Book Review of "Script on Bamboo and Silk - Ancient Chinese Textual Records"

Abstract

In the flow of history, ancient writing mediums are akin to precious relics, carrying the legacy of millennia of wisdom and culture. A book titled "Script on Bamboo and Silk - Ancient Chinese Textual Records," published by Century Library in 2004, serves as a window through time, guiding us on a marvelous journey into the world of ancient Chinese writing mediums. The author of this book, Qian Cunxun, with his profound research and insightful perspectives, presents to us the historical trajectory of ancient writing mediums such as bamboo slips and silk fabric, exploring their significance and influence in the transmission of ancient culture. Ancient Chinese textual records form an extensive ocean, spanning from the earliest oracle bone script to later paper writing. Within this expanse, bamboo slips and silk fabric, as representatives of ancient writing mediums, uniquely radiate the brilliance of civilization. Bamboo slips once bore witness to the clash of ideas during the Warring States period and the competition between Legalist and Confucianist schools of thought. Silk fabric, on the other hand, provided a sturdy foundation for literary and artistic works such as calligraphy, poetry, and more. Today, the book "Script on Bamboo and Silk - Ancient Chinese Textual Records" guides us into the splendid realm of these writing mediums, offering us an opportunity to delve deep into their crafting techniques, preservation methods, and applications across various domains of ancient society. As Qian Cunxun has articulated, bamboo slips and silk fabric played significant roles in various aspects of ancient politics, culture, and economy. Bamboo slips, serving as the primary medium for political records, documented laws, decrees, and more, providing a solid foundation for the continuity of political systems. Meanwhile, silk fabric assumed a distinct role in the realm of culture, serving as a medium for artistic creations like painting and calligraphy. Simultaneously, in the domain of religion, silk fabric was utilized to transmit religious scriptures, becoming a medium for the dissemination of faith, and finding widespread use in the preservation of classics and the recording of religious rituals. Contemporary research and understanding of ancient Chinese culture are akin to an unfathomable universe, and "Script on Bamboo and Silk - Ancient Chinese Textual Records" has opened the gateway to this universe for us. Through in-depth exploration of ancient writing mediums, we can better grasp the diversity and richness of ancient society, comprehending its ideologies, arts, and systems. Qian Cunxun's rigorous research methods and profound analysis in the book enable us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical significance and cultural value of ancient writing mediums such as bamboo slips and silk fabric. In this era of information explosion, we are fortunate to delve into the world of ancient writing through this book, to sense the essence of that era, and to better comprehend the origins and inheritance of Chinese culture.