Complete Notes on the Song Dynasty. Volume 1. Seven

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 scholars 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 "collected works of notes by Song Dynasty scholars" and exclude "scattered individual notes that have not formed a complete collection," as well as "specialized collections with focused themes and rigid structures," such as "poetic discussions, recorded sayings, genealogical records like The Tea Classic, Painting Spectra, Records of Prominent Officials, and Official Precepts," and certainly not "novels or biographies narrated entry by entry." Comparing this book with the Collected Notes and Novels of the Song Dynasty published by Taiwan's Emerging Books Co., Ltd. in 1984, the latter, while including many notes by Song Dynasty scholars, has two shortcomings: first, it mixes notes with novels, genealogies, popular tales, and poetic discussions; second, some of the versions are not refined. 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 Comprehensive Collection of Notes and Novels from the Song Dynasty published by Hebei Education Press in 1995, the latter's shortcomings are: first, it only includes 188 notes by Song Dynasty scholars, and some important notes are inexplicably excluded, such as Hong Mai's Rongzhai Notes, Zhou Mi's Kixin Miscellaneous Records, Zhou's Qingbo Magazine, Wang Guanguo's Xuelin, Yue Ke's Muchen History, Luo Daqing's Helin Yulu, Wang Bi's Mianshui Yantalu, Ouyang Xiu's Retirement Records, He's Chunzhu Jiyun, Peng's Moke Weixi (which has already included ten volumes of Continued Moke Weixi), Zhao Liantian's Houlinglu, Ye Mengde's Shilin Yanyu, Lu You's Laoxue An Notes, Gong Mingzhi's Zhongwu Jiyun, 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 the author of Yanji Yimolu being mistakenly listed as "Wang Muyong" instead of "Wang Yong," the author of Ding Jin Gong Tanlu being listed as "Ding Wei" instead of "Ding Wei," the author of Song Jingwen Gong Bizhi being listed as "Song Qi" instead of "Song Qi," the character "zhou" in Pingzhou Ketao being mistakenly written as "zhou," the character "ji" in Jiyu Biance Lu being mistakenly written as "yi," the character "zhu" in Zhuqian Xulun being mistakenly written as "shu," the author of Shupu being listed as "Dai Zhi" instead of "Dai Zhi," the author of Yangkao Manbi being listed as "Zhao Jin" instead of "Zhao Jinlu," and the author of Fuxuan Yelu being listed as "Chen" instead of "Chen," etc. Second, most of the notes by Song Dynasty scholars in this book are newly collated and punctuated for the first time, reflecting the "newness" of the collection. In the 49 notes in this volume, 13 have already been collated and punctuated by Zhonghua Book Company and Shanghai, while 36 are newly collated and punctuated, accounting for over 73% of the total. Among these newly collated 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 Bizhi, Jiang Xiufu's Jiang Linji Zazhi, Zeng Bu's Zeng Gong Yilu, Su Shi's Quchi Bilu, Su Shi's Yujiao Xianhua Lu, 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 notes by Song Dynasty scholars, this book demonstrates a relatively "accuracy" in collation and punctuation. The compilers and collators of this book are mostly scholars with outstanding achievements in ancient Chinese history and literature, particularly in Tang and Song literature and history. Although it may not be the absolute best selection, it can be considered first-class. Taking the compilation of this volume as an example, particularly the collation and punctuation of Dongpo Zhilin, Quchi Bilu, Yujiao Xianhua Lu, Longchuan Luezhi, and Longchuan Biezhi by Kong Fanli, the collators and punctuators of Sishui Jiyun by Deng Guangming and Zhang Xiqing, the collators and punctuators of Nanbu Xinshu and Jinshi Huanyuan, Diao Ji Litan, and Ding Jin Gong Tanlu by Yu Yunuo, and the collators and punctuators of Sun Weimin Zhengnan Lu by Huang Chunyan, 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 with 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, King of Xiang, Wang Gong, served as the director of Qiao in the Zhitao year" (page 23), mistakenly treating the last reign title of Emperor Taizong of Song, "Zhitao," as the name of "the Vice-Marshal, King of Xiang." This has now been corrected to: "The Vice-Marshal, King of Xiang, Wang Gong, served as the director of Qiao in the Zhitao year." Similarly, the first volume of Chunming Chu Chao Lu by Song Minqiu (Zhonghua Book Company, 1980 edition) originally read: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and the Bian River was left to await the journey of the Liguang ruler" (page 5). This has now been corrected to: "In the eleventh month of the Kaobao eighth year, Jiangnan was pacified, and the Bian River was left to await the journey of the Liguang ruler." These improvements are evident, thus ensuring that the quality of the punctuation in this book has been further enhanced. In summary, 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 incorrect annotations and punctuation errors, according to the compilers' plan, the entire work will be divided into approximately 10 volumes and completed within five to six years. The reviewer believes that as the compilers accumulate more experience and the collators gradually improve their skills, they will eventually present a brand-new, high-quality documentary anthology to the readers.