Cuvane Tau, Mystic, Moratist and ut Reformer—Translated from {he Chinese by Dr Herbert ENLIsH Essays For the New Dayi—'Alexander' Brede. Commercial Press; 1935. $3.
Kelly & Walsh.
Dr. H, A. Giles kas a wonderful record as a sinologue, not only for) the value of the work' accomplished, but also for the length of time has been before the public og an! authority on Chinese literature, Tel, rust be exceptionable for a writer be able to revise and see the reissue of his own work nearly 40] years after originally produced Eneh is the record of the book under yeviexs, Which was published first 1869, and now re-appears when Dr. Giles is turned 80 years dye, and is till in harness, We axe fold that this second edition is they result of careful revision of the first. "Mistakes have been enrrected, the} running commentary has been ins proved, and some parallel passages rem, Western literature have been inserted." When Dr. Legge in 1800) produced his own translation of this work—a year Inter (han that of Dr. Giles he said "I have pleasure in seknowledging the merits of is version." With a revision" made} after these many years of close study Chinese literature, readers: may te sure they have an excellent tra lation before them Chuang Tet was born about B. 350, in the State of Hung, im modern Axhui, and was a contemporary of Mencius. He was an ard.nt Taoist, trid wrote in criticism of the Con fu clan ani Mihist schools, and with a view to glorify the mysteries of Lao Tat. His teachings were not rivieh valued for many centuries but ose to fame in the eighth century when an Emperor evaterred upon his work the title of "The Holy Canon of Nan-hua." "Nan-haw was the Place of Chuang Tau's, retireme in Shantung., The writings are said {o have consisted at one time of 52
Pooks, but only 33 are now extant. These contain much spurious matter, Dr. Giles is satisfied could not been written by Chuang Tau. The literary style in Chinese is cellent, though the meaning is some. times obscure. His lofty idealism has won for Chuang Tzu the title of "The Plate." The English tran-Hlation is worthy of the original in style, enabling readers to become] acquainted with the philosophy and moral teaching, and the wit and wisdom ut this famous teacher. The brief notes and comments—inter-persed by the translator ave in: structive und helpful. We are glail the book is once more accessible,|% ard hope it will find many veadars among these who wish to know mire of China's philosophy.
This is a very good collection of 30 essays which serves the double purpose of providing excellent material for literary analysis and of conveying the essential ideas of modern thought. The author has been very careful in his selection. There are 12 essays on Science, commencing with Huxley's famous lecture on "The Method of Scientific Investigation." Then follow eight] on Education and Character, after which come 10 on Nature and the Land. All are well annotated.
It would be impertinent of the reviewer to deal with the matter of ithe essays themselves, since most Jef them are already classics. The losing essay by K. L. Butterfield {on "The Challenge of the New Day"
however, noteworthy in top ism and probably has served with Prof.
Brede as the leit-motif of hig collection. This Inst essay and some of the others in the third Jeroup are rather marred by the customary illusion that America is as advanced in culture as Europe, The suggestions made in that same essay as to the necessity of complete social reconstruction are also som what lighthearted and unsuited for mmsumption by students belonging to nations unexperienced in. democracy, It has yet to de proved that 9 stable society ow be constructed on lines radically different from those now obtaining.
Henoenr CHATLEY
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.