In a landmark initiative, the Hsu-Tang Library of Classical Chinese Literature has been unveiled by Oxford University Press, bringing millennia of classic texts to the global stage. Under the stewardship of MIT’s Professor Wiebke Denecke, the library aims to provide bilingual editions of timeless literary works spanning over three millennia, from the first millennium BCE to the early 20th century.
Modeled after the Loeb Classical Library, which showcased Greek and Roman literature, the Hsu-Tang Library debuts with five titles that delve into the richness of Chinese-language literature. The series, funded by benefactors Oscar Liu-Chien Tang and Agnes Hsin Mei Hsu-Tang, sets out to explore classical Chinese literature in its multifaceted glory, transcending geographical boundaries to include authors from Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
The Hsu-Tang Library is a repository of classical Chinese literature, spanning three millennia and encompassing contributions not only from China but also from Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It follows the tradition of endowed bilingual libraries, pioneered by the Loeb Classical Library and later echoed by the Murty Classical Library of India. The editions feature Chinese text on one side and English translation on the other, maintaining a balance between scholarly rigor and readability.
Our benefactors, Agnes Hsin Mei Hsu-Tang and Oscar Liu-Chien Tang, bring a unique legacy of translating knowledge onto the global stage. Agnes, a descendant of Xu Guangqi, a co-translator with Matteo Ricci in the 17th century, symbolizes a lineage committed to East-West cultural exchange.
The Hsu-Tang Library represents a pivotal moment for the humanities, aiming to rejuvenate the canonical, explore lesser-known facets of Chinese literature, and underscore over 2,000 years of shared cultural heritage in East Asia. By introducing unexpected works, such as “The Misadventures of Master Mugwort,” a collection of political satire in joke format, the library challenges common perceptions.
We also highlight the diverse female voices in “An Anthology of Poetry by Buddhist Nuns of Late Imperial China,” offering an archaeology of the female experience in precarious times. This anthology serves as a powerful testament to the empowerment of nuns through poetry and art.
This text, written by a disciple of a Daoist patriarch summoned by Genghis Khan in the 1220s, is a rare firsthand account of encounters with different cultures, religions, and landscapes. It weaves poetry into the narrative, making it a unique exploration of reality through the Chinese tradition of poetic expression. The text not only introduces readers to the exotic but also provides a glimpse into Genghis Khan’s fascination with Daoism, emphasizing political capital gained through cultural connections.
The Hsu-Tang Library aspires to create a distinctive style—smartly scholarly, ensuring readers gain insight through translation.
