“文學是歷史和社會的一面鏡子”，光輝燦爛的中國文學橫貫三千年的歲月，鑄就華夏民族華贍沉厚的文化認同。中國文學關乎人倫日用，關乎政治教化，與民眾的精神生活息息相關。中國人講求“天人合一”，相信人倫日用的根本與天理相通，不同時代影響中國文化和社會生活的文學家及文學作品，所想像和關注的是整個宇宙，是歷史，是普通民眾的悲辛，從而造就了中國文學“為天地立心”、“為萬民請命”的大氣像。

Chinese literature, spanning over three thousand years, has well shaped the splendid and profound cultural identity of the Chinese people. Chinese literature is of immediate practical use from its source. It concerns human relationships and everyday life as well as political education. Moreover, it is closely related with the spiritual life of the people. The Chinese people strive for the harmony of man:with nature, firmly believing that the foundation of human relationships and everyday life is in communion with the heavenly principles. What the geniuses in the field of literature aspire to know and concern themselves with are the whole universe, history, and the bitter sorrow of the common people. All these are the great splendors in the tradition of Chinese literature.

Foreword
PART ONE: ANCIENT CHINESE LITERATURE by Yao Dan
The Book of Songs: The Earliest Anthology of Poetry
"Folk Songs of 15 Regions" ("Guofeng")
The Epic of the Western Zhou People
Prose Writings of Various Schools of Thought during
the Spring and Autumn andthe Warring States Period:
Models for Prose Writings
Tao Te Ching
The Analects
Mencius
Zhuangzi
Qu Yuan: A Romantic Lyricist
Qu Yuan
The Lament on Encountering Sorrows
Records of the Historian: The First and Last Work by Historians, Li Sao without Rhyme
Pre-Qin Historical Books
About Records of the Historian
The Characterization in Records of the Historian
History and Literature
Literature in the Wei and Jin Period: The Vigorous
and Powerful Style of Jian'an Literature and Tao
Yuanming
Li Bai and Du Fu: The Two Summits of Tang Poetry
Li Bai Romantic Genius Poet
Du Fu A Compassionate Sage Poet
Ci Poetry: Poems That Can Be Sung
Su Shi
Li Qingzhao
Xin Qiji
Two Outstanding Playwrights of the Yuan Opera: Guan
Hanqing and Wang Shifu
Guan Hanqing
Wang Shifu
Classical Fictions in Chapter-titled Style in the Ming
Dynasty: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Outlaws of the Marsh and Journey to the West
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Outlaws of the Marsh
Journey to the West
Strange Tales from Make-Do Studio: Short Stories of the Qing Dynasty
A Dream of Red Mansions: The Pinnacle of Classical Literature
PART TWO: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY CHINESE LITERATURE
by Deng linhui, Wang Feng & Tang Huiyun
Lu Xun: Founder of New Vernacular Literature
The Transformation of Literature
Lu Xun
Modern Fiction: Echo of the Times
Mao Dun and Modern Fiction
Ba ]in and His "Torrent Trilogy"
Lao She and "Beijing Style" Citizen Fiction
"Beijing School" and "Shanghai School"
New Poetry: Finding a Voice of Their Own
New Poetry: Finding a Voice of Their Own
Guo Moruo: A Destroyer and a Creator
Ai Qing: A Singer of the Land and the Sun
Mu Dan: Richness vs. Rich Suffering
Modern Drama: Birth and Maturing
Literature in the New Era: Reflections, Root-seeking and Explorations
Memories of the Historical Wounds
Root-seeking and Countryside Literatui
Avantgarde Novels
Writings of the Neo-realism
Trend of New Poetry
Present-day Literature: writings for the Public
New Historical Novels: Voices of Individuality
Cultural Prose: A New Literary Style
Youth Writing: Keeping Abreast with Fashion
Movie-TV Literature and Cyber-literature: Another Wing of Literature
Appendix: Chronological Table of the Chinese Dynasties