Hidden and Visible Realms: Early Medieval Chinese Tales of the Supernatural and the Fantastic (Translations from the Asian Classics)

Chinese culture of the Six Dynasties period (220-589) saw a blossoming of stories of the fantastic. Zhiguai , "records of the strange" or "accounts of anomalies," tell of encounters with otherness, in which inexplicable and uncanny phenomena interrupt mundane human affairs. They depict deities, ghosts, and monsters; heaven, the underworld, and the immortal lands; omens, metamorphoses, and trafficking between humans and supernatural beings; and legendary figures, strange creatures, and natural wonders in the human world. Hidden and Visible Realms , traditionally attributed to Liu Yiqing, is one of the most significant zhiguai collections, distinguished by its varied contents, elegant writing style, and fascinating stories. It is also among the earliest collections heavily influenced by Buddhist beliefs, values, and concerns. Beyond the traditional zhiguai narratives, it includes tales of karmic retribution, reincarnation, and Buddhist ghosts, hell, and magic. In this annotated first complete English translation , Zhenjun Zhang gives English-speaking readers a sense of the wealth and wonder of the zhiguai canon. Hidden and Visible Realms opens a window into the lives, customs, and religious beliefs and practices of early medieval China and the cultural history of Chinese Buddhism. In the introduction, Zhang explains the key themes and textual history of the work. Social Value Investing presents a new way to approach some of society's most difficult and intractable challenges. Although many of our world's problems may seem too great and too complex to solve -- inequality, climate change, affordable housing, corruption, healthcare, food insecurity -- solutions to these challenges do exist, and will be found through new partnerships bringing together leaders from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.In their new book, Howard W. Buffett and William B. Eimicke present a five-point management framework for developing and measuring the success of such partnerships. Inspired by value investing -- one of history's most successful investment paradigms -- this framework provides tools to maximize collaborative efficiency and positive social impact, so that major public programs can deliver innovative, inclusive, and long-lasting solutions. It also offers practical insights for any private sector CEO, public sector administrator, or nonprofit manager hoping to build successful cross-sector collaborations.Social Value Investing tells the compelling stories of cross-sector partnerships from around the world -- Central Park and the High Line in New York City, community-led economic development in Afghanistan, and improved public services in cities across Brazil. Drawing on lessons and observations from a broad selections of collaborations, this book combines real life stories with detailed analysis, resulting in a blueprint for effective, sustainable partnerships that serve the public interest. Readers also gain access to original, academic case material and professionally produced video documentaries for every major partnerships profiled -- bringing to life the people and stories in a way that few other business or management books have done. -- Provided by publisher Social Value Investing presents a new way to approach some of society's most difficult and intractable challenges. Although many of our world's problems may seem too great and too complex to solve -- inequality, climate change, affordable housing, corruption, healthcare, food insecurity -- solutions to these challenges do exist, and will be found through new partnerships bringing together leaders from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. In their new book, Howard W. Buffett and William B. Eimicke present a five-point management framework for developing and measuring the success of such partnerships. Inspired by value investing -- one of history's most successful investment paradigms -- this framework provides tools to maximize collaborative efficiency and positive social impact, so that major public programs can deliver innovative, inclusive, and long-lasting solutions. It also offers practical insights for any private sector CEO, public sector administrator, or nonprofit manager hoping to build successful cross-sector collaborations. Social Value Investing tells the compelling stories of cross-sector partnerships from around the world -- Central Park and the High Line in New York City, community-led economic development in Afghanistan, and improved public services in cities across Brazil. Drawing on lessons and observations from a broad selections of collaborations, this book combines real life stories with detailed analysis, resulting in a blueprint for effective, sustainable partnerships that serve the public interest. Readers also gain access to original, academic case material and professionally produced video documentaries for every major partnerships profiled -- bringing to life the people and stories in a way that few other business or management books have done. The Hidden And Visible Realms (youming Lu) Is One Of The Most Significant Collections Of Chinese Zhiguai Records Of The Strange Literature. It Is Distinguished By Its Varied Contents, Elegant Style Of Writing, And Fascinating Stories. This Is The First Complete English Translation Of The Original, And Zhang Has Done Significant Editorial Work On The Collection, Collecting Every Item That Has Been Attributed To The Volume, But Placing Those Of Suspect Provenance In The Appendix. The Work Is Also Significant For Its Early Inclusion Of Buddhist Themes, Making It Of Great Interest To Scholars Of Religion Of The Early Medieval Period-- Compiled By Liu Yiqing ; Edited And Translated By Zhenjun Zhang. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The Hidden and Visible Realms (Youming lu) is one of the most significant collections of Chinese zhiguai "Records of the Strange" literature. It is distinguished by its varied contents, elegant style of writing, and fascinating stories. This is the first complete English translation of the original, and Zhang has done significant editorial work on the collection, collecting every item that has been attributed to the volume, but placing those of suspect provenance in the appendix. The work is also significant for its early inclusion of Buddhist themes, making it of great interest to scholars of religion of the early medieval period"-- Provided by publisher