. Illustrated throughout with woodcuts by the illustrator of the Tao Te Ching.
The book features translations of four vernacular Chinese stories from the late T'ang and Five Dynasties periods, discovered in a cave at Tun-huang. These texts, written in an early colloquial language, provide rare insights into the popular entertainment of that era, encompassing both Buddhist and secular themes. Despite their philological challenges, they offer a unique glimpse into the cultural landscape of ancient China, showcasing vibrant narratives that have remained largely unstudied until now.
3000 years of Chinese history presented through the lives of ninety-six illustrious participants from all periods and all parts of the country China is the most populous country on earth, with the longest history of any modern nation. Here, the full range of Chinese cultural and scientific achievements, as well as its military conquests, wars, rebellions, and political and philosophical movements, are told through the eyes of real people who created or were involved in them. The subjects include emperors and empresses, concubines, officials and political figures, rebels, exiles, philosophers, writers and poets, artists, musicians, scientists, military leaders, and committed pacifists. From Fu Hao, an early warrior lady of the thirteenth century BC, to the late twentieth-century leader Deng Xiaoping, their careers, achievements, misdeeds, disasters, punishments, ideas and love stories make this an unforgettable read. Illustrated with portraits, paintings, written documents, bronzes, sculptures, and location maps, and written in an authoritative yet accessible style, Chinese Lives provides the perfect introduction to China’s history and her peoples.
Renowned scholar Victor H. Mair's essays, compiled by Rebecca Shuang Fu and others, showcase his influential work across various phases of his career. The first three chapters highlight his interdisciplinary training in Chinese literature and Indology, while subsequent chapters delve into his insightful analyses of China's cultural interactions. The final chapters illustrate his impactful contributions beyond philology, encompassing art, archaeology, and philosophy. This collection serves as an essential resource for scholars in Asian studies, reflecting Mair's broad scholarly influence.
