Prefatory Note

Two systems for the romanisation of Chinese are currently in use in the western English-speaking world. One is of western origin – the Wade-Giles system – and the other, more recent and introduced by the Chinese themselves, called pinyin. Some translations of Chinese works use one system and some the other, making cross-reference occasionally confusing for non-specialists. To offset this difficulty, the following convention has been used in the introductions in this book: Chinese terms are given in their Wade-Giles version, but at their first occurrence the pinyin equivalent is given in square brackets immediately after the Wade-Giles version. For example, the name of the great Chinese historian of the first century BC is given as Ssu-ma Ch’ien [Sima Qian] and his work as Shi Chi [Shiji] (Historical Records). In about one third of cases, the two systems give the same romanisation. In these instances only one form appears at the first occurrence of the term concerned.

Most of the translator’s extensive footnotes to The Book of Lord Shang, which deal almost exclusively with matters of textual corruption and variant readings, have been omitted. Scholars interested in these matters should consult the original edition of this work: London, Probsthain 1928.