Scouring through secondhand book stores, guided by his orientalist interests, this present author has, over the years, collected together a very modest set of a few volumes in the Wisdom of the East series. He would dearly love to collect the rest. These are a series published, mainly in the first few decades of the 20th C., and are very sturdy, nice-to-feel hardcover books in a convenient format brought to the English public through the selfless funds of the esteemed Mr. John Murray of London under the combined editorship of Mr. L. Cranmer-Byng and the English-Indian scholar Dr. S. A. Kapadia. (Shapurji Aspaniarji Kapadia).
The stated purpose of the series is provided in a statement by the editors that would often preface the volumes:
THE object of the Editors of this Series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West, the old world of Thought and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nations of another creed and colour. Finally, in thanking press and public for the very cordial reception given to the "Wisdom of the East" Series, they wish to state that no pains have been spared to secure the best specialists for the treatment of the various subjects at hand.
There were, according to some accounts, a total number of 122 volumes published in the initial series each of which sold for the cost of five shillings. Many beyond that number were published subsequently. These days they can be found in secondhand stores for a few dollars. They were, in their day, very popular with the educated reading public and did an inestimable service in bringing oriental religious, philosophical and poetical literature within the reach of the English reading public. An advertisement for the series from the 1920s introduces the volumes in this way:
'The series and its purpose: This Series has a definite object. It is, by means of the best Oriental literature – its wisdom, philosophy, poetry, and ideals – to bring together West and East in a spirit of mutual sympathy, goodwill, and understanding. From India, China, Japan, Persia, Arabia, Palestine, and Egypt these words of wisdom have been gathered.'
The series was widely celebrated, and for good reason. Here are a few of the positive reviews offered of the series in the press of the time:
The Athenaeum. - "We wish that there were more of them; they are dreamy, lifelike, and fascinating."
St. James's Gazette - "The quaint and picturesque little 'Wisdom of the East' Series."
The Academy. - "Slim, tastefully bound little volumes."
Manchester Courier. - "Worthy of close study by all who would penetrate to the depth of Eastern thought and feeling."
Literary Guide. - "We wish success to this little series of books."
Outlook. - "This Series is published to help in the process of renewing the spiritual and moral life of the West."
The Scotsman. - "This Series should not fail to please readers of the more studious sort."
Southport Guardian. - "This Series will find considerable favour with all Students of Eastern Literature and Eastern Philosophy."
The Northern Weekly. - "I must confess that I am attracted by the Literature of the East. This week I have been reading the dainty little books issued by the Orient Press."
Bristol Mercury. - "We commend these little books to all who imagine that there is no knowledge worth having outside Europe and America."
Glasgow Herald, - "This new Series has a definite and lofty aim, and is deserving of support. The books are small, cheap, and well adapted for the pocket. Every page is regularly refreshing and stimulating."
North Devon Journal. - "The difference between Eastern and Western modes of thought is pointedly exemplified by this Series."
Halifax Guardian, - "They are well worth perusal and are presented to the reader in that attractive form which the Orient Press has been happy enough to hit on."
Field, - " Such books are valuable aids to the understanding of a far-off age and people, and have a great interest for the student of literature."
Irish Times. - "The volumes are charming in form, low in price, and excellent in matter."
Publishers' Circular. - "We unhesitatingly recommend them to all who can appreciate the ideal of goodness and holiness and the highest form of culture."
Public Opinion. - " These tiny books have much to commend them."
And here are several covers from the series:
The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep
The Master-Singers of Japan
The Awakening of the Soul by Ibn Tufail
Japanese No Plays
An Anthology of Modern Indian Poetry
A useful collection of works in this series in ebook format can now be found at the Sacred Text Archive. Follow the link here.
The present author will try his best to gather together a comprehensive inventory in order of publication of the initial series on this page as accurate information comes to his notice:
The Sayings of Lao Tzu, trans. by Lionel Giles, 1905
The Book of Odes, A Selection of Ancient Chinese Poetry from the Shih Ching, trans. by L. Cranmer-Byng, 1908
The Conduct of Life, The Universal Order of Confucius, trans. by Ku Hung Ming, 1908
The Book of Filial Duty, A Translation of the Hsaio Ching, trans. by Ivan Chen, 1908
The Alchemy of Happiness, by Al-Ghazzali, trans. by Claud Field, 1909
The Confessions of Al-Ghazzali, trans. by Claud Field, 1909
Musings of a Chinese Mystic, A Collection of Texts Featuring Chuang Tsu, trans. by Lionel Giles, 1909
The Splendour of God, A Collection of Ba'hai Sacred Texts, 1909, trans. by Eric Hammond
Duties of the Heart, by Rabbi Bachye, A 12th C. Spanish Rabbi's Systematic Treatment of Ethics, trans. by Edwin Collins, 1909
The Path of Light, a translation of the Bodhicharyavatara of Santideva, a Key Mayahana Buddhist Text, trans. by L. D. Barnett, 1909.
The Teachings of Zoroaster, A Collection of Zoroastrian Texts, trans. by S. A. Kapadia, 1909
The Burden of Isis, A Translation to a Set of Hymns to the Goddess Isis, trans. by James Teackle Dennis, 1910
The Wisdom of Israel, A short Look at Jewish Wisdom Literature from the Talmud and Midrash, trans. by Edwin Collins, 1910
Ancient Jewish Proverbs, trans. by Abraham Cohen, 1911
The Bustan of Sadi, trans. by A. Hart Edwards, 1911
Sadi: The Bustan of Sadi, trans. by A. Hart, 1911
The Diwan of Abu'l-Ala, trans. by Henry Baerlein, 1911
The Religion of the Koran, by Arthur W. Wollaston, 1911
Brahma-Knowledge, A Short Exposition of Hindu Vedanta Philosophy, by L. D. Barnett, 1911
Yang Chu's Garden of Pleasure, trans. by Anton Forke, 1912
Taoist Teachings from the Book of Lieh-Tzu, trans. by Lionel Giles, 1912
Arabian Wisdom, Islamic Wisdom from the Koran, Hadith & Traditional Proverbs, by John Wortabet, 1913
The Diwan of Zeb-un-Nissa, trans. by Magan Lal & Duncan Westbrook, 1913
The Way of Contentment, by Hoshino, trans. by Kaibara Ekken, 1913
Buddhist Scriptures, A Short Collection of Buddhist Scripture, trans. by E. J. Thomas, 1913
Master Singers of Japan, An Anthology of Classical Japanese Poets, by Clara A. Walsh, 1914
The Religion of the Sikhs, by Dorothy Field, 1914
A Feast of Lanterns, A Collection of Classic Chinese Poetry, trans. by L. Cranmer-Byng, 1916
The Secret Rose Garden, of Sa'd Ud Din Mahmud Shabistari, trans. by Florence Lederer, 1920
The Buddha's Way of Virtue, A Translation of the Dhammapada, trans. by W.D.C. Wagiswara & K. J. Saunders, 1920
Ancient Egyptian Legends, trans. by Margaret Alice Murray, 1920
Buddhist Psalms, A Key Pureland Text, trans. by S. Yamabe & L. Adams Beck, 1921
An Anthology of Modern Indian Poetry, ed. by Gwendoline Goodwin, 1927
Yours,
Harper McAlpine Black
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