Complete Notes on the Song Dynasty. Volume 1, Part 4

Author: Zhu Yian / Fu Xuanzhong, et al. (editors)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Upon reviewing this book, the editor found that it possesses the following characteristics: First, based on a scientific definition of the term "notes," the book attempts to collect as many notes written by Song Dynasty authors as possible, truly reflecting the "comprehensiveness" of the Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty, avoiding omissions and disorganization. The compilers adhere to the principle that "notes are spontaneous records rather than deliberately composed works." They limit the collection to "specialized collections of notes by Song Dynasty authors" and exclude "scattered individual notes that have not formed a complete collection," "specialized collections with focused themes and rigid structures," such as "poetic discussions, recorded sayings, genealogical records like The Tea Classic, Painting Spectra, Records of Renowned Officials, and Official Precepts," and, of course, novels and biographies that narrate stories in a sequential manner. Comparing this book with The Great Collection of Notebooks and Novels (published by Taiwan's Emerging Book Company in June 1984), the latter, while including many Song Dynasty notes, has two shortcomings: first, it mixes Song Dynasty notes with novels, genealogies, popular tales, and poetic discussions; second, some of the versions included are not of high quality. Of course, the reviewer judges this book only from the perspective of Song Dynasty notes and does not deny its overall documentary value. Comparing it with The Collection of Notebooks and Novels of All Dynasties·Song Dynasty Notebooks and Novels (published by Hebei Education Press in February 1995), the latter has the following shortcomings: first, it only includes 188 Song Dynasty notes, and some important notes are inexplicably excluded, such as Hong Mai's Rongzhou Notes, Zhou Mi's Kixin Miscellaneous Records, Zhou's Qingbo Magazine, Wang Guoguo's Xuelin, Yue Ke's Muchen History, Luo Daqing's Helin Yulu, Wang Bi's Mianshui Yantalu, Ouyang Xiu's Retirement Records, He's Chunzhou Jiwen, Peng's Moke Weixi (though the ten volumes of Continued Moke Weixi have been compiled), Zhao Liantian's Houlinglu, Ye Mengde's Shilin Yanyu, Lu You's Laoxue'an Notes, Gong Mingzhi's Zhongwu Jiwen, etc. Without these notes, it is difficult to reflect the full picture of Song Dynasty notes, which is a great regret. Additionally, the catalog of Song Dynasty notes and novels compiled in the latter contains numerous errors, such as Wang Mu Yong being mistakenly listed as the author of Yanji Yimolu instead of Wang Yong, Ding Wei being listed as the author of Ding Jin Gong Tanlu instead of Ding Wei, Song Qi being listed as the author of Song Jingwen Gong Ji instead of Song Qi, the character "zhou" being mistakenly written as "zhou" in Pingzhou Ketao, the character "ji" being mistakenly written as "yi" in Jiyu Bilianlu, the character "zhu" being mistakenly written as "shu" in Zhuqian Xulun, Dai Hu being listed as the author of Shupu instead of Dai Zhi, Zhao Jin being listed as the author of Yangkao Manbi instead of Zhao Jinlu, and Chen being listed as the author of Fuxuan Yelu instead of Chen, and so on. Second, most of the Song Dynasty notes in this book are newly collated and punctuated for the first time, reflecting the "new" characteristic. Among the 49 notes in this volume, 13 have been previously collated and punctuated by Zhonghua Book Company and Shanghai, while 36 have been newly collated and punctuated, accounting for over 73% of the total. Among these newly collated and punctuated notes, some of the more important ones include Zhang Ji's Jia Shi Tanlu, Wang Zeng's Wang Wen Zheng Gong Bilu, Song Qi's Song Jingwen Gong Ji, Jiang Xiufu's Jiang Liji Zazhi, Zeng Bu's Zeng Gong Yilu, Su Shi's Quchi Bilu, Su Shi's Yujiao Xianhuilu, Chao Shuozhi's Chao Shi Keyu, Wang Qiner's Wang Shi Tanlu, etc. These notes, though not lengthy, contain valuable historical materials related to the social economy, politics, and customs of the time, leaving behind treasures for future generations. Third, compared to previously collated and punctuated Song Dynasty notes, this book has a relatively "accurate" characteristic, meaning the collation and punctuation are more precise. The compilers and collators of this book are mostly outstanding scholars in the fields of ancient Chinese history and literature, particularly in Tang and Song literature and history. Although it is not daring to call them the best in the world, they can be considered first-class. Taking the compilation of this volume as an example, particularly Kong Fanli, who collated and punctuated works such as Dongpo Zhilin, Quchi Bilu, Yujiao Xianhuilu, Longchuan Luezhi, and Longchuan Biezhi, Deng Guangming and Zhang Xiqing, who collated and punctuated Sishui Jiwen, Yu Yunuo, who collated and punctuated Nanbu Xinwen, Jinshi Huayuan, Diao Ji Litan, and Ding Jin Gong Tanlu, and Huang Chunyan, who collated and punctuated works such as Sun Weimin Zhengnanlu, etc., are all renowned experts in Song Dynasty history or Song Dynasty literature and documents. This is sufficient to ensure that the collation, punctuation, and collation of this book are presented to readers in high quality. For example, the previously published Xiangshan Yelu by Shi Wenying (Zhonghua Book Company, 1984 edition) contains some punctuation errors, such as the original text in the first volume: "The Vice Marshal, Prince of Wang, Wang Gong, served as the director of Qiao in the year Zhiwen of the Zidao era" (page 23), mistakenly taking the last reign title of Emperor Taizong of Song, "Zidao," as the name of "The Vice Marshal, Prince of Wang." This has now been corrected to: "The Vice Marshal, Prince of Wang, served as the director of Qiao in the Zhiwen year of the Zidao era." Similarly, the first volume of Song Minqiu's Chunming Chu Chao Lu (Zhonghua Book Company, 1980 edition) originally read: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and Bian River water was left to await the boat of Prince Li." (page 5). This has now been corrected to: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and Bian River water was left to await the boat of Prince Li." These improvements are evident, thus ensuring that the quality of the punctuation in this book has further improved. In conclusion, The Complete Notes of the Song Dynasty is the third large-scale anthology in the field of Song Dynasty literature and history after The Complete Poems of the Song Dynasty and The Complete Writings of the Song Dynasty. Although it has only published the first volume so far, with inevitable shortcomings such as some incorrectly marked and punctuated sentences, according to the compiler's plan, the entire book is divided into about 10 volumes and will be completed in five to six years. The reviewer believes that as the compilers gradually accumulate experience and the collators steadily improve their skills, they will eventually present a brand-new, high-quality documentary anthology to the readers.