By hannover-web.com On October 12, a new book release for the “Complete Works of Wang Kaiyun,” which took eight years to compile into 38 volumes totaling 12.4 million words, was held at Yuelu Academy, Hunan University.
Wang Kaiyun, hailing from Xiangtan, Hunan, famously referred to his residence as “Xiangqi Tower,” earning him the title of “Mr. Xiangqi.” He was a prominent scholar, writer, and historian during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, known for his extensive writings across various fields including classics, history, and literature, whose academic contributions have had a lasting impact.
This publication is a key project under the National Ancient Books Work Planning, and the Yuelu Publishing House has brought out the “Complete Works of Wang Kaiyun” following their previous releases featuring notable figures such as Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Wang Fuzhi, and Wei Yuan. Professor Zhu Hanmin from Yuelu Academy served as the chief editor of this monumental work.
Professor Zhu highlighted that Wang Kaiyun’s writings are extensive and come in multiple editions. During and after his lifetime, his works were compiled five times. The new collection boasts two significant features: it offers a more comprehensive selection of his writings and enhances the quality of the organization.
The “Complete Works of Wang Kaiyun” encompasses all existing writings from Wang, including additional texts like “Annotations on Guan Zi,” “Selected Works on National Policies,” “Commentary on Water Classics,” “Essays After Reading the Book of the Later Han,” “Historical Praise,” “Corrections to Xu’s Explanation of Ancient Characters,” “Wang’s Notes,” as well as county chronicles from Guiyang, Hengyang, Dong’an, and Xiangtan. The editorial team also scoured for previously scattered writings, enriching the “Xiangqi Tower Poetry and Prose Collection” with over 320 newly discovered pieces, totaling more than 200,000 words. They also compiled research materials on Wang Kaiyun from the late Qing period to the Republic of China, resulting in the “Research Material Compilation on Wang Kaiyun,” which comprehensively presents the significance of his academic thoughts and literary creations throughout his life.
Compared to traditional ancient book editions, this new publication has undergone a thorough review and correction process, addressing numerous errors within the manuscripts and converting from traditional vertical script to simplified horizontal script (with certain elementary works retaining the traditional format). “We hope this collection will align with modern reading habits, withstand the test of time, and be a treasured compilation of Luminaries from Hunan,” Professor Zhu stated.
The day also featured a themed academic seminar titled “Wang Kaiyun: A Generation’s Confucian Leader,” where experts and scholars from universities across the country, including Jiang Guanghui, Peng Lin, Shu Dagang, Liao Kebin, Ouyang Zhesheng, Du Zexun, Zeng Yi, and Lv Shuangwei, engaged in in-depth discussions on Wang’s academic thoughts, literary creations, and historical significance.
