Contributor
Liaoning Audio Visual Publishing House.
Imprint:[China] : Liaoning Audio Visual Publishing House, 2005.
Description6 videodisc : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.
Note:Great Chinese philosophers, military strategist, Buddhist, poet, intellectual are introduced as Chinese cultural heritage from the point of view of the contemporary through narrations, video recording of historical sites, interviews of scholars and other people.
Note:Disc 1. Confucius -- Confucius (551 - 479 BC) was a native of Qufu, Shandong Province in the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period. A great thinker, educator and founder of Confucianism, he was honored as Exemplary Teacher of All Ages and Sage of the Orient by later generations. Confucian thoughts had been the main stream of the traditional Chinese way of thinking for over 2 millennia, having an extensive influence in Asia and other countries.
Note:Disc 2. Mencius -- Mencius, One of the key interpreters of Confucianism, Mencius (Meng Zi, 372-289 BC) remains one of the most influential Chinese philosophers.
Note:Disc 3. Laozi (Lao tzu; also Lao Tse, Laotze, Lao Zi) was a philosopher of ancient China and an important figure in Taoism (also called Daoism). Laozi's work, the Tao Te Ching, is one of the most significant treatises in Chinese philosophy. It is his magnum opus, covering large areas of philosophy from individual spirituality and inter-personal dynamics to political techniques.
Note:Disc 4. Sun Zi -- Sunzi (Sun Tzu, Sun Zi) is an honorific title bestowed upon Sun Wu (c. 544 BC - 496 BC), the author of The Art of War, an immensely influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. He is also one of the earliest realists in international relations theory. The only surviving source on the life of Sun Tzu is the biography written in the 2nd century BC by the historian Sima Qian, who describes him as a general who lived in the state of Wu in the 6th century BC, and therefore a contemporary of one of the great Chinese thinkers of ancient times -- Confucius. Sun Tzu worked as a mercenary (similar to a modern military consultant). According to tradition, King Helu of Wu hired Sun Tzu as a general approximately 512 BC after finishing his famous military treatise. After his hiring, the kingdom of Wu - which had previously been considered a semi-barbaric state - went on to become the most powerful state of the period by conquering Chu, one of the most powerful states in the Spring and Autumn Period. Sun Tzu, always wanting a peaceful and quiet life, suddenly disappeared when King Helu finally conquered Chu. As a result, his exact date of death remains unknown. The Art of War has been one of the most popular combat collections in history. Ancient Chinese long viewed this book as one of the entrance test materials, and it is one of the most important collections of books in the Chinese literature.
Note:Disc 5 -- Qu Yuan (ca. 340 BC - 278 BC) was a Chinese patriotic poet from southern Chu during the Warring States Period. His works are mostly found in an anthology of poetry known as Chu Ci. His death is commemorated on Duan Wu or Tuen Ng Festival, commonly known as the Dragon Boat Festival in the West. Qu Yuan is generally recognized as the first great Chinese poet with record. He initiated the style of Sao, which is named after his work Li Sao, in which he abandoned the classic four-character verses used in poems of Shi Jing and adopted verses with varying lengths, which gives the poem more rhythm and latitude in expression. Qu Yuan is also regarded as one of the most prominent figures of Romanticism in Chinese literature, and his masterpieces influenced some of the greatest Romanticist poets in Tang Dynasty such as Li Bai and Du Fu. Other than his literary influence, Qu Yuan is also held as the earliest patriotic poet in China history. His political idealism and unbendable patriotism have served as the model for Chinese intellectuals to this day.
Note:Disc 6 -- Xuan Zhuang was a Chinese scholar and monk. In 629, he left China to go to India to study there. He made a long journey westward and reached Kashmir in northwest India. He studied Buddhism and traveled widely in India. Xuan Zhuang became a famous scholar in India. He returned to China in 645. He was a translator of the Buddhist sutras from India, helped spread the influence of the religion that swept China from the ancient capital of Chang'an (present day Xi'an)
Note:This documentary is the first film devoted to the ancient Chinese Sages and their thought, that are the fundamentals of Chinese culture and idealogy. Through the one year survey of their hometown, combining the documentary of the outstanding scholars, the documentary depicts Confucius, Mencius, Lao Zi, Sun Zi, Qu Yuan, and Xuan Zhuang, introduces Confucianism, Taoism, Strategics, Buddhism, and poetry. This wisdom and advice is valid today. The documentary offers an introduction to the world of Chinese philosophy and culture.
System Details NotesDigital video disc.
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