'‘On Asking': A Masterpiece by a Talent of the Tongcheng School

摘要

In ancient China,"shuo"was a very popular type of writing,in which the Lauthor explains a concept through empirical observation.For example,"On Teachers"(Shi Shuo)written by Han Yu(AD 768-824),a litterateur during the Tang Dynasty(AD 618-907),and"On the Snake Catcher"(Bushezhe Shuo)written by Liu Zongyuan(AD 773-819)are all classic works handed down from generation to generation.During the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911),Liu Kai(1784-1824),a favourite disciple of Yao Nai(1732-1815),a master of Tongcheng School,wrote an essay entitledOn Asking"(Wen shuo),pointing out the important role of"asking questions"in learning and emphasising that"learning"and"asking"supplement each otherand neither of them can be omitted.