The Soul of China

The Soul of China offers readers a tour of Chinese tradition and character lost to the modern era. Richard Wilhelm arrived in China before the Boxer Rebellion and stayed for a quarter of a century. He became intimate with retired princes and Taoist priests; he steeped himself in Chinese philosophy and occultism; he emerged with a profound respect for the Chinese culture. With chapters on the Revolution, Chinese country life, royalty and soundrels, and occultism and religious movements, this book is one man's fascinating travelogue and exploration of an important age in Chinese history. Richard Wilhelm (1873-1930) was a German scholar who translated many philosophical and spiritual works from Chinese into German that in turn have been translated into other major languages of the world, including English. His translation of the I Ching is regarded as one of the finest.