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Classical Chinese for Everyone: A Guide for Absolute Beginners Bilingual Edition, Kindle Edition
by Bryan W. Van Norden (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 116 ratings
In just thirteen brief, accessible chapters, this engaging little book takes "absolute beginners" from the most basic questions about the language (e.g., what does a classical Chinese character look like?) to reading and understanding selections from classical Chinese philosophical texts and Tang dynasty poetry.
"An outstanding introduction to reading classical Chinese. Van Norden does a wonderful job of clearly explaining the basics of classical Chinese, and he carefully takes the reader through beautifully chosen examples from the textual tradition. An invaluable work." —Michael Puett, Harvard University
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"Van Norden has pulled off the seemingly impossible. With his direction, a serious student could make real headway in learning classical Chinesewhile learning a great deal about early Chinese thought as well." Robert E. Hegel, Washington University in St. Louis
"For most people, learning Classical Chinese is a daunting task, but for those who are fortunate enough to begin with Van Norden's intelligently written and wittily designed Guide, it is far easier and, dare I say, much more fun than one might have thought." Victor H. Mair, University of Pennsylvania
"[A] terrific little book, one that fills a niche. Van Norden is a gifted writer when it comes to material geared to students, and the book is very lucid, engaging, and funny all at once. It is a pleasure to read." --Hagop Sarkissian, The City University of New York, Graduate Center, and Baruch College
"This is a book for anyone who would like to learn a bit of Classical Chinese. . . . If you, or one of your students, or someone on your holiday gift list are interested in a career as a Sinologist, or would like to learn just enough Classical Chinese to say you know a bit, or just like learning interesting things from a good teacher you should get this book. It is by far the most fun language textbook I have ever read ." Alan Baulmer, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, from a review on the Frog in a Well blog
" I truly believe Van Norden's textbook on classical Chinese is one of the best! Pros: 1) It's very affordable and can be taught in a term. 2) It offers short lessons across a diverse scope of genres and readings, including poetry. 3) It's self-contained and does not need to be supplemented with additional readings or glosses. 4) By adding related texts in classical Chinese or even in translation, instructors can enhance this textbook to make it more advanced. 5) The introductory section is a perfect introduction to the Chinese writing system. This is the textbook most of us have been waiting for! " Chiu-Mi Lai, The University of Texas at Austin
"[T]his book provides an excellent pedagogical tool for either teaching or self-study. The chapters are very short with very clear learning points presented in concise natural language so the reader never feels overwhelmed and gains a sense of mastery over each point. The size of the book is very manageable. Someone with (even very little) background in Chinese (either classical or modern) could easily work through the book in a couple of weeks. . . . Interested teenagers and adults without a formal background in philosophy, foreign languages, or grammar will be able to read and enjoy playing with translating the passages. It would be an ideal addition to any Introduction to Chinese Philosophy course." Mog Stapleton, East China Normal University, in Teaching Philosophy
"I have long had an interest in learning Classical Chinese, and over the last decade have tried learning the language from other introductory texts. But without any knowledge of Mandarin (or any East Asian language), I was quickly, and hopelessly, lost. It was thus with great pleasure that I purchased a copy of Bryan van Norden's Classical Chinese for Everyone , and have immensely enjoyed working through it. Working with Van Norden's little book alongside his readers on the history of Chinese philosophy, I have developed a serious interest in teaching a course on Chinese political thought and (in the long term) producing research in this area. None of this would have been possible for me if not for Van Norden's Classical Chinese for Everyone , and I sincerely thank him for giving me the tools to explore a whole new area of intellectual inquiry." John Lombardini, College of William & Mary
" Classical Chinese for Everyone: A Guide for Absolute Beginners is a unique and valuable introduction for novice learners of Classical Chinese. Its uniqueness lies in the author's extraordinarily detailed and thorough explanations of the selected texts that serve to significantly minimize the intimidation factor that beginning Classical Chinese learners may anticipate. Learners are provided with easily accessible, step-by-step guidance through clear and concise explanations of the readings, as well as through the detailed commentaries that expound upon the circumstances in which they were written. This book should also stimulate language learner interest in furthering their understanding of Classical Chinese and Chinese literature, as well as motivate them to become serious students of Chinese language, culture, and history." Haning Z. Hughes, Professor of Chinese, United States Air Force Academy, in the NECTFL Review
--This text refers to the paperback edition.
About the Author
Bryan W. Van Norden is Chair Professor in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University (China) and James Monroe Taylor Chair of Philosophy at Vassar College (USA). He is author, editor, or translator of ten books on Chinese and comparative philosophy.--This text refers to the paperback edition.
Product details
ASIN : B07YQHKXGL
Publisher : Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.; Bilingual edition (15 November 2019)
Print length : 163 pages
Bryan W. Van Norden
Bryan Van Norden is Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor at Yale-NUS College, Chair Professor in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University, and James Monroe Taylor Chair in Philosophy at Vassar College. He has published ten books, including Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto (2017), Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy (2011), Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries (2008), Readings in Later Chinese Philosophy (2014, co-edited with Justin Tiwald), and most recently Classical Chinese for Everyone: A Guide for Absolute Beginners (2019).
Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Top review from Australia
Ross Colquhoun
5.0 out of 5 stars Connecting the ideasq and interpretations of Chinese philosophyReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 4 July 2020
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed reading this book . While I did not agree on some points of interpretation and analysis, It was clearly written and filled a lot of gaps and made many connections in my scattered and disjointed Knowledge of Chinese Philosophy. Well worth reading even for those who have a good grounding in philosophy.
----
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Wen
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for any Classical Chinese studentReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 2 August 2021
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I see some reviews complaining about the lack of English translations for the exercises, but I find it very refreshing and illuminating to find a book that admits that translating is not only hard but also often very biased, and to illustrate that by showing us more than one way certain passages have been interpreted. It also allows us as students to fully appreciate the nuances of Classical Chinese in translation, especially when there might be many different 'correct' answers to the puzzle.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro to difficult languageReviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on 6 March 2021
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Excellent and essential for any beginner to classical chinese. I'd give it 5 stars except it is not self-contained, but refers to books in the notes that the reader probably does not own. It also does not supply a translation of its texts. To check on your own translation, the reader is referred again to books they do not own. And they should check on their translations. The book is dense in terms of grammar. Those who have studied a foreign language would find it less taxing. Still a very useful little work. Thank you.
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About the Author
Bryan W. Van Norden is Chair Professor in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University (China) and James Monroe Taylor Chair of Philosophy at Vassar College (USA). He is author, editor, or translator of ten books on Chinese and comparative philosophy.--This text refers to the paperback edition.
Product details
ASIN : B07YQHKXGL
Publisher : Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.; Bilingual edition (15 November 2019)
Print length : 163 pages
Bryan W. Van Norden
Bryan Van Norden is Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor at Yale-NUS College, Chair Professor in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University, and James Monroe Taylor Chair in Philosophy at Vassar College. He has published ten books, including Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto (2017), Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy (2011), Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries (2008), Readings in Later Chinese Philosophy (2014, co-edited with Justin Tiwald), and most recently Classical Chinese for Everyone: A Guide for Absolute Beginners (2019).
Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Top review from Australia
Ross Colquhoun
5.0 out of 5 stars Connecting the ideasq and interpretations of Chinese philosophyReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 4 July 2020
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed reading this book . While I did not agree on some points of interpretation and analysis, It was clearly written and filled a lot of gaps and made many connections in my scattered and disjointed Knowledge of Chinese Philosophy. Well worth reading even for those who have a good grounding in philosophy.
----
Top reviews from other countries
Translate all reviews to English
Wen
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for any Classical Chinese studentReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 2 August 2021
Verified Purchase
I see some reviews complaining about the lack of English translations for the exercises, but I find it very refreshing and illuminating to find a book that admits that translating is not only hard but also often very biased, and to illustrate that by showing us more than one way certain passages have been interpreted. It also allows us as students to fully appreciate the nuances of Classical Chinese in translation, especially when there might be many different 'correct' answers to the puzzle.
Report
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro to difficult languageReviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on 6 March 2021
Verified Purchase
Excellent and essential for any beginner to classical chinese. I'd give it 5 stars except it is not self-contained, but refers to books in the notes that the reader probably does not own. It also does not supply a translation of its texts. To check on your own translation, the reader is referred again to books they do not own. And they should check on their translations. The book is dense in terms of grammar. Those who have studied a foreign language would find it less taxing. Still a very useful little work. Thank you.
Report
Prime user 5.0 out of 5 stars A new approach to the study of classical ChineseReviewed in Spain 🇪🇸 on 17 December 2019 Verified Purchase
This fantastic book offers the classical Chinese learner a novel, agile study style, which allows us to get started in the complex study of classical Chinese since its inception. Van Norden has done a great job, suitable for lovers of sinology. Report Translate review to English
Amazon Customer 5.0 out of 5 stars IndispensableReviewed in Brazil 🇧🇷 on 21 September 2021 Verified Purchase
Indispensable for those who want to learn Mandarin, starting with a degree that develops the general bases of that language. One person found this helpfulReport Translate review to English Gutemberg Guerra
Amorim 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!Reviewed in Brazil 🇧🇷 on 4 April 2023 Verified Purchase
Very didactic method for those who are just starting out, full of precious tips. Report Translate review to Spanish See all reviews
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