Greater Books

*Lubbock* *Baldwin* *Eliot* *Powys* *Durant* *Invitation* *Classics* *Hundred* *France* *Downs* *Rexroth* *Zulli* *Read* *List* *Ward* *Van Doren* *Magill* *Oriental* *Adler* *Good* *Learning* *Bloom* *Recommended* *Fadiman* *Foundation* *Kanigel* *SeymourSmith* *Trinity* *Utne* *Campbell* *Norway* *Dirda* *Great* *Guardian* *O'Hear* *Zane* *GlobeMail* *Smart* *Taylor* *Telegraph* *Harvard* *Reynolds* *World* *Deposit* *Newman* *Graphic* *Educated*

Wm. Theodore de Bary, Ainslie Embree, and Amy Vladeck Heinrich, eds., A Guide to Oriental Classics [1989]

121 entries: 102 monographical, 19 otherwise

Unranked—arranged chronologically within topical sections: Classics of the Islamic Tradition (no. 1-14); Classics of the Indian Tradition (The Vedas-no. 42); Classics of the Chinese Tradition (no. 43-Three Hundred Tang Poems); Classics of the Japanese Tradition (The Ten Thousand Leaves-102)

This, the third edition of A Guide to Oriental Classics, "prepared by the staff of the Committee on Oriental Studies, Columbia University," offers another Columbia-related list of classics, except in this case Eastern classics. Indeed, the book grew out of a counterpart to the "great books" classes: namely, the Oriental Humanities course; according to the book's Introduction, "the assumptions of this course, inherited from the parent Humanities course in the Western tradition, have been basically two: that there were certain great works of intellectual and artistic achievement in the Oriental world which any educated person, whatever his own field of specialization, ought to have read; and that these books could be understood and appreciated without prior initiation into the complexities of scholarly research in each field." That is, the same approach used in the "great books" courses and reading plans—scholars from different disciplines making literature accessible to a general public not devoted to those disciplines—applies here, except of course that the East does not diametrically correspond to the West. Ideally, over time, the Islamic Tradition ('Near East' perhaps) will be understood better as the link between the Orient and the Occident, while the Buddhist, Hindu, and Chinese realms can be given their proper, distinct place, interacting of course with other Indian as well as Korean and Japanese (and Indonesian, and other Asian/ Pacific) traditions.

The Guide provides lists of complete and partial translations of each work, and secondary readings on the work, as well as some Topics for Discussion. Each of the four traditions begins with a General Works section listing bibliographies and secondary works about the tradition generally. A few chapters deal with areas of literature so broad that they cannot even count as indeterminate selections for our project. They tend to list secondary works first, followed by the literary works, usually anthologies. Those chapters are: 'Supplementary Readings on Indian Buddhism'; 'Sanskrit Lyric Poetry'; 'Indian Devotional Poetry'; 'Indo-Islamic Poetry'; 'Supplementary Readings on Chinese Buddhism'; 'Chinese Drama'; 'Chinese Poets and Poetry' and 'Supplementary Readings on Japanese Buddhism'. 'Three Hundred Tang Poems' from the Chinese poetry chapter has been included; this is just one example of how this list could expand in the future. The 'Chinese Drama' chapter includes several anthologies that obviously consist of monographical works.

  1. Muallaqat_3

  2. The Seven Odes
    compiled Eighth Century—Arabic

    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

    --
  3. Quran_11

  4. Koran
    Seventh Century—Arabic

    *Downs* *Ward* *Oriental* *Good* *Bloom* *Fadiman* *SeymourSmith* *Great* *GlobeMail* *Taylor* *World*

  5. Ibn Hazm

  6. Tawq al-Hamamah_2
    The Ring of the Dove
    written ca. 1022—Arabic

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  7. Badi al-Zaman al-Hamadani

  8. Maqamat Badi az-Zaman al-Hamadhani_1
    Ninth Century—Arabic
    *Oriental*

  9. Al-Hariri of Basra

  10. Maqamat al-Hariri_3
    Eleventh Century—Arabic
    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

    --
  11. Kitab alf Laylah Wa-Laylah_17

  12. The Thousand and One Nights; The Arabian Nights
    Ninth-Fifteenth centuries; Taylor specifies Richard Burton's version—Arabic

    *Lubock* *Baldwin* *Eliot* *France* *Downs* *Ward* *Oriental* *Magill* *Good* *Learning* *Bloom* *Recommended* *Fadiman* *Norway* *Great* *Zane* *Taylor*

  13. Al-Ghazali

  14. Al-Munqidh min al-Dalal_2
    Deliverance From Error
    Eleventh-early Twelfth centuries—Arabic

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  15. Averroës (Ibn Rushd)

  16. Fasl al-Maqal_1
    On the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy
    Twelfth Century—Arabic

    *Oriental*

  17. Farid ud-Din Attar (Attar of Nishapur)
    Mantiq-ut-Tayr_2
    The Conference of the Birds
    1177—Persian

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    • Rumi

  18. Poems_2
    Thirteenth Century—Persian
    *Oriental* *Graphic*

  19. Ibn Khaldun

  20. Muqaddimah_3
    Fourteenth Century; originally written as the preface to Kitab al-Ibar—Arabic
    *Ward* *Oriental* *Great*

  21. Ferdowsi

  22. Shahnameh_7
    The Book of Kings
    written ca. 977-1010—Persian

    *Lubbock* *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Dirda* *Great* *World*

  23. Omar Khayyam

  24. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam_8
    ca. Eleventh-Twelfth centuries; compiled by Edward FitzGerald in five editions, 1859, 1868, 1872, 1879, and 1889—Persian
    *Baldwin* *Durant* *Oriental* *Good* *Bloom* *Recommended* *Fadiman* *Great*

    --
  25. Dede Korkut_1
    The Book of Dede Korkut
    Turkic

    *Oriental*

    • Yunus Emre

  26. Poems_1
    late Thirteenth-early Fourteenth centuries—Turkish
    *Oriental*

  27. Fuzuli
    Dastan-i Leyli vu Mecnun_3
    The Epic of Layla and Majnun
    Sixteenth Century—Turkic

    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

    --
    • Vedas_1

  28. ca. Eighteenth-Fifth centurie B C—Sanskrit
    *Oriental*

    --
  29. Rigveda_3
    Sanskrit
    *Oriental* *Great* *World*

    --
    • Upanishads_4

  30. Seventh-Fourth centuries B C—Sanskrit
    *Ward* *Oriental* *SeymourSmith* *Great*

  31. Vyasa
    Mahabharata_13
    includes Bhagavad Gita; ca. Ninth Century B C-Fourth Century—Sanskrit
    *Lubbock* *Baldwin* *Rexroth* *Oriental* *Magill* *Bloom* *Fadiman* *Utne* *Norway* *Great* *GlobeMail* *World* *Graphic*

    • Bhagavad Gita_8

  32. part of the Mahabharata; ca. Ninth Century B C-Fourth Century—Sanskrit
    *Eliot* *Rexroth* *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Kanigel* *Great* *Zane*

  33. Valmiki

  34. Ramayana_10
    ca. Fifth-Second centuries B C—Sanskrit
    *Lubbock* *Baldwin* *Ward* *Oriental* *Magill* *Bloom* *Fadiman* *Norway* *Great* *World*

  35. Patanjali

  36. Yoga Sutras_3
    ca. Second Century B C—Sanskrit
    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

  37. Badarayana

  38. Brahma Sutra_1
    Vedanta Sutra
    ca. Fifth Century B C—Sanskrit

    *Oriental*

  39. Adi Shankara
    Brahmasutra Bhasya_2
    Commentary on the Brahma Sutra
    ca. early Ninth Century—Sanskrit

    *Oriental* *World*

    --
    • Tripitaka_2

  40. ca. Sixth-Fifth centuries B C; Sanskrit translations—Pali
    *Downs* *Oriental*

    --
  41. Dhammapada_3

  42. part of the Khuddaka Nikaya, fifth of five nikayas in the Sutta Pitaka; written ca. Third Century B C—Pali
    *Ward* *Oriental* *SeymourSmith*

    --
  43. Milinda Panha_2

  44. Questions of Milinda
    written ca. Second Century B C-Second Century—Pali

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    --
  45. Mahasatipatthana Sutta_1
    —Pali
    *Oriental*

    --
    • Prajnaparamita_1

  46. ca. First Century B C—Sanskrit
    *Oriental*

    --
  47. Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra_1

  48. The Perfection of Wisdom
    ca. First Century B C—Sanskrit

    *Oriental*

    --
  49. Vajracchedika Prajñaparamita Sutra_1

  50. The Diamond Sutra
    ca. First Century B C—Sanskrit

    *Oriental*

    --
  51. Srimaladevi Simhanada Sutra_1

  52. The Lion's Roar of Queen Srimala
    complete Sanskrit original not extant; Chinese translation

    *Oriental*

    --
  53. Lankavatara Sutra_1

  54. Sanskrit
    *Oriental*

    --
  55. Infinite Life Sutra_1

  56. Sanskrit
    *Oriental*

    --
  57. Amitabha Sutra_1

  58. Sanskrit
    *Oriental*

  59. Shantideva

  60. Bodhisattvacharyavatara_1
    written ca. 700—Sanskrit
    *Oriental*

  61. Kalidasa

  62. Abhijnanasakuntalam_6
    The Recognition of Sakuntala
    ca. Fifth Century—Sanskrit

    *Lubbock* *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Norway* *World*

  63. Sudraka

  64. Mrcchakatika_2
    The Little Clay Cart
    ca. Second Century B C-Fifth Century—Sanskrit

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    --
  65. Panchatantra_3

  66. Pancatranta
    Sanskrit

    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

  67. Jayadeva

  68. Gita Govinda_3
    Song of Govinda
    ca. 1200—Sanskrit

    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

  69. Kalidasa

  70. Meghaduta_4
    The Cloud Messenger
    ca. Fifth Century—Sanskrit

    *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Great* *World*

  71. Bhartrihari
    Satakatraya_3
    The Three Satakas
    ca. Fifth Century—Sanskrit

    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

    Rabindranath Tagore
    • The Crescent Moon_2

    English translations of selections mostly from Sisu, 1903—Bengali
    *Ward* *Oriental*

    • The Gardener_2

  72. English translations of selections from Kshanika, 1900; Kalpana, 1900; Sonar Tari, 1894; and others—Bengali
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  73. Visarjan_2

  74. Sacrifice
    1890—Bengali

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  75. Dakghar_2

  76. The Post Office
    1912—Bengali

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  77. Chitrangada_2
    1892; English translation entitled Chitra—not the same as the author's poetry book entitled Chitra, 1896—Bengali
    *Ward* *Oriental*

    • Fruit-Gathering_2

  78. 1916; English translations of selections from Gitimalya, Gitali, Balaka, and others—Bengali
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  79. Stray Birds_2

  80. —Bengali
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  81. Phalguni_2
    The Cycle of Spring
    1916—Bengali

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    • The Fugitive_2

  82. 1921; English translations of selections from Manasi, 1890; Sonar Tari, 1894; Giti-Malya, 1914; Kahini, 1900; and others; also includes Viday-Abhisap [1894]—Bengali
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  83. Mohandas K Gandhi

  84. The Story of My Experiments With the Truth_4
    originally published serially 1925-9 in Navijan—Gujarati
    *Ward* *Oriental* *Great* *Educated*

  85. Confucius (Kǒng Zǐ) (Kǒng Fūzǐ) (K'ung Fu-tzu)

  86. Analects_12
    Lún Yǔ
    written and compiled by the author's pupils; ca. Fifth Century B C-Second Century—Chinese

    *Lubbock* *Eliot* *Downs* *Ward* *Oriental* *Good* *Fadiman* *SeymourSmith* *Great* *Taylor* *World* *Graphic*

  87. Mòzǐ (Mo Tzu)

  88. Mòzǐ_3
    ca. Fifth Century B C—Chinese
    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

  89. Lǎozǐ (Lao-tzu) (Laocius)

  90. Dàodéjǐng_11
    Tao te Ching
    ca. Sixth Century B C—Chinese

    *Rexroth* *Ward* *Oriental* *Good* *Recommended* *SeymourSmith* *Utne* *Dirda* *Great* *World* *Graphic*

  91. Zhuāngzī (Zhuāng Zhōu) (Chuang-tzu)

  92. Zhuāngzī_5
    Nánhuá Zhēnjīng
    ca. Third Century B C—Chinese

    *Ward* *Oriental* *Utne* *Great* *World*

  93. Mèng Zǐ (Mencius) (Meng Tzu)
    Mèng Zǐ_5
    Fourth Century B C—Chinese
    *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Great* *World*

    --
    • The Doctrine of the Mean_1

    part of the Book of Rites—Chinese
    *Oriental*

    --
    • The Great Learning_1

  94. part of the Book of Rites—Chinese
    *Oriental*

  95. Xúnzǐ (Hsün-tzu)

  96. Xúnzǐ_3
    Third Century B C—Chinese
    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

  97. Hán Fēizi (Han Fei-tzu)

  98. Hán Fēizi_3
    Third Century B C—Chinese
    *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

  99. Simǎ Qiān

  100. Shǐjì_4
    The Records of the Grand Historian
    written 109-91 B C—Chinese

    *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *World*

    --
  101. Saddharma Pundarika Sutra_2

  102. Lotus Sutra
    Sanskrit

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    --
  103. Vimalakirti Sutra_2

  104. Sanskrit
    *Oriental* *World*

    --
  105. Mahayana Sraddhotpada Sastra_2

  106. Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana
    original Sanskrit version attributed to Asvaghosa not exant—Chinese

    *Oriental* *World*

  107. Huìnéng

  108. Liùzǔ Tánjīng_3
    The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch
    ca. Eighth-Thirteenth centuries—Chinese

    *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Great*

  109. Línjì Yìxuán (Lin-chi l-Hsüan)
    Línjì Yǔlù1
    Record of Linj
    ca. Ninth-Twelfth centuries—Chinese

    *Oriental*

    • Zhū Xī (Chu Hsi)

  110. Selected works_1
    Twelfth Century—Chinese
    *Oriental*

    Wáng Yángmíng (Bo'an)
  111. Chuáxí Lù_2

  112. Instructions for Practical Living
    late Fifteenth-early Sixteenth centuries—Chinese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  113. Inquiry on the Great Learning_2

  114. late Fifteenth-early Sixteenth centuries—Chinese
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  115. Shī Nài'ān

  116. Shuǐ Hŭ Zhuàn_5
    The Water Margin
    written Fourteenth Century—Chinese

    *Ward* *Oriental* *Great* *World* *Graphic*

  117. Wú Chéng-ēn (Ruzhong)

  118. Xi Yóu Jì_6
    Journey to the West; Monkey
    late Sixteenth Century—Chinese

    *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Utne* *Great* *Graphic*

  119. Lánlíng Xiàoxiào Shēng

  120. Jīn Píng Méi_3
    The Plum in the Golden Vase; The Golden Lotus
    1610; author's identity unknown, given name is a pseudonym—Chinese

    *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman*

  121. Cáo Xuěqín (Mengruan) (Ts'ao Hsueh-ch'in)

  122. Hóng Lóu Mèng_7
    The Dream of the Red Chamber; The Story of the Stone
    1791—Chinese

    *Rexroth* *Ward* *Oriental* *Magill* *Fadiman* *Great* *World*

    --
  123. Shījīng_4

  124. Shih-Ching; The Classic of Poetry; The Book of Poetry; The Book of Songs; The Book of Odes
    one of the Five Classics of Confucianism; Eleventh-Seventh centuries B C—Chinese

    *Lubbock* *Ward* *Oriental* *World*

  125. Qū Yuán and Sòng Yù
    Cǔ Chí_2
    Verses of Chu; Songs of the South
    ca. Third Century B C-Third Century—Chinese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    --
    • Three Hundred Tang Poems_2

    compiled by Sun Zhu ca. 1763—Chinese
    *Oriental* *World*

    --
    • Man'yoshu_2

    The Ten Thousand Leaves
    poetry anthology; probably completed by Otomo Yakamochi; ca. Seventh and Eighth centuries—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    --
    • Kokin Wakashu_1

  126. Kokinshu
    Japanese

    *Oriental*

  127. Sei Shonagon

  128. Makura no Soshi_4
    The Pillow Book
    written 1002—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Great*

    Murasaki Shikibu
  129. Genji Monogatari_12

  130. The Tale of Genji
    ca. early Eleventh Century; Mallison ("Smart") specifies Royall Tyler's English translation—Japanese

    *Rexroth* *Ward* *Oriental* *Magill* *Fadiman* *Utne* *Norway* *Great* *GlobeMail* *Smart* *World* *Graphic*

  131. Murasaki Shikibu Nikki_1

  132. written ca. 1008-1010—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  133. Lady Nijo

  134. Towazugatari_1
    The Confessions of Lady Nijo
    early Fourteenth Century—Japanese

    *Oriental*

  135. Horikawa

  136. Sanuki no Suke nikki_1
    Emperor Horikawa Diary
    late Eleventh-early Twelfth centuries—Japanese

    *Oriental*

  137. Izumi Shikibu

  138. Izumi Shikibu Nikki_1
    The Izumi Shikibu Diary
    Eleventh Century—Japanese

    *Oriental*

  139. Ki no Tsurayuki

  140. Tosa Nikki_1
    originally anonymously published; written Tenth Century—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  141. Sugawara no Takasue no Musume (Takasue's Daughter) (Lady Sarashina)

  142. Sarashina Nikki_2
    Japanese
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  143. Mother of Michitsuna

  144. Kagero Nikki_2
    The Gossamer Years
    written ca. 974—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    --
  145. Ise Monogatari_1

  146. The Tales of Ise
    probably written in part by Ariwara no Narihira; Ninth-Tenth centuries—Japanese

    *Oriental*

    --
  147. Yamato Monogatari_1

  148. Tales of Yamato
    written Tenth Century—Japanese

    *Oriental*

  149. Lady Daibu
    Kenreimon-in Ukyo no Daibu_1
    The Poetic Memoirs of Lady Daibu
    late Twelfth-early Thirteenth centuries—Japanese

    *Oriental*

    • Kukai

  150. Selected works_2
    early Ninth Century—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  151. Shinran

  152. Tannisho_1
    transcribed by Yuen, late Thirteenth Century—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  153. Genshin

  154. Ojoyoshu_1
    written 985—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  155. Dogen

  156. Shobogenzo Zuimonki_1
    Thirteenth Century—Japanese
    *Oriental*

    Hakuin Ekaku
  157. Orategama_1

  158. Eighteenth Century—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  159. Itsumadegusa_1

  160. Wild Ivy
    Eighteenth Century—Japanese

    *Oriental*

  161. Chomei Kamo

  162. Hojoki_2
    An Account of My Hut
    written 1212—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  163. Yoshida Kenko

  164. Tsurezuregusa_2
    Essays in Idleness
    written 1330-32—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

    --
  165. Heike Monogatari_1
    Tale of the Heike
    ca. Thirteenth-Fourteenth centuries—Japanese

    *Oriental*

    • Noh plays_1

  166. Japanese
    *Oriental*

    Ihara Saikaku
  167. Five Women Who Loved Love_1

  168. 1685—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  169. The Life of an Amorous Woman_2

  170. 1686—Japanese
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  171. Some Final Words of Advice_1

  172. —Japanese
    *Oriental*

  173. The Japanese Family Storehouse_1

  174. 1688—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  175. This Scheming World_1

  176. 1692—Japanese
    *Oriental*

  177. Basho Matsuo

  178. Oku no Hosomichi_5
    The Narrow Road to the Deep North
    late Seventeenth Century—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Great* *World*

    Chikamatsu Monzaemon
  179. Sonezaki no Shinju_2

  180. The Love Suicides at Sonezaki
    1703—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  181. Shinju Mannenso_2

  182. The Love Suicides in the Women's Temple
    1710—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  183. Meido no Hikyaku_2

  184. The Courier for Hell
    1711—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  185. Kokusen'ya Kassen_2

  186. The Battles of Coxinga
    1715—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  187. Nebiki no Kadomatsu_2

  188. The Uprooted Pine
    1718—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  189. Onnagoroshi Abura no Jigoku_2

  190. The Woman-Killer and the Hell of Oil
    1721—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  191. Shinju Ten no Amijima_2

  192. The Love Suicides at Amijima
    1721—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  193. Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi_2

  194. 1721—Japanese
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  195. Tamba Yosaku Machiyo no Komurobushi_2

  196. 1721—Japanese
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  197. Yari no Gonza_2

  198. 1721—Japanese
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  199. Hakata Kojoro Namimakura_2

  200. 1721—Japanese
    *Ward* *Oriental*

  201. Izumo Takeda, Shoraku Miyoshi, and Senryu Namiki

  202. Kanadehon Chushingura_2
    The Treasure of Loyal Retainers
    1748—Japanese

    *Ward* *Oriental*

  203. Natsume Soseki

  204. Kokoro_4
    originally entitled Kokoro: Sensei no Isho, published serially Apr.-Aug. 1914 in Asahi Shinbun—Japanese
    *Ward* *Oriental* *Fadiman* *Great*