| Wang Fuzhi (Wang Chuanshan), along with Huang Zongxi and Gu Yanwu, is renowned as one of the three great thinkers of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The four-volume historical novel *Wang Chuanshan*, authored over 12 years by Nie Mao, a Distinguished Professor at the School of Humanities of Central South University, offers a unique historical perspective and warm cultural concern. It vividly depicts the tragic fates of key figures such as Wang Fuzhi and his family, scholars of Hengzhou, local officials, and four marginalized women skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The novel also portrays with dramatic intensity Wang Fuzhi’s profound devotion and his anguish at being unable to serve his country amid the collapse of his family, national crises, widespread suffering, and social turmoil. Upon its publication, the novel sparked strong reactions in academic, literary, and social circles. Prominent writers and scholars such as Tang Haoming, Chen Sihe, Wang Yuewen, Ouyang Youquan, Tan Guilin, and Yan Zhen contributed essays to critique and affirm the work. October 7, 2025, marks the 406th anniversary of Wang Chuanshan’s birth. To commemorate this encyclopedic great thinker and distinguished scholar, this journal is publishing a special collection of critiques on the historical novel *Wang Chuanshan*, offering readers an in-depth appreciation. |