Table of Contents

I. SHANG (1200-1059 BCE) AND CHOU (1059-249 BCE) DYNASTIES
from The Book of Changes ; from The Book of History Inscriptions from Ritual Bronzes; from The Book of Odes , The Tso Chuan , The Rites of Chou , The Book of Rites , The Analects of Confucius; Mo Tzu; Mencius; Hsun Tzu; The Tao de Ching of Lao Tzu; Chuang Tzu; The Songs of the South
II. HAN (202 BCE-220 CE) AND WEI (220-264 CE) DYNASTIES
from: Wan Fu's Discourses of a Recluse , Pan Chao's Perfected Woman; The Unattainable Goddess
III. SIX DYNASTIES PERIOD (220-589 CE)
The Buddhist Pure Land: Scripture of the Pure Land ; from: The Lotus Sutra ; The Heart Sutra ; The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti ; Meditations on the Body: The Secret Instructions of the Holy Lord on the Scripture of Great Peace ; Alchemical Recipes for Immortality: from The Book of the Master Who Embraces Simplicity
IV. SUI (581-618 CE) AND T' ANG (618-907) DYNASTIES
The Mind-to-Mind Transmission of the Dharma: Selections from the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch ; Nailing a Stick into Empty Space: from the Recording Conversations of Ch' an Master I-hsuan ; Poems of Han Shan; The Writings of Han Hu; The Poetry of Po Chu-yi
V. SUNG (960-1279) AND YUAN (1279-1369) DYNASTIES
The Great Ultimate of Chou Tun-yi; The Writings of Chang Tsai, Chu Hsi; Ch' en Ch' un's Learning of the Way; "Master Ch' ung-yang's Fifteen Precepts for Establishing the Teaching"; from Seven Taoist Masters ; from Chang Boils the Sea
VI. MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
The Writings of Wang Yang-ming; Poetry of the Spirit; from Monkey: Folk Novel of China
VII. CH'ING DYNASTY (1644-1911)
Tales of the Supernatural; Confession of a Ghost; The Story of the Stone
VIII. MODERN ERA (1911-)
Lu Xun's Critique of Tradition; Chang T' ien-i's "The Bulwark"; from the writings of Mao-Tse Tung; on the Cult of Mao; The Revival of the Spiritual Tradition: The God of Theater; from Ling Chung, "The Fall of Moon Lady"; from Master Sheng-yen's Faith in Mind ; Buddhism Comes to America: from The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac
Notes/Chronology of Dynasties/Additional Sources/Video Sources/Bibliography/Glossary

Reviews

"The selections...represent a broader range of Chinese religious expressions than most. Classics are well represented, with some delightful surprises. Exactly what many who use primary texts in the classroom need."--Religious Studies Review
"An excellent anthology which should become a 'standard' collection. The introductions to the different sections are especially readable."--William Shealy, Virginia Wesleyan College
"An excellent cross-section of original materials, greatly improving on earlier anthologies."--William Powell, University of California at Santa Barbara
"Covers unusual, important, and interesting Chinese writings, and the student is provided with writings not included in most Chinese anthologies."--Candice Blocker, Ohio University
"Well written and documented. It is a good textbook for beginning students. The contents from Shang to Ching (1200 B.C. - 1911 A.D.) are excellent, concise and inclusive."--Samuel Tang, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary
"The selections...represent a broader range of Chinese religious expressions than most. Classics are well represented, with some delightful surprises. Exactly what many who use primary texts in the classroom need."--Religious Studies Review
"An excellent anthology which should become a 'standard' collection. The introductions to the different sections are especially readable."--William Shealy, Virginia Wesleyan College
"An excellent cross-section of original materials, greatly improving on earlier anthologies."--William Powell, University of California at Santa Barbara
"Covers unusual, important, and interesting Chinese writings, and the student is provided with writings not included in most Chinese anthologies."--Candice Blocker, Ohio University
"Well written and documented. It is a good textbook for beginning students. The contents from Shang to Ching (1200 B.C. - 1911 A.D.) are excellent, concise and inclusive."--Samuel Tang, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary
"Good readings for Chinese history courses."--Huping Ling, Northeast Missouri State University
"...This anthology is one I may use for supplementary reading."--Douglas Fox, Colorado College
"Excellent collection. Much needed for courses in comparative religion."--Clayton Dube, Berea College
"...Sommer's anthology has substantial merit....it will broaden students' perspective."--Russell Kirkland, Education About Asia
"Broad and balanced selection of significant sources."--Chai-Sik Chung, Boston University