Literature and Society—Advanced Reader of Modern Chinese

Literature and Society, a textbook designed for upper-level
students, usually in their fourth year of studying Chinese, contains
literary works and essays related to the social sciences. It reflects
the social issues China has faced in recent years and represents a new
approach to introducing students to various aspects of Chinese
society. The textbook contains two sections. The first, entitled
"Literature," includes works by Lu Xun, Lin Yutang, Liang Shiqiu, Wang
Li, Xie Bingying, and Wang Meng. The selections include essays, short
stories, and one play. Each selection reflects a different side of
Chinese life, from offering hospitality to guests and haggling over
prices to philosophical issues. The second section of the textbook,
entitled "Society," includes essays by Fei Xiaotong, Ma Yinchu, Wu
Han, Liang Sicheng, and Chen Hengzhe. These works cover six issues:
marriage and family, population and ethics, urbanization,
intellectuals, minorities, and the preservation of ancient
architecture in a modern city. The textbook provides a brief
introduction to each author and discussion questions at the end of
each piece.

Chih-p'ing Chou is Professor of East Asian Studies at Princeton University. He has contributed to earlier volumes in the series of Chinese-language textbooks produced by the Princeton University Chinese Linguistics Project for Princeton University Press. Ying Wang is Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies at Middlebury College and Xuedong Wang was formerly a Lecturer in East Asian Studies at Princeton University.