Nov 15, 2010 © Ulrich Theobald
Xinyu 新語 "New talks" is a short political treatise written during the early Former Han period 前漢 (206 BCE-8 CE) by Lu Jia 陸賈 (d. 170). Lu was a follower of the dynastic founder Liu Bang 劉邦 (Emperor Han Gaozu 漢高祖, r. 206-195 BCE), who ordered the former to compile a book covering the most essential aspects of practical government. Lu Jia did this mainly in the shape of examples from former times through which the reason for success and failure could be explained. The book has 12 chapters.
One of the core contents of the Xinyu is an explanation why the Qin dynasty 秦 (221-206 BCE) had failed. Lu Jia says, because of its cruelty and intrigues the Qin could not survive. The new Han dynasty should learn from these errors and set up a broad-minded and benevolent government, using the Confucian virtues of kindness (ren 仁) and righteousness (yi 義).
The most important prints of the Xinyu were that of Li Tingwu 李庭梧, Jiang Sifu 姜思復, Hu Weixin 胡維新 and Fan Dachong 范大衝 from the Ming period 明 (1368-1644), as well as the edition of the Qing-period 清 (1644-1911) scholar Yan Kejun 嚴可均 (1762—1843).
There is a complete English translation by Mei-kao Ku. 1988. A Chinese Mirror for Magistrates: the Hsin-yü of Lu Chia. Canberra: University of Hawai'i Press.
Table 1. Contents of the Xinyu 新語
| 1. |
道基 |
Daoji |
On the foundation of the Way |
| 2. |
術事 |
Shushi |
On the narrating of past events |
| 3. |
輔政 |
Fuzheng |
On aiding in administration |
| 4. |
無為 |
Wuwei |
On non-action |
| 5. |
辨惑 |
Bianhuo |
On settling doubts |
| 6. |
慎微 |
Shenwei |
On being aware of small things |
| 7. |
資質 |
Zizhi |
On employing worthy men |
| 8. |
至德 |
Zhide |
On emphasising virtue |
| 9. |
懷慮 |
Huailü |
On laying plans |
| 10. |
本行 |
Benxing |
On primary and elementary actions |
| 11. |
明誡 |
Mingjie |
On a clear warning |
| 12. |
思務 |
Siwu |
On giving priority to important matters |
Sources:
Bai Jianxin 白建新. 1997. "Xinyu 新語." In Zhongguo ruxue 中國儒學, edited by Pang Pu 龐樸, vol. 3, 161. Shanghai: Dongfang chuban zhongxin.
Chen Ying 陳瑛, and Xu Qixian 許啟賢, eds. 1989. Zhongguo lunli da cidian 中國倫理大辭典, 681. Shenyang: Liaoning renmin chubanshe.
Ge Libin 葛立斌. 2011. "Tong wu tong bian: Lu Jia Xinyu de Shi xueguan “統物通變”——陸賈《新語》的《詩》學觀." Nandu xuetan 南都學壇 31 (4): 25-30.
Ge Rongjin 葛榮晉. 1987. "Xinshu 新書." In Zhongguo da baike quanshu 中國大百科全書, part Zhexue 哲學, vol. 2, 1025. Beijing and Shanghai: Zhongguo da baike quanshu chubanshe.
He Shengdi 賀聖迪. 1992. "Xinyu 新語." In Zhongguo xueshu mingzhu tiyao 中國學術名著提要, vol. Zhexue 哲學卷, edited by Zhou Gucheng 周谷城, 134. Shanghai: Fudan daxue chubanshe.
Huang Mingxi 黄明喜. 1996. "Xinyu 新語." In Zhongguo xueshu mingzhu tiyao 中國學術名著提要, vol. Jiaoyu 教育卷, edited by Zhou Gucheng 周谷城, 103. Shanghai: Fudan daxue chubanshe.
Jiaoyu da cidian bianzuan weiyuanhui 《教育大辭典》編纂委員會, ed. 1991. Jiaoyu da cidian 教育大辭典, part 8, Zhongguo gudai jiaoyu shi 中國古代教育史, vol. 1, 315. Shanghai: Shanghai jiaoyu chubanshe.
Li Lu 李露. 2024. "Shilun Lu Jia Xinyu dui Laozi de jieshou 試論陸賈《新語》對《老子》的接受." Jingu wenchuang 今古文創 2024 (30): 62-64.
Loewe, Michael. 1993. "Hsin yü." In Early Chinese Texts: A Bibliographical Guide, edited by Michael Loewe, 171-177. Berkeley: Society for the Study of Early China/Institute of East Asian Studies.
Pan Ce 潘策. 1988. "Xinyu 新語." In Zhongguo ruxue cidian 中國儒學辭典, edited by Zhao Jihui 趙吉惠, and Guo Hou’an 郭厚安, 402. Shenyang: Liaoning renmin chubanshe.
Qi Zhixiang 祁志祥. 2023. "Zhi yi daode wei shang, xing yi renyi wie ben: Lu Jia Xinyu de sixiang xitong yu lishi diwei “治以道德為上，行以仁義為本”——陸賈《新語》的思想系統與歷史地位." Fudan xuebao (Shehui kexue ban) 復旦學報（社會科學版） 65 (5): 125-133.
Qian Zongjie 錢宗捷, and Ji Yu 冀宇. 1981. "Shitan Lu Jia de Xinyu 試談陸賈的《新語》." Lishi jiaoxue 歷史教學 1981 (10): 41-43.
Sheng Guangzhi 盛廣智. 1996. "Xinyu 新語." In Zhuzi baijia da cidian 諸子百家大辭典, edited by Feng Kezheng 馮克正, and Fu Qingsheng 傅慶升, 319. Shenyang: Liaoning renmin chubanshe.
Shi Zhengkang 施正康, and Ye Shichang 葉世昌. 1994. "Xinyu 新語." In Zhongguo xueshu mingzhu tiyao 中國學術名著提要, vol. Jingji 經濟卷, edited by Zhou Gucheng 周谷城, 35. Shanghai: Fudan daxue chubanshe.
Wang Yuguang 王余光, and Xu Yan 徐雁, eds. 1997. Zhongguo dushu da cidian 中國讀書大辭典, 1155. Nanjing: Nanjing daxue chubanshe.
Wu Feng 吳楓, ed. 1994. Zhonghua gu wenxian da cidian 中華古文獻大辭典, vol. Wenxue 文學卷, 720. Changchun: Jilin wenshi chubanshe.
Xia Dekao 夏德靠. 2018. "Lun Lu Jia Xinyu zhi xin 論陸賈《新語》之“新”." Hebei Shifan Daxue xuebao (Zhexue shehui kexue ban) 河北師範大學學報（哲學社會科學版） 41 (5): 69-77.
Xiang Yongqin 項永琴. 2000. "Cong Hanfu yanjiu kan Lu Jia Xinyu 從漢賦研究看陸賈《新語》." Shandong Daxue xuebao (Zhexue shehui kexue ban) 山東大學學報（哲學社會科學版） 2000 (3): 32-37.
Xiang Yongqin 項永琴. 2003. "Lu Jia Xinyu yu Yixue 陸賈《新語》與易學." Zhouyi yanjiu 周易研究 2003 (4): 69-72.
Yang Hehao 楊鶴臯. 1996. "Xinyu 新語." In Zhongguo xueshu mingzhu tiyao 中國學術名著提要, vol. Zhengzhi falü 政治法律卷, edited by Zhou Gucheng 周谷城, 105. Shanghai: Fudan daxue chubanshe.
Yang Yichen 楊易辰. 2023. "Lu Jia zhidao zhexue de Yixue quanshi: Yi Xinyu yu Xici zhuan wei zhongxin 陸賈治道哲學的易學詮釋——以《新語》與《系辭傳》為中心." Zhexue fenxi 哲學分析14 (4): 78-89+197-198.
Zhao Qi 趙琪. 2011. "Lu Jia Xinyu sixiang xintan 陸賈《新語》思想新探." Guanzi xuekan 管子學刊 2011 (2): 66-71.
Zhou Guidian 周桂鈿. 1993. "Xinyu 新語." In Shijie baike zhuzuo cidian 世界百科著作辭典, edited by Ru Xin 汝信, 48. Beijing: Zhongguo gongren chubanshe.
