The Annals of Lü Buwei

Lü Buwei was a merchant who bought himself a kingdom: he backed an exiled prince of Qin, became chancellor, and was rumoured to be the real father of the boy who would become the First Emperor. He gathered three thousand scholars and had them write a book covering heaven, earth and everything between, then hung it at the city gate with a thousand pieces of gold for anyone who could improve a single word. The Annals of Lü Buwei is the result: twelve almanacs following the months, eight examinations and six discourses, on the seasons, music, agriculture, war, government and the nourishing of life, full of stories. This complete new English translation covers the whole work. Names are given in modern pinyin and technical terms are rendered plainly, so this treasure-house of early Chinese knowledge can be browsed or read straight through in natural English.