Wm. Theodore de Bary, Ainslie Embree, and Amy Vladeck Heinrich, eds., A Guide to Oriental Classics [1989]
121 entries: 102 monographical, 19 otherwise
Unrankedarranged 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 plansscholars from different disciplines making literature accessible to a general public not devoted to those disciplinesapplies 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.
- Muallaqat
The Seven Odes
compiled Eighth CenturyArabic
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- Quran
Koran
Seventh CenturyArabic
- Ibn Hazm
Tawq al-Hamamah
The Ring of the Dove
written ca. 1022Arabic
- Badi al-Zaman al-Hamadani
Maqamat Badi az-Zaman al-Hamadhani
Ninth CenturyArabic
- Al-Hariri of Basra
Maqamat al-Hariri
Eleventh CenturyArabic
--
- Kitab alf Laylah Wa-Laylah
The Thousand and One Nights; The Arabian Nights
Ninth-Fifteenth centuriesArabic
- Al-Ghazali
Al-Munqidh min al-Dalal
Deliverance From Error
Eleventh-early Twelfth centuriesArabic
- Averroës (Ibn Rushd)
Fasl al-Maqal
On the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy
Twelfth CenturyArabic
- Farid ud-Din Attar (Attar of Nishapur)
Mantiq-ut-Tayr
The Conference of the Birds
1177Persian
Poems
Thirteenth CenturyPersian
- Ibn Khaldun
Muqaddimah
Fourteenth Century; originally written as the preface to Kitab al-IbarArabic
- Ferdowsi
Shahnameh
The Book of Kings
written ca. 977-1010Persian
- Omar Khayyam
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
ca. Eleventh-Twelfth centuries; compiled by Edward FitzGerald in five editions, 1859, 1868, 1872, 1879, and 1889Persian
--
- Dede Korkut
The Book of Dede Korkut
Turkic
Poems
late Thirteenth-early Fourteenth centuriesTurkish
- Fuzuli
Dastan-i Leyli vu Mecnun
The Epic of Layla and Majnun
Sixteenth CenturyTurkic
--
ca. Eighteenth-Fifth centurie B CSanskrit
--
- Rigveda
Sanskrit
--
Seventh-Fourth centuries B CSanskrit
- Vyasa
Mahabharata
includes Bhagavad Gita; ca. Ninth Century B C-Fourth CenturySanskrit
part of the Mahabharata; ca. Ninth Century B C-Fourth CenturySanskrit
- Valmiki
Ramayana
ca. Fifth-Second centuries B CSanskrit
- Patanjali
Yoga Sutras
ca. Second Century B CSanskrit
- Badarayana
Brahma Sutra
Vedanta Sutra
ca. Fifth Century B CSanskrit
- Adi Shankara
Brahmasutra Bhasya
Commentary on the Brahma Sutra
ca. early Ninth CenturySanskrit
--
ca. Sixth-Fifth centuries B C; Sanskrit translationsPali
--
- Dhammapada
part of the Khuddaka Nikaya, fifth of five nikayas in the Sutta Pitaka; written ca. Third Century B CPali
--
- Milinda Panha
Questions of Milinda
written ca. Second Century B C-Second CenturyPali
--
- Mahasatipatthana Sutta
Pali
--
ca. First Century B CSanskrit
--
- Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra
The Perfection of Wisdom
ca. First Century B CSanskrit
--
- Vajracchedika Prajñaparamita Sutra
The Diamond Sutra
ca. First Century B CSanskrit
--
- Srimaladevi Simhanada Sutra
The Lion's Roar of Queen Srimala
complete Sanskrit original not extant; Chinese translation
--
- Lankavatara Sutra
Sanskrit
--
- Infinite Life Sutra
Sanskrit
--
- Amitabha Sutra
Sanskrit
- Shantideva
Bodhisattvacharyavatara
written ca. 700Sanskrit
- Kalidasa
Abhijnanasakuntalam
The Recognition of Sakuntala
ca. Fifth CenturySanskrit
- Sudraka
Mrcchakatika
The Little Clay Cart
ca. Second Century B C-Fifth CenturySanskrit
--
- Panchatantra
Pancatranta
Sanskrit
- Jayadeva
Gita Govinda
Song of Govinda
ca. 1200Sanskrit
- Kalidasa
Meghaduta
The Cloud Messenger
ca. Fifth CenturySanskrit
- Bhartrihari
Satakatraya
The Three Satakas
ca. Fifth CenturySanskrit
Rabindranath Tagore
English translations of selections mostly from Sisu, 1903Bengali
English translations of selections from Kshanika, 1900; Kalpana, 1900; Sonar Tari, 1894; and othersBengali
- Visarjan
Sacrifice
1890Bengali
- Dakghar
The Post Office
1912Bengali
- Chitrangada
1892; English translation entitled Chitranot the same as the author's poetry book entitled Chitra, 1896Bengali
1916; English translations of selections from Gitimalya, Gitali, Balaka, and othersBengali
- Stray Birds
Bengali
- Phalguni
The Cycle of Spring
1916Bengali
1921; English translations of selections from Manasi, 1890; Sonar Tari, 1894; Giti-Malya, 1914; Kahini, 1900; and others; also includes Viday-Abhisap [1894]Bengali
- Mohandas K Gandhi
The Story of My Experiments With the Truth
originally published serially 1925-9 in NavijanGujarati
- Confucius (Kǒng Zǐ) (Kǒng Fūzǐ) (K'ung Fu-tzu)
Analects
Lún Yǔ
written and compiled by the author's pupils; ca. Fifth Century B C-Second CenturyChinese
- Mòzǐ (Mo Tzu)
Mòzǐ
ca. Fifth Century B CChinese
- Lǎozǐ (Lao-tzu) (Laocius)
Dàodéjǐng
Tao te Ching
ca. Sixth Century B CChinese
- Zhuāngzī (Zhuāng Zhōu) (Chuang-tzu)
Zhuāngzī
Nánhuá Zhēnjīng
ca. Third Century B CChinese
- Mèng Zǐ (Mencius) (Meng Tzu)
Mèng Zǐ
Fourth Century B CChinese
--
part of the Book of RitesChinese
--
part of the Book of RitesChinese
- Xúnzǐ (Hsün-tzu)
Xúnzǐ
Third Century B CChinese
- Hán Fēizi (Han Fei-tzu)
Hán Fēizi
Third Century B CChinese
- Simǎ Qiān
Shǐjì
The Records of the Grand Historian
written 109-91 B CChinese
--
- Saddharma Pundarika Sutra
Lotus Sutra
Sanskrit
--
- Vimalakirti Sutra
Sanskrit
--
- Mahayana Sraddhotpada Sastra
Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana
original Sanskrit version attributed to Asvaghosa not exant—Chinese
- Huìnéng
Liùzǔ Tánjīng
The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch
ca. Eighth-Thirteenth centuriesChinese
- Línjì Yìxuán (Lin-chi l-Hsüan)
Línjì Yǔlù
Record of Linj
ca. Ninth-Twelfth centuriesChinese
Selected works
Twelfth CenturyChinese
Wáng Yángmíng (Bo'an)
- Chuáxí Lù
Instructions for Practical Living
late Fifteenth-early Sixteenth centuriesChinese
- Inquiry on the Great Learning
late Fifteenth-early Sixteenth centuriesChinese
- Shī Nài'ān
Shuǐ Hŭ Zhuàn
The Water Margin
written Fourteenth CenturyChinese
- Wú Chéng-ēn (Ruzhong)
Xi Yóu Jì
Journey to the West; Monkey
late Sixteenth CenturyChinese
- Lánlíng Xiàoxiào Shēng
Jīn Píng Méi
The Plum in the Golden Vase; The Golden Lotus
1610; author's identity unknown, given name is a pseudonymChinese
- Cáo Xuěqín (Mengruan) (Ts'ao Hsueh-ch'in)
Hóng Lóu Mèng
The Dream of the Red Chamber; The Story of the Stone
1791Chinese
--
- Shījīng
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 CChinese
- Qū Yuán and Sòng Yù
Cǔ Chí
Verses of Chu; Songs of the South
ca. Third Century B C-Third CenturyChinese
--
compiled by Sun Zhu ca. 1763Chinese
--
The Ten Thousand Leaves
poetry anthology; probably completed by Otomo Yakamochi; ca. Seventh and Eighth centuriesJapanese
--
Kokinshu
Japanese
- Sei Shonagon
Makura no Soshi
The Pillow Book
written 1002Japanese
Murasaki Shikibu
- Genji Monogatari
The Tale of Genji
ca. early Eleventh CenturyJapanese
- Murasaki Shikibu Nikki
written ca. 1008-1010Japanese
- Lady Nijo
Towazugatari
The Confessions of Lady Nijo
early Fourteenth CenturyJapanese
- Horikawa
Sanuki no Suke nikki
Emperor Horikawa Diary
late Eleventh-early Twelfth centuriesJapanese
- Izumi Shikibu
Izumi Shikibu Nikki
The Izumi Shikibu Diary
Eleventh CenturyJapanese
- Ki no Tsurayuki
Tosa Nikki
originally anonymously published; written Tenth CenturyJapanese
- Sugawara no Takasue no Musume (Takasue's Daughter) (Lady Sarashina)
Sarashina Nikki
Japanese
- Mother of Michitsuna
Kagero Nikki
The Gossamer Years
written ca. 974Japanese
--
- Ise Monogatari
The Tales of Ise
probably written in part by Ariwara no Narihira; Ninth-Tenth centuriesJapanese
--
- Yamato Monogatari
Tales of Yamato
written Tenth CenturyJapanese
- Lady Daibu
Kenreimon-in Ukyo no Daibu
The Poetic Memoirs of Lady Daibu
late Twelfth-early Thirteenth centuriesJapanese
Selected works
early Ninth CenturyJapanese
- Shinran
Tannisho
transcribed by Yuen, late Thirteenth CenturyJapanese
- Genshin
Ojoyoshu
written 985Japanese
- Dogen
Shobogenzo Zuimonki
Thirteenth CenturyJapanese
Hakuin Ekaku
- Orategama
Eighteenth CenturyJapanese
- Itsumadegusa
Wild Ivy
Eighteenth CenturyJapanese
- Chomei Kamo
Hojoki
An Account of My Hut
written 1212Japanese
- Yoshida Kenko
Tsurezuregusa
Essays in Idleness
written 1330-32Japanese
--
- Heike Monogatari
Tale of the Heike
ca. Thirteenth-Fourteenth centuriesJapanese
--
Japanese
Ihara Saikaku
- Five Women Who Loved Love
1685Japanese
- The Life of an Amorous Woman
1686Japanese
- Some Final Words of Advice
Japanese
- The Japanese Family Storehouse
1688Japanese
- This Scheming World
1692Japanese
- Basho Matsuo
Oku no Hosomichi
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
late Seventeenth CenturyJapanese
Chikamatsu Monzaemon
- Sonezaki no Shinju
The Love Suicides at Sonezaki
1703Japanese
- Shinju Mannenso
The Love Suicides in the Women's Temple
1710Japanese
- Meido no Hikyaku
The Courier for Hell
1711Japanese
- Kokusen'ya Kassen
The Battles of Coxinga
1715Japanese
- Nebiki no Kadomatsu
The Uprooted Pine
1718Japanese
- Onnagoroshi Abura no Jigoku
The Woman-Killer and the Hell of Oil
1721Japanese
- Shinju Ten no Amijima
The Love Suicides at Amijima
1721Japanese
- Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi
1721Japanese
- Tamba Yosaku Machiyo no Komurobushi
1721Japanese
- Yari no Gonza
1721Japanese
- Hakata Kojoro Namimakura
1721Japanese
- Izumo Takeda, Shoraku Miyoshi, and Senryu Namiki
Kanadehon Chushingura
The Treasure of Loyal Retainers
1748Japanese
- Natsume Soseki
Kokoro
originally entitled Kokoro: Sensei no Isho, published serially Apr.-Aug. 1914 in Asahi ShinbunJapanese