Daoist Master Changchun's Journey to the West: To the Court of Chinggis Qan and Back

The Hsu-Tang Library provides authoritative and readable translations of classical Chinese literature, in bilingual editions, spanning three millennia and the entire Sinitic world. In 1221-23, Quanzhen Daoist master Qiu Chuji made an arduous three-year round-trip journey from north China to the Hindu Kush, compiled by Li Zhichang. This journey offers a detailed eyewitness account of travel across the Mongolian plateau and Central Asia in the aftermath of Mongol conquest, with unique historical, geographical, cultural, and literary value. Ruth Dunnell, Stephen West, and Shao-yun Yang's new translation renders all of Qiu Chuji's poems in the original Chinese, offering a window into the Quanzhen practice of self-cultivation and its proselytizing mission.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 18 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The Hsu-Tang Library is a treasure trove of authoritative and captivating translations of classical Chinese literature, presented in bilingual editions spanning three millennia and the entire Sinitic world. During the early years of the Mongol empire, the renowned Quanzhen Daoist master Qiu Chuji embarked on an arduous three-year round-trip journey from north China to the Hindu Kush in 1221-23, at the summons of Chinggis Qan. The record of this remarkable journey, compiled by one of Qiu's disciples, Li Zhichang, offers a detailed and vivid eyewitness account of travel across the Mongolian plateau and Central Asia in the immediate aftermath of the Mongol conquest. This extraordinary travel narrative stands out among other thirteenth-century Chinese travel narratives in terms of its length, quality, and thoroughness of detail, granting it unique historical, geographical, cultural, and literary value.

In a groundbreaking effort, Ruth Dunnell, Stephen West, and Shao-yun Yang have now released a new, comprehensive, and annotated translation of the text, making all of Qiu Chuji's poems available in their original Chinese for the first time. Previously omitted from older translations as insipid or irrelevant, Qiu's poetry reveals a profound insight into the Quanzhen practice of self-cultivation and its missionary zeal. It captures the impressions of an educated Chinese observer as they venture into a vast and unfamiliar world of grasslands, deserts, and towering mountain ranges. This book not only includes an appendix with translations of related documents, such as the edicts of Chinggis Qan to Qiu, but also provides concise yet detailed notes drawn from a wealth of recent scholarship to guide both general and specialist readers.

In addition to an introduction that places the reader in the worlds inhabited by Qiu Chuji and his patron, the Mongol Qan, the translators have created a digital StoryMap of Changchun's journey. This interactive map provides a visual representation of the locations and events mentioned in the text, enhancing the reader's understanding and appreciation of the historical context and geographical landscape.

The Hsu-Tang Library's translation of Qiu Chuji's travelogue is a remarkable achievement that brings the wisdom and beauty of classical Chinese literature to a wider audience. It not only sheds light on the historical and cultural context of the Mongol empire but also offers a glimpse into the inner world of a remarkable Daoist master and his profound spiritual journey. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Chinese history, literature, and culture, and it will undoubtedly inspire and enrich the minds of scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 167 x 243 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197668375