This book examines the traditional literary orthodoxy of ancient prose during the Song dynasty and its evolving practices. It explores the inner meaning and operational logic from three aspects: the “literary pathway” (wendao 文道), “literary sentiment” (wenqing 文青), and “literary law” (wenfa 文法).

Firstly, it analyzes the origin and evolution of the concept of a traditional literary orthodoxy, distinguishing the different approaches to the notion of an “esteemed tradition” (shang tong 尚統) taken by the so-called rulin 儒林, wenyuan 文苑, and daoxue 道學 scholars. Those who “recite the classics” (tan jing zhe 談經者), “possess literary prowess” (neng wen zhe 能文者), or “know the path” (zhi dao zhe 知道者) based their perspectives on the “Elegantiae and Hymns” of the Book of Songs, the sentiment explored in the “Li sao” 離騷, and the rational “principles of the path” (dao li 道理) respectively. This study explores these perspectives and how their literary pathways formed through conflict and adaptation. It investigates the changing idea of “sentiments being brought about through the path” (you dao ji qing 由道及情), the creation and evolution of the literary tradition founded by Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi, orthodox interpretations of writings during the Song, grammatical forms and conventions, as well as their intended meanings, and the literary lineage of the Eight Great Prose Master of the Tang and Song. The study aims to create a better understanding of the intrinsic motivations and the development of the Classical Prose Movement during the Song dynasty, as well as the dynamic relationship between the literary tradition of Classical prose, the interpretative orthodoxy of that time, and the wider scholarly traditions.

Zhang Shenping, a native of Tanghe, Henan province, graduated from the School of Humanities, Tsinghua University with both a master’s degree and a doctorate in Ancient Chinese Literature. He is currently a professor at the Chongqing University of Science and Technology, where he also serves as a graduate supervisor. His research focuses on the literature and culture of the Tang and Song dynasties. He has led several research projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China (NSSFC), including studies on the “Relationship Between Scholarly and Literary Tradition in the Song Dynasty” and “Literary Discourses and the Construction of Literary Criticism During the Southern Song.”

This book focuses on the core issue of "What does Mohism mean by religion?" and explores the "religiousness" of Mohism from four aspects: Mohism's religious thought, the religious ethics debates involved in Mohism, Mohism's religious form, and the dialogue between Mohism and Christianity.

Huang Jiaofeng, born in 1988, holds a Doctorate in philosophy from the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology of Hong Kong Baptist University. He is currently an assistant professor at the Chinese Language and Culture Center (CLCC) of the Beijing Normal University—Hong Kong Baptist University United International College. His research fields are the different schools of philosophical thought of pre-Qin dynasty China, Confucian classics, and multi-cultural dialogue. He has published many essays, including in the journals Renwen guoji 人文國際 (Humanities international), Dongya rewen 東亞人文 (Journal of East Asian Humanities), Zhuzi xuekan 諸子學刊 (The Journal of Early Chinese Philosophers), Guoxue yu xixue 國學與西學 (International Journal of Sino-Western Studies), and Daxue yuwen luncong 大學語文論叢 (University Philological Study). He is the editor-in-chief of the book series on the study of Mohist culture Mojiao wencong 墨教文叢 (Mohist collected writings), in which he has already published three chapters: 'Fei ru' 非儒 (Against Confucianism), 'Li Mo' 立墨 (Establishing Mohism), 'Guizheng Moxue' 歸正墨學 (Rectifying Mohism).