Poems that helped shape Chinese thought

Since antiquity, no other text has enjoyed a presence quite like The Book of Songs – in one critic's words, it is "the classic of the human heart and the human mind." It is the first poetic anthology of China; Confucius himself is said to have compiled the "three hundred songs"— another early name for the text – out of a body of 3,000, "removing duplicates and choosing only what could be matched to the principles of ritual". By the end of the Western Han dynasty (202 BCE-9 CE), there were no fewer than four schools of the Songs at the imperial academy, offering a range of different interpretations for each song.

In the same way that Homer's epics took hold within the West, The Book of Songs played a role in spheres far beyond literature, with a lasting influence on Chinese civilisation. The collection had an impact on education, politics and communal life: in antiquity, the Songs were quoted and recited as coded communication in diplomatic exchange; invoked as proof to cap a philosophical argument; read as commentary – satirical more often than not – on historical circumstances; and taught for the purposes of moral edification. It has continued to affect Chinese society since then, both through what the Songs say and the form they take.

The received anthology emerged from the "Mao tradition", one of the four early schools, and is divided into four parts: 160 Airs (guofeng), 74 Minor Court Hymns (xiaoya), 31 Major Court Hymns (daya), and 40 Eulogies (song). Within the Eulogies, the 31 Eulogies of Zhou are considered the oldest segment of the anthology, purportedly dating back to the very early years of the Western Zhou (1046-771 BCE) dynasty.

These hymns, all of them rather short, were performed in sacrifices to the Zhou royal ancestors: multimedia performances containing the aromatic offerings of meat, grain and alcohol; ritual music on drums and bells, wind and string instruments; dance to re-enact the military conquest of the previous Shang dynasty; and the solemn hymns by which the Zhou king praised his ancestors and requested their blessings in return. In short, Chinese poetry begins in religious ritual.

By accompanying rites, in turn, the Eulogies helped regulate social order. Respecting 'heaven's will' was an important element of ancient Chinese politics; by enforcing this message, the Book of Songs could underpin the rule of the Zhou Dynasty. Unlike the Eulogies, many of the Court Hymns are grand, expansive narratives to celebrate the Zhou; they served as the dynasty's core text of political and cultural memory. Like the archaic Eulogies, the Hymns are straightforward; there is no debate about the story they are meant to tell.

Confucius Confusion

Far more challenging are the Airs of the States, assigned to 15 different regions roughly along the Yellow River across northern China. Not one of these songs carries a historical narrative. Some are deceptively easy on their surface: a song of desire, the parting song of lovers at dawn, a farmer's protest against corrupt officials, the lament of a soldier on campaign longing for home, or of his wife waiting for him in vain. It is here where the human condition of thought and emotion finds its full expression – and where all questions of interpretation begin.

The May Fourth Movement of 1919 (anti-imperialist cultural and political protests sparked by students) tried to build a new national literary heritage on the ruins of an empire that after two millennia had finally collapsed. Now, the Airs became something new altogether: folk songs whose charming simplicity and repetitive diction seemed to have sprung directly from the hearts of the common people.

The very first and most famous Air of all, Fishhawks (Guanju), is known as a happy marriage song. Yet was it ever that? Already Zhu Xi (1130-1200) had advocated a return to the words of the songs themselves, in a veritable act of literary excavation after Han and later commentators had buried them under layers upon layers of learned commentary; and there is evidence that the poets – as opposed to the scholars – of imperial China always knew how to appreciate the Airs at face value, invoking their lively imagery taken from nature together with their expressions of desire, love, and pain.

Like no other text from Chinese antiquity, the Songs were cherished, and hence survived, in two parallel traditions: one of learned commentary and the imperial examination system, the other of poetic memory and allusion. Remarkably, no ancient source ever shows us the Airs as innocent folk poetry. Early imperial legend knows of royal officials "collecting" the songs from the "lanes and alleys" to reveal to the ruler the social conditions and sentiments of the common people; purportedly, only then were they adapted to court music. Yet there is nothing to support such pious belief in the folk origins of poetry; instead, every reference to, or quotation from, the Songs before and after the foundation of the empire in 221 BCE shows them as part of the élite curriculum that gradually solidified in the form of the Five Classics of imperial Confucianism.

In that tradition, each line could have multiple meanings. One Han commentary takes Fishhawks as praising the virtue of King Wen (1099-1050 BCE) and his wife; yet another takes it as criticism of King Kang (1005-978 BCE). And finally, several recently discovered tomb manuscripts on bamboo and silk, dating from the 4th through the 2nd Centuries BCE, note that "Fishhawks uses the expression of sexual allure and desire to illustrate propriety" in order to advance moral thought.

Through poetry, rites and music, Confucian education sought to teach moral subtleties – easily memorised in the form of singing, The Book of Songs helped to lay down rules for behaviour. Its poetry, as opposed to the Western tradition, was largely anonymous and apparently simple. Yet beneath the surface, the poems are multi-layered. To this day, the Songs – and especially the Airs – are speaking in multiple voices. In delightful ambiguity, they have survived every attempt to be reduced, and hence diminished, to a single message or meaning.

Listen to what the Confucius of the Analects had to say about them: the Songs "can be covered in one phrase: no wayward thoughts!"; with them, "one can inspire, observe, unite, and express resentment" as well as learn "in great numbers the names of fish, birds, beasts, plants, and trees"; those who fail to master them "have nothing to express themselves with" and are like a man who "stands with his face straight to the wall".

Vast Theft of Antiquarian Books Sends a Shudder Through a Cloistered World of Dealers

A rare books dealer thought he had gotten lucky in 2013 when he managed to acquire a 1787 French first edition — inscribed by Thomas Jefferson when he was ambassador to France.

"If someone else had seen it first, it would have been gone," said the dealer, John Thomson, who owns Bartleby's Books, an online shop.

He had no idea that his seeming good fortune was a byproduct of one of the most expansive rare book thefts in history.

The dealer at a book fair who sold it to him, John Schulman, is now accused of conspiring with a library archivist, Gregory Priore, to steal and sell rare items from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

The two carried out the theft over nearly two decades, the authorities said, stealing about 300 books and other artifacts that, in total, would cost more than $8 million to replace.

Their arrests last month sent a shudder across the rare books industry, a multimillion-dollar business in the United States, according to the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America.

In this niche world based on trust, where confidants are currency and handshake deals are commonplace, the arrest of a prominent dealer is a shocking suggestion of deceit.

Mr. Schulman had served on the association's board of governors and had even led its ethics committee, the organization said. His clients included some of the biggest names in the business. Prominent bookshops from New York to London bought stolen books, an affidavit shows.

"It's basically a 'who's who' of people in the rare book field," said Travis McDade, curator of rare books for the University of Illinois College of Law.

None of the buyers are accused of wrongdoing. But the booksellers' association is taking steps to try to prevent a similar wide-scale theft from happening again.

We traced the path of one book, the edition signed by Jefferson, to explain how the theft is suspected to have worked — and why it went undetected for so long.

A nearly 'foolproof' setup

While there have been other infamous rare book thefts, occasionally by industry insiders, the Carnegie Library case, according to prosecutors, notably involved a collaboration between a librarian and a dealer.

"That is absolutely unique," said Mr. McDade, an expert on rare book thefts who has written several books on the subject. "You just don't see it."

As the library archivist, Mr. Priore had access to a collection of rare books and other items at the public Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. As a well-known dealer and owner of the Caliban Book Shop in Pittsburgh, Mr. Schulman had access to a network of potential buyers.

"It was an amazing setup that was close to foolproof," Mr. McDade said, noting that most rare book thieves get caught trying to sell their goods.

In a scheme that dated back to the late 1990s, Mr. Priore told the authorities, he would remove items from the library and drop them off at Mr. Schulman's bookshop, just a block away, on his way home from work.

Mr. Schulman paid Mr. Priore up front, and then worked to sell the goods at higher prices, according to the affidavit.

Lawyers for both Mr. Schulman and Mr. Priore declined to comment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 12.

Among the valuable items they stole, according to the authorities: a 1687 version of Isaac Newton's "Principia," one of the most influential books in science; a rare copy of "The Journal of Major George Washington"; and expensive prints by Edward S. Curtis, a famous photographer who documented Native American life.

The anatomy of a rare book theft

One of the prized items was the book inscribed by Jefferson, "De la France et des Etats-Unis," an important economic work by two French authors.

Mr. Schulman paid the librarian about $1,000 for the volume, Mr. Priore told the authorities, according to the affidavit.

In 2013, Mr. Schulman took the book to a book fair on the East Coast. He shared a booth with Mr. Thomson of Bartleby's Books, whom he had known for about three decades, according to Mr. Thomson. It quickly caught his eye, he said, and he bought it for $5,000, according to investigators.

At some point, Mr. Thomson said, he asked Mr. Schulman about markings in the book, which indicated it had come from a library. Mr. Schulman assuaged his concerns with a letter, bearing Mr. Priore's name, that said that the book had been "de-accessioned," or officially removed from the library's collection.

Now what?

Since then, the book has been handed over to the authorities. It is among about $1 million worth of stolen items that have been recovered, according to the affidavit. Others are still missing.

Dealers said they would be more cautious going forward, but would not allow one case to upend how they do business. "It happened in a small world," Mr. Pedersen said. "A lot of people have known each other for a very long time. I think people are going to rightfully proceed with caution."

Mr. Thomson said that when dealing with high-value items from libraries, he now plans to ask multiple people at the library to sign off. But he and other dealers said the libraries themselves should take more responsibility for keeping track of their collections.

Over the course of almost 20 years, he said, "It's a little unbelievable to me that at some point something wasn't noticed as missing."

A spokeswoman for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh said that the library was reviewing its policies with outside experts.

Susan Benne, executive director of the antiquarian booksellers' group, said the organization was working to create best practices for handling materials de-accessioned from libraries and is developing training on theft and provenance.

She said she was not aware of any other instances in the last 15 years in which a member had been found in violation of the ethics code for selling stolen goods.

Mr. Schulman has resigned from the booksellers' association.

"I certainly hope that what's alleged is not true," Mr. Thomson said. If it is, he added, "It is a great betrayal of trust."

8 books that can help you increase your net worth

If you're looking to boost your financial IQ this summer, reading these books is one way to get started.

CNBC.com asked financial advisors which books they'd recommend to increase your understanding of how you should invest and manage your money. Here are their top picks.

"I Will Teach You To Be Rich"

This book by Ramit Sethi provides a six-week program aimed at young adults ages 20 to 35.

Financial advisor Michael Kitces recommends the book because it not only teaches good habits, it also emphasizes the value of reinvesting in yourself.

"I find most personal finance books skip this oh-so-important aspect of trying to improve your financial situation by focusing on your earning power, rather than just your expenses or your portfolio investments," Kitces said. "That's what puts his book high on my list."

"The Ultimate Financial Plan: Balancing Your Money and Life"

This financial planning book by Jim Stovall and Tim Maurer covers your overall financial situation, including your cash flow, insurance coverage and estate plan.

"This book is good for the DIY-ers who want take tackle and have the time to manage their own financial household," said advisor Rianka Dorsainvil, founder and president of Your Greatest Contribution.

The book can also help you if you are already working with a financial advisor or planner.

"You will be able to bring ideas and thoughts to the table so it can feel like more of a partnership," Dorsainvil said.

"The Millionaire Next Door"

Written by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, this book examines how truly wealthy Americans often live frugal lifestyles and rarely show off their wealth with flashy spending.

"It lays the foundation, and shows the impact of how living within your means and spending less than you earn can give you the financial freedom at an early age," Dorsainvil said.

Reading the book should give you an understanding of how all decisions – from buying a home to a car – impacts your long-term wealth, according to Dorsainvil.

"Think and Grow Rich"

Napoleon Hill's book was first published in 1937 and draws lessons from rich men of that era, including Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.

The book teaches you the "mindset one needs to become wealthy," according to financial advisor Ivory Johnson, founder of Delancey Wealth Management in Washington, D.C.

"Our mind is incredibly powerful and thoughts turn into reality," Johnson said.

"The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves"

Author Matt Ridley makes the case in his book for increased prosperity this century, in spite of what pessimists say.

That message, according to financial advisor Tom West, a partner at Signature Estate & Investment Advisors in Tysons Corner, Virginia, can help investors who shy away from the market because of their fears of what could go wrong.

"Ridley does a masterful job of contextualizing the progress of modern society in an accessible way, laying the groundwork for rationally expecting the world of tomorrow to be materially better," West said. "The book was published after the financial crash but now seems just as timely."

The Masters makes own rules

A year ago at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, many players were concerned about golf’s governing bodies taking away their green-reading books. Nothing much has materialized since regarding the legality of those supplemental books. The players increasingly rely on the pages full of arrows.

Except at Augusta National.

In discussing upcoming preparations for the Masters, both Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth noted that they won’t be able refer to the detailed readouts.

“Augusta doesn’t provide you with a green-contour book, like the other tournaments do,” McIlroy said. “So you’ve got to sort of figure it out yourself.”

Spieth noted the absence of green-reading books at Augusta as well, forcing him to rely on notes.

“It’s very important to use previous years books, especially on the greens, the fall lines, and where you have access to certain pins,” Spieth said.

As for the impact on their games, McIlroy said he actually stores green-reading books with his caddie to prevent overanalysis.

“When I carry it myself, I find I get into the habit of taking it out on every green and just looking at it needlessly,” McIlroy said.

Spieth said some of this best putting rounds have been without a green-reading book.

“You can overanalyze some of the information you’re given,” Spieth said. “But other than that, I’ve still used greens books and had them been important in wins, as well.”

The discussion provided a fresh reminder that Augusta National sets its own standards and players willingly comply for one special week a year. That could be noteworthy when folks say the Lords of Augusta would never make players comply with different rules, like, you know, asking them to use a different golf ball during Masters week.

Reading for Precocious Preteens

Dear Match Book,

I am the head librarian at an independent school for children from preschool through 12th grade. I am in the happy position of having many middle-school-age pupils who read significantly above their grade level, but I struggle to find books for them — especially realistic fiction — that are sophisticated but do not overwhelm the students with complex themes. In the years leading up to high school, readers walk a tightrope: They are ready to begin exploring more mature ideas and writing structures, but they aren’t always ready for full-on realistic drama. What titles can you recommend for these avid readers?

JENNIFER FALVEY
COLUMBIA, S.C.

Dear Jennifer,

At school my older children learned the five-finger rule for finding a “just-right book”: If it has more than five unfamiliar words on one page, the book is deemed too challenging for a student to read. I sympathize with the practicality of the guideline, and understand that it is aimed mostly at developing readers, but in practice I find the rubric a little deflating for young bookworms. Part of the joy of unbridled childhood reading lies in the haze of misunderstanding; the mystifying behavior of adult characters and even scads of obscure vocabulary can spur curiosity and spark richly imaginative embellishments to fill in the gaps. Your more expansive approach — to look for books that will challenge your students — allows for who they are and who they will become.

Old Standbys

Your library is probably stocked with classics that your tightrope-walking middle schoolers will enjoy. Fluent, attentive readers of that age will fall for the warm, slyly playful first-person narration and meaty characters in Charles Dickens’s “Great Expectations.” And they might relate to the story of childhood friendship in Willa Cather’s more leisurely paced prairie novel “My Ántonia.”

Everything Old Is New Again

I’m sure your shelves also hold some of my recent favorites: “The Thing About Jellyfish,” by Ali Benjamin (for more science-minded kids); “When You Reach Me,” by Rebecca Stead (a great companion to “A Wrinkle in Time,” by Madeleine L’Engle); and “Brown Girl Dreaming,” by Jacqueline Woodson (a memoir in verse for your budding poets). But I also want to make a pitch for some mid-to-late-20th-century (mostly) realistic books for younger readers that may have fallen off your radar. Robert Cormier’s deeply unsettling, desperately suspenseful and structurally complicated novel from 1977, “I Am the Cheese,” tracks the thoughts of Adam Farmer, a troubled boy on a bicycle who is caught up in sinister events beyond his understanding.

More ordinary tragedies mark the heroines’ lives in both Irene Hunt’s “Up a Road Slowly” and “The High House,” the first installment of Honor Arundel’s Emma series. Each book centers on a motherless girl sent to live with her aunt, setting them on rough, rutted paths toward self-discovery.

The road to adulthood appears similarly dark and uncertain in Katherine Paterson’s novels. Readers who loved “Bridge to Terabithia” in elementary school might also like her moody, openhearted novel for older readers “Jacob Have I Loved,” the story of Louise, a misfit living in the shadow of her twin sister on an island in the Chesapeake Bay in the 1940s.

The Places You’ll Go

Then there are the coming-of-age stories not intended expressly for children. Books for adults told from the points of view of young protagonists keep your readers’ perspectives in mind while still giving them a taste of more advanced literary forms. Esperanza Cordero, a Mexican-American girl living in Chicago, narrates “The House on Mango Street,” Sandra Cisneros’s lyrical, at turns both childlike and mature novel in vignettes. While growing up in Antigua, the sharp-voiced, eponymous heroine of Jamaica Kincaid’s “Annie John” shares a sweet ease with her mother that turns bitter in adolescence.

Steer your most precocious 12- and 13-year-olds toward “Purple Hibiscus,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s debut novel — an intense family drama narrated by 15-year-old Kambili and set against a backdrop of political unrest in 1990s Nigeria — and “Black Swan Green,” David Mitchell’s minutely conjured, mystically mundane story of a year in the life of a 13-year-old English boy with a stutter. The first-person perspectives in all these novels for grown-ups get at what is essential and true about childhood, and also provide young readers with startling glimpses of the adult world just as it is coming into view.

Yours truly,
Match Book