The Craft of a Chinese Commentator: Wang Bi on the Laozi (Suny Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)

Rating:
Summary: For specialists only
Review: This is a very technical analysis of the structure of Wang Bi's Laozi commentary, and it is clearly written. As a general reader (non-sinologist) I was able to read it, my interest in Wang Bi had been sparked by John Lynn's translations of the Laozi and Yijing commentaries, and Alan Chan's "Two Visions of the Way". But at the end of the book, I had the feeling of being unable to set the sinological data of Wagner in the broader context of the Chinese culture of the time. Presumably because Wagner is writing for specialists or post-graduate students who already know it. Having a strong personal interest in philosophy, I found this book insensitive to the philosophical issues. I know that Wagner published another book on Wang Bi's philosophy, but I feel that the philosophical issues should not be separated from the subject at any time. A great example of detailed technical sinology with a sensitivity to philosophy is the Brooks' recent "Original Analects" study.