The author: Lives in the cultural province of Henan, near Luoyang, the Zhou capital.
Pre-Qin Agriculturalist School (农家): Philosophy and Legacy
2025-04-01Pre-Qin Military Strategists (兵家): Masters of War and Statecraft
2025-04-01
1. Representative Figures
- Unnamed Chroniclers (姓名失传)
- Role: Collected folk tales & unofficial histories
- Works: Lost texts referenced in Han Shu (Book of Han)
2. Core Philosophy
| Concept |
Description |
Contrast with Major Schools |
| Street Knowledge (街谈巷议) |
Recorded urban legends & gossip |
Rejected by Confucians as “vulgar” |
| Entertainment First |
Prioritized engagement over moral teaching |
Opposite of Mohist utilitarian literature |
3. Key Contributions
- Preserved Lost Narratives: Saved folktales later adapted into Strange Tales tradition
- Early Journalism: Documented unofficial perspectives on court events
4. Historical Significance
- Cultural Impact:
- Precursor to Tang chuanqi tales & Ming-Qing novels
- Influenced Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas) mythology
- Political Status:
- Classified as “not worth following” (Han Shu)
- Only 15 recorded works, all lost
