A SOURCE BOOK IN CHINESE PHILOSOPHY.

By Wing-Tsit Chan. PrincetonUniversity Press, 1963. 856 pp. $10.00.

According to the jacket description of Professor Chan's latest Work the "Source Book is the first anthology to trace the entire history of Chinese philosophy from Confucianism to contemporary Communism." It is not an easy task to get within the pages of a single volume a really representative selection of the major philosophical texts of an entire culture.

In China the problem is compounded by the interaction of indigenous and foreign strains (Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, etc.). To this one must add the difficulty of the language, difficult even for a native speaker. Considering all of the problems involved one might expect an anthology of such broad scope to be nothing more than a collection of the familiar quotations so often used to illustrate the major themes of Chinese philosophy. This is not the case. The author has included much material that is often lacking in more lengthy works and has introduced numerous notes and comments as well.

All of the items have been retranslated and differences of translation have been carefully noted. Clearly, this is a very extraordinary anthology. The very scope of the work prohibits even a cursory summary of its contents. It is enough to say that the 44 chapter headings provide a check-list of the major elements of Chinese philosophy.

The breadth of treatment maintained throughout the book is indeed surprising. If there are any weak spots it is in the contemporary period under the current regime. This however is not a fault of the author but rather a function of the times. As Professor Chan sums it up "Philosophy in Communist China can be summed up in one word, 'Maoism' " (p. 773). Indeed the tragic situation of the mainland philosophers is vividly demonstrated in the selections included in Professor Chan's final chapter. One might well inquire as to who is the intended audience for the Source Book. The reader with a casual interest in the subject should not dismiss the book because of its length. Rather it is a good collection of fresh translations of the major classics of Chinese philosophy. It has the advantage of presenting selections rather than entire works which I take to be a distinct value for those who are coming for the first time to what can be a vast and difficult topic. The text is clearly written and the ideas lucid in their presentation. Its probable use as a text book is assured.

Professor Chan's notes and comments are especially useful for teacher and student alike. Finally, one should consider the value of this book even for the more informed student of Chinese philosophy. Ideally, the general survey, when constructed by an astute scholar can provide a panoramic view not as immediately available to the less experienced student bent on the more specialized problems of individual research. Professor Chan has fulfilled the promise of that ideal, providing in this volume a synthesis of his broad knowledge of Chinese philosophy.

Assistant Professor of Art